Bon(fire) Appetit

November 5th in the UK is Bonfire Night. Back in the early 17th century our very own Yorkshire born Guy Fawkes was part of a gang aiming to assassinate King James I. They hid gunpowder below the Houses of Parliament and, basically, Guy Fawkes was caught and executed.

Since 1605 we have commemorated the event every year on November 5th. Now you might wonder why we celebrate the Gunpowder Plot. In actual fact we are celebrating the fact that it was uncovered and Guy and his gang were brought to justice. His effigy (the Guy) is burned on a bonfire and the fireworks signify what might have happened if the gunpowder had been lit.

It's a good time to have a bonfire with all the Autumn garden waste and debris. It's also a good time to eat comforting food whilst watching the burning guy and the firework display. Hot soups, jacket potatoes and chilli are followed (in Yorkshire) by a satisfying oatmeal cake called Parkin, Bonfire Toffee (treacle toffee) and Toffee Apples. 

Apples are abundant at this time of year and the tradition is to coat them in hard toffee or a sugar coating. A stick is inserted and they are eaten like a lollipop. When not standing around the bonfire, I prefer to bake my apple in the oven, again coated in melted butter and caster sugar for about half an hour. For the last ten minutes place a few pieces of toffee or fudge into the core-less centre until melted. Delicious served with cream, custard or ice cream.

It might not be the prettiest dessert, but it is scrummy.