How many of us recall the rest of the poem? Whilst researching the blog today, I was surprised that this poem barely jogged a memory! It seemed to just stop at the first line. However, the meaning is not lost and it always struck me as a strange celebration. When we light fireworks and bonfires, we’re celebrating the Gunpowder Plot where Guy Fawkes (a Catholic terrorist) was caught just before trying to set off an enormity of gunpowder on a repressive Parliament. But Fireworks night is not just about the lights, for us here at BrandAlley, it’s all about keeping warm in the cold with some good food and drink. Here are some of our favourite recipes that are perfect for these cold November nights.

Toffee Apple

Ingredients:

6 sweet and crunchy apples

 tbsp caster sugar

85ml water
600g demerara sugar
100g unsalted butter
2 tsp vinegar
2 tsp vanilla essence

 

To taste:

½tsp vanilla essence

large pinch of cinnamon 

Preparation

• Wash and dry the apples, remove the stalks, and push in a lollipop stick.
• Place all the ingredients in a heavy-based pan and bring to the boil. Cooking time is approximately 30 minutes. If you have a sugar thermometer it should read 150C or 300F, or you can test by dripping into a bowl of cold water. The toffee is ready when drops harden.
• Dip each apple into the toffee, remove and air-cool a few seconds then repeat until thickly coated.
• Dip into a bowl of cold water and place on sugar-dusted tray until cool.
• Wrap in Clingfilm to help stop the toffee going sticky.

 

Parkin

Ingredients:

1½ lb oatmeal
1 teaspoon ground ginger
8 oz brown sugar
8 oz butter
1 lb treacle
1 teaspoonful allspice

 

Preparation
• Mix the dry ingredients .
• Heat treacle and butter; add to the dry mixture and leave to stand overnight. Place in a well-greased shallow baking tin and bake in a moderate oven for about 2 hours.
• It is done when the parkin springs back when touched. 

 Jacket potato

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes (about 300g each) 

Flaked sea salt

Oil for sprinkling

 

Preparation
• Scrub potatoes and prick with a fork

• Lightly sprinkle with oil and salt

• Put in the oven on 200˚C for 45 minutes

 

And of course, you can’t have bonfire night without a good hot chocolate filled with melted marshmallows. Mmm, delicious!

 

Here’s the rest of the poem for anyone, who like me, seemed to forget over time:

 Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

the Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent to blow up King and Parliament.

Three score barrels were laid below to prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s mercy he was catch’d with a dark lantern and lighted match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip hoorah!