Bonfire Night 2020 Style by Stephanie Jones

Bonfire night is such an amazing sensory experience for children of all ages; the sparkling lights from fireworks, the whizz, pop, bang, the smell of burning wood, amongst others.

With the country in and out of lockdown, restrictions on gatherings and social distancing in place, the holidays may seem a little different to previous years right now. You may not be able to get out to a bonfire or firework display, you may not be holding sparklers with friends, but there are so many fun ways to celebrate in the safety and comfort of your own home. Here are a few ideas below:

Straw Sparklers: Decorate your straws with tin foil, ribbons, confetti and more to make fun and toddler friendly sparklers.

Firework paintings: Using old kitchen/toilet rolls, cut strips half way up each roll then dab in paint to make some amazing firework pictures!

Create Rockets out of cardboard: Either using an old kitchen roll or just cutting a rocket shape out of cardboard, you can make your own rocket by recycling materials in your own home!

Make “Toffee” Apples (Recipe Below)

Dancing like Fireworks: Make up your own dances to sparklers, catherine wheels and the big bangers or play “Musical Fireworks” calling out the name of a firework every time the music stops.

Make a mini Guy Fawkes: Use old stockings, stuff with tissue paper or odd socks and decorate as you wish!

Make Fruit kebab “fireworks”: Use chopped fruit to make some colourful healthy snacks!

Slow Cooked Stew: Low maintenance but maximum taste - pop everything in the slow cooker and leave to cook! (Recipe below)

Whatever you do for your Bonfire Night, just remember children don’t care about grand gestures. All they want is to spend time with the people that love them the most, and that’s you! Making crafts, eating fun treats and having fun makes amazing memories in itself; all they need from you, is you!

Healthy Toffee Apples Recipe:

Ingredients:

150g Medjool Dates (pits removed)

30ml coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp nut butter

50ml water/milk

4 apples

Decorations (optional): Chopped nuts, sprinkles, etc.

Method:

Soak your dates for 10 minutes in boiling water.
Once soaked, pop into a blender with 5 tbsp of the water and blend for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides, add 1 tbsp water and blend again.
Add the vanilla extract, peanut butter and melted coconut oil, 2 more tbsp water and blend until combined. Add one tbsp water at a time if needed.
Scrape the smooth mixture into a bowl, pop a lolly stick into 2 of your apples and coat them in the toffee mixture.
Core your other apples then chop into segments. Push a lolly stick into each segment and dip into the toffee. Leave to set in the fridge with the whole apples for 10 minutes then decorate with your coating of choice.

Slow Cooked Beef Stew and Dumplings Recipe

Ingredients:

400g diced beef

1 Onion, diced

2 medium carrots, Chopped into chunks

Small suede, peeled and chopped

2 potatoes, peeled and chopped into large chunks

2 parsnips, peeled and chopped into chunks

600ml beef stock (2 stock cubes)

2 tbsp worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tbsp cornflour

Method:

Add all your ingredients, apart from the cornflour, into the slow cooker, pop on low and leave for 5-7 hours.
In the last hour of cooking, mix your cornflour with 1.5tbsp water then pour into the slow cooker. Mix well then add your dumplings on top and leave to cook for the last hour.

Dumplings:

375g self raising flour

1 tsp salt

75g butter

1 tsp baking powder

250ml milk

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl, add the butter then rub with your fingertips until breadcrumbs are formed.
Add in the milk and mix until the dough is well combined. Roll into balls and place on top of the stew in the slow cooker.

So, this bonfire night, stay safe indoors and have fun.