How did it all begin?

In November 1605, Guy Fawkes did his best to blow up the Houses of Parliament with King James inside. The gunpowder plot was foiled when he was discovered, just before lighting the fuse…

To celebrate the King’s survival, it was decided that huge bonfires would be lit across the country on November 5th every year. Part of the ritual involves tossing a Guy Fawkes effigy onto the fire then watching him go up in flames.

Food for bonfires

More than just a bonfire with sparklers, 5th November is a great opportunity to bring together friends and family over heaps of finger food. No-fuss comfort cooking is the flavour of the day and we’ve got a selection of make-ahead treats for the occasion.
Take a look at our top 10 recipes for ideas on what to cook for your Guy Fawkes supper.

Marshmallows

Toasted marshmallows are an American import that never fails to please. Spear a marshmallow onto a skewer or stick, and flash them into the fire for a few seconds. As soon as they start to blacken, whip it out of the flames. The outside should be deliciously charred while the insides are meltingly soft. Take care when toasting marshmallows or cooking any food close to an open flame – this isn't for kids to do on their own.

Souped up soup

Dress-up soup for grown-ups with a tot of brandy – it’s great for keeping the chills away. If you’re entertaining off the cuff, buy a top-notch brand of soup and add a few twiddles; fresh herbs, a dash of cream, and crisp-fried diced pancetta works wonders.

More onions please!

If frying onions for hot dogs and burgers seems too much like hard work, buy a jar of caramelised sliced onions - they're available from supermarkets and have a deliciously vinegary tang.

Remember to bring along the mustard and ketchup!


A round-up of top tips

Wrap potatoes in foil and cook them in the embers of a bonfire. Save time, and start them off by partially baking the potatoes in the oven first. Once they’re ready, all you need to do is split the spuds and tuck in a dab of butter – even better if you dust over sea salt and black pepper before digging in.

Mix and match with other roasted veggies - corn on the cob, butternut squash wedges and yams are good ones to try – they're twice as tasty with melted butter, a squeeze of lemon juice and craked peppercorns.

Roasted fruit

Foil-wrapped baked bananas sprinkled with brown sugar and dotted with butter are also scrumptious. Add a sprinkling of cinnamon for a sweetly spiced note.

Like the idea of roasted fruit? Go all out for a fiesta and make a medley of contrasting fruits – figs, pears and pineapples are especially tasty. A tub of mascarpone cheese (or crème fraîche, if you’re calorie-counting) finishes this hot pud off with a flourish.

Did you know...

Parkin, a sticky ginger cake from Yorkshire, is traditionally served on Guy Fawkes night and is well-suited to the ‘parky’ (cold) weather. Vikings used to make a special ‘thar’ cake, which had similarities with modern day parkin. In some areas, this cake is so popular that bonfire night is often called ‘parkin day’.

In the run-up to Bonfire Night, children would take (and some still do!) a home-made Guy Fawkes out onto the street, asking for "a penny for the Guy". The money would then be used to buy fireworks.

The bonfire is also a throwback to the symbolism of ‘Smahain’, the pagan predecessor to Halloween. At this time, bonfires were lit to commemorate the end of summer and also to ward off evil spirits. The perfect excuse to throw a party…