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Bonfire bites for Guy Fawkes Night

All it takes is a little forward planning to cook up some flaming good ideas for a Bonfire Night feast

The fireworks and bonfire may be the main attractions on Guy Fawkes Night, but for children, as well as adults, the food comes a close second.

There’s nothing like coming in from the dark, shedding your heavy winter clothes and tucking in to some warming winter fare. You want food that’s hot and simple: bangers and mash, chilli, stews, casseroles and spicy soups all warm up cold fingers and faces while providing instant, satisfying nourishment.

And if you’re having a bonfire or firework party in the garden and making food for friends, the bonfire comes into its own for cooking:

• Once the bonfire has died down a bit, use the smouldering embers to roast food. Wrap it in silver foil first – corn on the cob, mushrooms brushed with olive oil, chunks of pepper and aubergine, whole heads of garlic or garlic bread all work well
• Use sticks to toast marshmallows and chestnuts, and doughy ‘dampers’ to eat with jam
• For food with a longer cooking time, like potatoes, start the baking off in the oven to save time then transfer to the bonfire embers, wrapped in silver foil

Finally, if you’re going to an organised firework display, why not make food to take with you? You can make some fun fireworks biscuits or toffee apples if you or your kids have a sweet tooth, but you can also use tinfoil or a napkin to wrap up hot Mo Bay Patties, fiery chicken legs or stuffed baked potatoes to keep your fingers warm. For a more traditional touch, bake some gingercake or the Celtic ceremonial ‘hearth cake’ parkin, a spicy biscuit originally eaten to celebrate the pagan new year.

Then, all you need to make your night go with a bang is some mulled wine or hot punch. Create a children’s punch out of hot apple juice (warmed gently with a sprinkling of cinnamon) or hot ginger milk.

Have a great – and safe – night.

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