Warming Bonfire Ideas

With the weekend seeing bonfires and fireworks going off, we've come up with some hints and recipes to make your weekend go of with a bang ( in a safe way of course....)

Something to keep the adults warm from the inside out; why not try this scrumptious Mulled Cider by Wayne Collins from the BBC programme  Something for the weekend. This spicy, aromatic drink will hit the spot on a cold winter’s night.

     Ingredients

• 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 1 clementine, sliced into wedges, spiked with 8 cloves
• 1 lemon, sliced into wedges, spiked with 8 cloves
• 100ml/4fl oz whiskey
• 100ml/4fl oz orange liqueur
• 3 tbsp clear honey
• 1 litre/1 pint 15¼fl oz cider
• 4 cinnamon stick
• freshly grated nutmeg, to garnish
  
  
  Preparation method
  1. Heat all of the cider toddy ingredients over a low heat until warmed through.
     
  2. Pour the cider toddy into 4 latte glasses or other heatproof glasses.
     
  3. Finish with a little freshly grated nutmeg.

And then something for the children to nibble on, Nutty Toffee Apples:
Studded with crunchy nuts, these toffee apples work well for a Bonfire Night party recipe.

Ingredients

• 6 Cox apples
• 6 small wooden ice lolly sticks
• 225g/8oz granulated sugar
• 110ml/4fl oz water
• 30g/1oz butter
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• 4 tbsp finely chopped mixed nuts
  
  

  Preparation method

  1. Push the wooden sticks halfway into the apples at the stalk end.
     
  2. Dissolve the sugar and water in a thick-bottomed pan over a gentle heat.
     
  3. Add the butter and syrup to the mixture and bring to the boil. Continue to boil, without stirring, until the toffee reaches 140C/275F (use a sugar thermometer to measure this).
     
  4. Remove the pan from the heat and gently stir in the nuts.
     
  5. Carefully dip each apple into the toffee, making sure each apple is well coated, and set aside to harden on a baking try lined with non-stick parchment.
      
     Whatever you do this weekend make sure you stay safe and keep warm!
     
          www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk