... gunpowder, treason and plot. Sorry, I'm English. Tonight is known as Bonfire Night in the UK. Yes, one of those weird English customs but like most of them, it involves food.
In common with the majority of English people, I'm not certain exactly what we are celebrating. We all know what the event was; Guy Fawkes and bunch of like-minded chaps decided to blow up the House of Parliament in London in 1605. They failed but we commemorate the event every year.
Most of us don't know whether a) we are celebrating the fact that parliament was spared or b) we are applauding the brave chaps who tried. But it's a great excuse to build huge bonfires, set off fireworks and eat foods appropriate to being outside on a chilly November night.
Most of the fare is cooked on the bonfire; baked potatoes especially but also sausages - and there's usually a cauldron or two of hot soup, kept warm at the edge of the fire. Baked potatoes cooked on a wood fire are not like any other potatoes you've ever tasted.
Of course, there's also a lot of alcohol.
'Desserts' are pre-prepared and include bonfire toffee, which I can't make, and parkin, for which I have a great recipe. You need:
9oz. flour
3 & a half oz. oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. ground ginger (NOT fresh ginger)
! quarter tsp. bicarbonate of soda
1 half tsp. baking powder
5 oz. margarine (NOT butter)
10oz. golden syrup (NOT molasses or honey or treacle. Available at British stores - trade name Tate and Lyle)
Melt the margarine and syrup in a pan. Add the flour, ginger, oatmeal and sugar. Stir well and add the bicarb and baking powder. Bake in a greased tin in a moderate oven for one hour. Serve when cool - if you can wait.
Recipe from Jac, an English lady now living in New Zealand.
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