Dig out the hats and scarves, Bonfire Night is here! As darkness falls and the moon rises, it’s time to head outside for spicy food and tasty treats. Luckily, our friends over at The Simple Things have just the recipes for a Bonfire Night feast.
Serves 6
Ingredients
Vegetable oil for frying
1 onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
500g beef mince
500g passata
300ml water
1 tin kidney beans, drained (220g)
1 tsp dried marjoram
1tsp sugar
2 tbsp tomato purée
4 pieces dark chocolate
Salt and pepper
Step 1. Fry the onions and peppers in a little oil over a low to medium heat, until they turn translucent.
Step 2. Add the cumin, paprika and garlic, then turn up the heat, add the mince and cook until it is browned.
Step 3. Add the passata, water, kidney beans, dried marjoram, sugar and tomato purée and bring to the boil.
Step 4. Lower the heat and simmer, partially covered, for at least 40 mins, until the sauce is thick and rich.
Step 5. Add the chocolate and let it melt just before serving, then season.
If you’ve got a fire going, bake these the fun way, wrapped in orange skin in the embers of the firepit. But they also work in the oven in cupcake cases.
Makes 4 orange cakes and 6 cupcakes
Ingredients
4 oranges
150g self-raising flour
150g butter, softened
1 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
8 cardamom pods
1⁄2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp orange blossom water
Step 1. Zest one of the oranges, then slice them all in half and scoop out the insides.
Step 2. Bash the cardamom pods in a pestle and mortar to release the seeds, fish out the cases and then grind until fine.
Step 3. Put butter, flour, baking powder, eggs, cinnamon, orange zest, orange blossom water and the ground cardamom into a large bowl and whisk for about a minute (the butter must be properly soft before you start).
Step 4. Spoon into one of the orange halves, then place the empty orange half over the top and wrap in foil. Do this with the other oranges and place all four into the embers of the fire.
Step 5. Turn after about 10 mins; they should be ready after about 20 mins. Unwrap one and have a peek – just pop it back in if it looks underdone.
Step 6. To bake in the oven instead, spoon the mixture into cupcake cases and bake at 190C/Fan 170/375F for 30 mins.
This article was brought to you by
The Simple Things magazine,
a monthly invitation to slow down,
enjoy what you have and make the most of where you live.
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