For me, the best marshmallow is a burnt marshmallow – well, maybe not burnt but definitely toasted. Heating a marshmallow caramelises the sugar and gives the marshmallow that delicious roasted flavour. It’s not exactly outdoorsy weather at the minute but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this family favourite sweet treat indoors.
You might have seen these little gel burners online – they’re odourless, smokeless and non-toxic so perfect for indoor use. The metal pots contain bio-ethanol (or chafing gel) and you can pick up a tin for a couple of pound. They have a burn time of 2-3 hours. To extinguish the flame, ready to use again, simply pop the lid back on.
Obviously, you’re dealing with fire here so adult supervision is always required. Never leave an open flame unattended and keep long hair and clothing well away.
So, bring the family together, grab a skewer and reminisce about warm summer nights in the garden while kicking back in front of the TV in the comfort and warmth of your front room. Enjoy!
Burn’s Night this year falls on Wednesday, 25th January 2023
Burn’s Night is a pretty big celebration in any Scots calendar, and for good reason. The annual festivities are a welcome excuse for fine food, music, dancing, and boasting about Scotland’s cultural contribution to the world.
What Is Burn’s Night?
Burn’s Night is celebrated on or around January 25th. It commemorates the life of poet Robert Burns, who was born on January 25th, 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland.
The centrepiece of any Burn’s Night celebration is the traditional supper, where Burns’ famous verses are matched with Scotland’s most famed food and drink.
Celebrating Burn’s Night
Below, I’m sharing the recipes for the food we’ll be eating on Burn’s Night.
This chicken dish is stuffed with haggis and served with lashings of creamy whisky sauce. It’s a perfect main for a Burns Night supper alongside a dram of your favourite scotch.
INGREDIENTS (serves 2)
– 2 Chicken Breasts
– 80g Haggis
– 6-8 Rashers of Back Bacon
– 100ml Chicken Stock
– 100ml Double Cream
– Splash of Whiskey
– Drizzle of Oil
METHOD
Heat the oven to Gas 4 or equivalent.
Cut each chicken breast horizontally to form a pocket.
Lightly break up the haggis with a fork, divide it in to two then stuff the breasts with the haggis.
Wrap each stuffed breast with the bacon.
Heat a drizzle of oil in a frying pan on a medium-high heat. Sear the chicken, about 5 mins on each side or until golden brown.
Transfer the chicken breasts in to an oven dish and roast for 35-40 mins until cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the oven and let rest on a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.
Using the pan you seared the chicken in, pop it on a low-medium heat, add the chicken stock and whiskey and allow to thicken.
Once reduced, add the double cream and season with salt and black pepper.
Serve the Chicken Balmoral with neeps and tatties and a drizzle of the whiskey sauce.
We’re not massive cows milk drinkers in this household (truth be told, dairy upsets my stomach and I suffer for hours after consuming it) I don’t miss milk at all except when I need it for Yorkshire puddings.
We’d planned a roast for dinner tonight and there was no milk of any kind in the fridge. I decided to try my regular recipe substituting the milk for water and it totally worked! The Yorkshire puddings were paler in colour than our usual but taste wise they were almost identical.
So, if you need to make Yorkshire puddings without milk due to allergies/intolerances (or because, like me, you don’t have any milk in) give these a go. Leave me a comment below with how they turned out.
INGREDIENTS
– 140g Plain Flour
– 4 Eggs
– 200ml Water
– Oil For Cooking
METHOD
Step 1: Heat the oven to gas mark 8 or equivalent.
Step 2: Drizzle a little oil in to a 12 cavity muffin tin and place in the oven to heat through.
Step 3: Combine the flour and beaten eggs. Slowly add the water and mix until the batter is completely smooth and lump free. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Pop the batter in to a jug. Remove the muffin tin from the oven and carefully pour the mixture evenly in to the 12 holes.
Step 5: Place the tin back in to the oven and leave to cook, undisturbed, for 30 mins or until well risen and browned.
During the run up to Christmas I seen these everywhere! I found a semi circle silicon mould at the back of my cupboard so wanted to find out how difficult chocolate bombs are to make – turns out, they’re pretty easy.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
– silicon mould
– chocolate
– hot chocolate powder
– mini marshmallows
– sprinkles
Step 1 – Melt the chocolate and, using a spoon, cover the mould. Pop it in to the freezer until the chocolate has fully set.
