Sparkles & S’mores

REMEMBER, REMEMBER – but please do so safely.

In researching Guy Fawkes and the near explosive events of 5th November 1605, we learned that Sparklers can be five times hotter than cooking oil, and rocket fireworks have been known to reach speeds of up to 150mph.  That’s impressive, but hot!…but was he hung, drawn and quartered?

You’ve patiently waited all week to find out (or Googled it!), so let’s come clean and tell you NO, he cheated.

AKA Guido, his nickname from fighting for Catholic Spain in what was to become known as the 80 Year War, Guy actually committed suicide to avoid the grizzly end.

He posthumously lucked-out as his body was subsequently quartered, and spread to the corners of the country anyway – but Guido didn’t feel a thing.We promised you S’mores – and here they are.

They can be chocolatey, they can be jammy, but they are always so s’morish!

Assemble some cookies (chocolate or oatey, or those sugary NICE biscuits) on a plate. Set out your fruity jam and raspberry sauce and / or chocolate spread and chocolate sauce. Toast marshmallows ’till soft and squidgy. Now the s’more, little biscuit sandwich layers – biscuit, spread / jam, squidgy marshmallow, sauce, biscuit top, more sauce.

Sticky, runny, s’morish fun.

Bobbing for apples was a British thing – and a courting thing at that.Each floating apple represented a potential husband. One bite – she got her man. Two attempts – they might court … but not necessarily with the desired effect.  Three or more tries to grab an apple – and a maiden she would remain.

That’s why Toffee Apples are a special treat on a smoky Autumn night.Apples anybody?

What a simple, yet fun and tasty idea this is. Core out a few apples; fill them with apple sticks and serve with a pot of honey for simple, sophisticated, Toffee Apple pleasure.Give hot dogs a helping hand with anything from our Relish & Chutneys Range – HERE. How about this delicious sticky Chilli Jam, just oozing with flavour from the sweet chilli and juicy red peppers.Onions with that?

Beer Braised Onions:

• 25g butter
• 2 good tbsp of Stokes Red Onion Marmalade
• 3 large finely sliced onions
• 200ml dark ale – Theakston’s ‘Old Peculiar’
• 1 tbsp soft dark brown sugar

Gently heat the butter in a frying pan. Soften the onions with the Marmalade for 15 / 20 minutes. Stir in the ale (drinking the rest) and sugar, then cook very gently for a further 25 minutes until deliciously caramelised.

Perfect with hot dogs and burgers.Bonfire Beans.

Resident Chef Andy has created his very own (and now yours), Original BBQ Beans recipe. Watch the video and follow the instructions HERE.

Enjoy a bowl by the fire, or pile up the jacket potatoes and stay warm.Beef Taco Soup

Another video-assisted recipe on our Recipes Page. This is a heart-warming crowd-pleaser. No damp squib here, just a great dish to make the evening sparkle – HERE.Prefer to keep it simple?

There is only one way to beat ‘chup on a dog’, and that is to use Stokes Real Tomato Ketchup, made with 200g of sweet, juicy Mediterranean tomatoes, reduced into each 100g of Real Ketchup.

That’s thick, that’s tasty, that’s Stokes – taste without compromise.

We shift from a little after four o’clock (1605) to Dickensian middle 19th Century and the immortal tale of A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge finally softens his demeaner to his long-abused employee, Bob Cratchit, as they enjoy a mug of Smoking Bishop together.

Port, red wine, lemons or Seville oranges (both), sugar, and spices such as cloves & cinnamon, with the citrus fruit roasted to caramelise it and the ingredients then warmed together.

You will find the full recipe HERE.

“A merry Christmas, Bob!” said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year!

I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!”

Did someone say – it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!!

Q: What was Guy Fawkes’ favourite meal? A: Bangers and mash

Q: How many safety inspectors does it take to light the bonfire? A: One to light the match and three to hold the fire extinguisher

Q: What do you call a duck who likes watching fireworks? A: A firequacker

Q: How many Apple employees does it take to flame Guy Fawkes? A: One to light the match and four to design the t-shirt

A policeman arrested two people on Bonfire Night – one for drinking battery acid, the other for eating fireworks. He charged one, and let the other one off … BOOM BOOM!

I’m off now, before I lose my sparkle