Parkin ~ Happy Bonfire Night!

"Remember, remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot

I see no reason, why gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot."

It’s Guy Fawkes Night here in the UK, also known as Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night. It is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605 in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, England. In the United Kingdom, celebrations take place in towns and villages across the country, they involve fireworks displays and the building of bonfires on which traditionally an effigy of Guy Fawkes is burnt. The 5th of November is a great chance to cook some good old-fashioned comfort food to keep you warm and fill you up. Parkin is a traditional Yorkshire recipe for a Bonfire Night treat. This yummy ginger cake recipe will get you fired up. I love this delicious, sticky parkin served with a mug of hot steaming Horlicks! Happy Bonfire Night!

Parkin

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients
oil, for greasing
225g self-raising flour
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
115g caster sugar
60g butter
115g golden syrup
225ml milk

Method
Preheat the oven to 150°C/gas 2. Grease a 25 x 18cm cake tin and line with greased greaseproof paper. Sift the flour, ginger and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Stir in the egg and then the caster sugar, mixing well. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and the golden syrup, stirring to mix. Remove from the heat and stir in the milk. Gradually stir the milk mixture into the flour and egg mixture. Stir until smooth, then pour into the prepared tin. Bake for about 1 hour or until the mixture starts to shrink away from the sides of the tin. Remove from the oven and turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares and serve, preferably after about 3 to 4 days when the parkin will have become nice and sticky.

Hope your night goes off with a bang!