Step 2 – Once set, carefully pop the chocolate shells out of the mould.
Step 3 – Fill one half of the chocolate bomb with mini marshmallows and hot chocolate powder.
Step 4 – Melt the edges of the unfilled half by placing it on a warmed plate for a few seconds then pop it on to the filled half.
Step 5 – Allow the edges to set. Drizzle the chocolate bombs with melted chocolate and top with sprinkles.
Step 6 – Pop the chocolate bombs in to hot milk and enjoy!
Boxing Day. The morning after the day before. If your fridge is anything like mine, it’s currently full of plates and bowls of cooked food from Christmas Day lunch. Below are a few ideas to turn yesterday’s surplus in to today’s (and tomorrow’s!) tasty meals.
Turkey Curry
Whether you cook it from scratch or using a sauce from a jar, I think there’ll be a few households tucking in to this absolute classic today.
Surf & Turf Tacos
I’ve called these Surf & Turf because we have beef and prawns leftover but, when it comes to tacos, anything goes! Fry off sliced onions and peppers with herbs and spices then add in your meat. Serve in tortillas with salad, sour cream and guacamole.
Turkey Bolognese
Add shredded turkey to a simple ragù and serve with your choice of pasta. A firm family favourite among us.
Broth
Possibly the easiest meal to make with your leftovers. Pre-soak some pearl barley. Throw your veggies, gammon and pearl barley in to stock and bring to the boil. Season and serve with warm crusty bread. The ultimate comfort food.
Turkey Chilli
Shredded turkey, kidney beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic and chilli powder – super easy, super tasty. Serve with rice or on top of nachos.
Pizza
This is a good one to get the kids involved with. Top pizzas bases (or tortillas) with tomato purée, cheese and whatever else you fancy. Bung it in the oven until the base is crispy and the cheese has melted then enjoy.
Sandwiches
If the thought of even turning the cooker on after yesterday fills you with dread, get a couple of slices of bread and make yourself the supreme snack – a sandwich!
I think we’ve all accepted Christmas 2020 is going to be a little bit different. Rather than dwell on what we’re missing out on, here’s a list of things we can still enjoy regardless of what rules are in place.
As temperatures start to drop, hunt out your hats, gloves & scarves and go for a seasonal stroll. National Trust have brilliant COVID secure measures in place with timed entries and one way systems (bookable entry slots are released every Friday for the following week).
I wonder how many more hours of video calls have been made throughout 2020 compared to last year. When we can’t see people face-to-face, video calling is definitely the next best thing.
5. Get Crafty
From wreaths to wrapping paper, hampers to snow globes. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating items yourself. Pinterest is full of ideas for homemade Christmas crafts. So, grab the ribbons & fake flowers and get the glue gun turned on.
6. Go Virtual
Most companies have had to adjust the way they operate this year and a lot have moved experiences on line. Quizzes, escape rooms, murder mystery nights, pantomimes – when we can’t have the usual Christmas night out, these are a good way to “meet up” and have a laugh (and you can do them in a PJ’s!). Last week we tried an online experience from https://thepanicroomonline.net and thoroughly enjoyed it.
7. Drive In Movie Experience
Get cosy in the car and enjoy a festive film. There’s a few Drive In Cinema Experiences popping up throughout the North East, a quick google will bring up any still with availability.
8. Games Night
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a game of monopoly, am I right? And now Evie & Harry are a little older, I don’t feel guilty playing to win! We also enjoy Cluedo, Articulate and Dobble. What are your favourite board games?
9. Keep Your Traditions
Whether its Elf On The Shelf or Christmas Eve Boxes, writing to Santa or making gingerbread houses – if you have any traditions, do them and go totally OTT with them all! If you don’t have any Christmas Customs, maybe this is the year to start one.
10. Enjoy a more relaxed pace and a less hectic December
Yes, we’ll miss seeing friends and family but the thought of not having to rush about with that feeling of panic does have a certain appeal. I’ll be fully embracing a quieter Christmas with these three 😊.
North East Eats and Kids 