Recipes to Stoke Your Bonfire

Hi everyone and welcome to the blog. This week’s blog is entitled Recipes to Stoke Your Bonfire Night... and is dedicated to The Gunpowder Plot and the birthday of Bram Stoker. The featured recipes are all bonfire favourites, they areCinder Toffee Roast Chestnuts with Vanilla and Star Anise Parkin and Chilli Con Carne.

The Gunpowder Plot The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.
The plan was to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of England's Parliament on 5 November 1605, as the prelude to a popular revolt in the Midlands during which James's nine-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was to be installed as the Catholic head of state. Catesby may have embarked on the scheme after hopes of securing greater religious tolerance under King James had faded, leaving many English Catholics disappointed. His fellow plotters were John Wright, Thomas Wintour, Thomas Percy, Guy Fawkes, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, John Grant, Sir Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everard Digby and Francis Tresham. Fawkes, who had 10 years of military experience fighting in the Spanish Netherlands in suppression of the Dutch Revolt, was given charge of the explosives.
The plot was revealed to the authorities in an anonymous letter sent to William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle, on 26 October 1605. During a search of the House of Lords at about midnight on 4 November 1605, Fawkes was discovered guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder—enough to reduce the House of Lords to rubble—and arrested. Most of the conspirators fled from London as they learnt of the plot's discovery, trying to enlist support along the way. Several made a stand against the pursuing Sheriff of Worcester and his men at Holbeche House; in the ensuing battle Catesby was one of those shot and killed. At their trial on 27 January 1606, eight of the survivors, including Fawkes, were convicted and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered.

Details of the assassination attempt were allegedly known by the principal Jesuit of England, Father Henry Garnet. Although Garnet was convicted and sentenced to death, doubt has since been cast on how much he really knew of the plot. As its existence was revealed to him through confession, Garnet was prevented from informing the authorities by the absolute confidentiality of the confessional. Although anti-Catholic legislation was introduced soon after the plot's discovery, many important and loyal Catholics retained high office during King James I's reign. The thwarting of the Gunpowder Plot was commemorated for many years afterwards by special sermons and other public events such as the ringing of church bells, which have evolved into the Bonfire Night of today.

Within a few decades Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was known, became the predominant English state commemoration, but as it carried strong religious overtones it also became a focus for anti-Catholic sentiment. Puritans delivered sermons regarding the perceived dangers of popery, while during increasingly raucous celebrations common folk burnt effigies of popular hate-figures, such as the pope. Towards the end of the 18th century reports appear of children begging for money with effigies of Guy Fawkes and 5 November gradually became known as Guy Fawkes Day. Towns such as Lewes and Guildford were in the 19th century scenes of increasingly violent class-based confrontations, fostering traditions those towns celebrate still, albeit peaceably. In the 1850s changing attitudes eventually resulted in the toning down of much of the day's anti-Catholic rhetoric, and in 1859 the original 1606 legislation was repealed. Eventually, the violence was dealt with, and by the 20th century Guy Fawkes Day had become an enjoyable social commemoration, although lacking much of its original focus. The present-day Guy Fawkes Night is usually celebrated at large organised events, centred around a bonfire and extravagant firework displays.

Settlers exported Guy Fawkes Night to overseas colonies, including some in North America, where it was known as Pope Day. Those festivities died out with the onset of the American Revolution, although celebrations continue in some Commonwealth nations. Claims that Guy Fawkes Night was a Protestant replacement for older customs like Samhain are disputed, although another old celebration, Halloween, has lately increased in popularity, and according to some writers, may threaten the continued observance of 5 November.

Bram Stoker (November 8, 1847 – April 20, 1912) was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula. During his lifetime, he was better known as personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, which Irving owned.

The full version of this article can be found at www.chefgarfyinfo.blog.co.uk

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My first recipe is Cinder Toffee Recipe by Christine Grimshaw, courtesy of www.uktv.co.uk
Prep time 20mins, plus setting Cook time 25mins

100g x Golden Syrup
200g x Caster Sugar
40g x Butter
1/2tsp x Vinegar
1tsp x Bicarbonate of Soda
2tbsp x Water

Line a 15cm square tin with greaseproof or parchment paper. Put the syrup, sugar, butter and water into a large heavy-bottomed pan set over a medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, before turning up the heat and bringing to the boil.
Cook, without stirring until a teaspoon of the hot toffee mixture becomes a hard ball when dropped into a jug of cold water. If you have a sugar thermometer, it should register 138C. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to the pan - take care as the toffee mixture will bubble up and rise in the pan. Pour immediately into the lined tin and leave on one side.
After about 15- 20 minutes, when the mixture has begun to set, score the toffee in square shapes, using a sharp knife. Break along the lines when it has completely set. The toffee will keep in an airtight tin for up to two weeks.

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My next recipe is Roast Chestnuts with Vanilla and Star Anise Recipe by Matt Tebbutt, courtesy of www.uktv.co.uk
Serves 4, Prep time 5mins Cook time: 30min

500g x Chestnuts
2tbsp x Vanilla Sugar, (see cook’s note)
A Pinch of Crushed Star Anise

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6. Spread the nuts out on a large roasting tray and roast in the oven for 30 minutes. Leave to cool slightly before peeling. Spread the peeled chestnuts back on the tray and sprinkle with the sugar and star anise. Return to the oven for 10 minutes to let the sugar crystallise. Serve while still hot.

Cook’s Note:- To make vanilla sugar add a vanilla pod to 225g caster sugar and leave for 1-2 days for the flavours to develop. You can keep topping up the jar with sugar as you use it.

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My next recipe is Parkin Recipe by James Martin, courtesy of www.uktv.co.uk

Serves 8-10, Prep time 20mins Cook time 1hr 5mins

oil, for greasing
225g x Self-Raising Flour
1tsp x Ground Ginger
1tsp x Bicarbonate of Soda
1 x egg, lightly beaten
115g x Caster Sugar
60g x Butter
115g x Golden Syrup
225ml x Milk

Preheat the oven to 150°C/gas 2. Grease a 25 x 18cm cake tin and line with greased greaseproof paper. Sift the flour, ginger and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Stir in the egg and then the caster sugar, mixing well. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and the golden syrup, stirring to mix. Remove from the heat and stir in the milk. Gradually stir the milk mixture into the flour and egg mixture. Stir until smooth, then pour into the prepared tin. Bake for about 1 hour, or until the mixture starts to shrink away from the sides of the tin. Remove from the oven and turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares and serve, preferably after about 3 to 4 days when the parkin will have become nice and sticky.

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My final recipe is Chilli Con Carne Recipe by Rachel Allen, courtesy of www.uktv.co.uk

Serves 6 Prep time 20mins Cook time 1hr 30mins

2 x Large Onions
700g x Lean Stewing Beef, fat removed and cut into 1-2cm cubes
5 x Cloves Garlic, crushed
800g x Canned Chopped Tomatoes
2 x Green Peppers, sliced
3 x Green or Red Chillies, chopped, (seeds left in if you like your chillies fiery) 
2tsp x Ground Cumin
1 x Can of Red Kidney Beans, 400g
1 tsp brown sugar

To serve
125ml x Soured Cream
2tbsp x Coriander Leaves, chopped
4tbsp x Cheddar Cheese, grated

Heat the olive oil in a casserole, or saucepan and fry the meat until it changes colour - about 5-7 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and stir for a minute or so before tipping in the tinned tomatoes, chopped chillies, peppers, and a good pinch of salt.

Cover the pan and simmer for about an hour, until the meat is tender and the liquid reduced to a thick sauce. If it gets too dry during cooking, pour in a little more water. Add the cumin, kidney beans (and a little of the bean liquid, if you like)and the brown sugar. Simmer for a further 10 mins before serving with rice, a spoonful of sour cream, grated cheddar cheese and and coriander leaves as a garnish. For added spicy kick, serve this dish with hot chilli sauce.

Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot.

If you have enjoyed my blog, or have tried out the recipes I have included and wish to comment, please feel free to comment using the comment button or by visiting my guestbook, all comments and suggestions will be gratefully received.

Hope you enjoy!!..... ChefGarfy =D

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