I know of many people who see this as a US holiday gone mad over here in the UK, and that shops are all out to make a pound or two from something that has no place over here. When actually Halloween or should that be Samhain goes back hundreds of years!!! if you look into it you'll see it was celebrated up and down the UK, Traditionally, Samhain was a time to take stock of the herds and food supplies, it is one of the four main festivals of the Gaelic calendar,(Imbolic,Beltain, Lughnasadh) it marks the last harvest and beginning of winter. Like all beginnings and endding, theres always a celebration, and Samhain is no different, people would gather and have big feasts, eat drink and get merry and mark the end of the harvest year, some places would even light big bonfires on the high hills to warn off evils spirits,. and where does the dressing up come into it? Well back then people were very superstitious, so by wearing costumes and masks it may have been seen as a way to befuddle, ward-off or represent the harmful spirits and fairies so as not to be taken away into the night. Guising or mumming was common at winter festivals in general, but was "particularly appropriate to a night upon which supernatural beings were said to be abroad".
So its alot more than just seeing how many sweets you can get!
Samhian/Halloween is a perfect way to spend time with friends and family, celebrations are always fun, i don't need to tell you but a party with dressing up and themed food is always a winner, I look forward to the day when i have my own little ones, who will get all dressed up and enjoy the fun of the season, Many don't like it when the night gets darker and it feels like it'll be a long old time before the warm nights are with us once more, But for me Halloween and Bonfire night make it all worth it, Apple bobbin, sticky toffee apples, mulled cider and watching fireworks blast the sky it with a rainbow of colour is great!!!
So what did i get up to? We stayed in watched "The Walking Dead" and ate delightful feast of cider glazed sausages in ciabatta bread!
I found the recipe on Tesco Food! it was from the Bonfire night recipe ideas!
Ingredients
- 800g (1.75lb) echalion shallots
- 200ml (1/3pt) English cider
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp wholegrain mustard
- 12 pork sausages
- 2 ciabattas, split lengthways and cut in thirds
Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, fan 170°C. Put the shallots in an ovenproof dish, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of water, cover with foil and roast for 1 hour. Set aside and leave to cool slightly.
Put the cider, honey and mustardin a small saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes, until the mixture has reduced by about two-thirds.
Meanwhile, put the sausages in a roasting tin and cook for 10 minutes, then coat with half the glaze and put back into the oven to cook for a further 10 minutes.
Squeeze the cooked shallots out of their skins, roughly chop, then stir in with the sausages. Brush the meat with the rest of the glaze, then return the tin to the oven for 5-10 minutes until everything is golden brown and sticky. Put the ciabatta in the oven for 5 minutes. Season the sausages, then spoon 2 sausages and some shallots onto each warmed ciabatta bap and serve.
This was sooooo tasty!!! perfect comfort for a night such as last night, what with it being very windy and stormy, I hope you all had a lovely eve!!!
xXx
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