It's nearly that time of year again – the shops are filled to the brim with super-sized bags of sweets, pumpkins, children's fancy dress, pumpkins, toffee apples and fireworks. It can only mean one thing – Halloween and Bonfire Night are just around the corner!
You may have already decided to throw your own party this year, in which case, why not check out our fantastic recipe?
If, however, you don't want to have to deal with guests and the inevitable clean-up, thebestof Thurrock has found a selection of Halloween-inspired events taking place in the local area:
Halloween 2012 in Thurrock
From October 29th until November 2nd, Lakeside Shopping Centre is organising a range of free Halloween-themed half term activities for the whole family. Every day there will be spooky monster stories at 11am, 1pm and 3pm every day on level 1 outside Debenhams, complete with a mini bag of Spooky Sweets. Alternatively, why not take a trip to the Halloween Garden and decorate your very own lantern just in time to go Trick or Treating?
It doesn't matter if you're a member of Lakeside's Little Monsters or not – all activities are free.
Creative Blast will be presenting a Halloween Workshop from 10am until 4pm on Thursday 1st November 2012 at the Thameside Theatre, Thurrock. This one day workshop is aimed at 6 to 16 year olds, costs £18 and involves spooky games and learning horrifying stories to scare your family and friends. www.thurrock.gov.uk/theatre/ Tickets are available from the Thameside Theatre Box Office.
Come along to Thurrock Rugby Football Club from 7:30pm until midnight on November 3rd and take a Halloween Terror Changing Rooms Tour, followed by a fancy dress party. My experience of rugby club parties means you're probably going to be in for a very interesting night! Entry is £3 per adult; £1.50 per child.
Bonfire Toffee
The whole point of Bonfire Night food is to warm you up after an evening watching the sky light up with fireworks.
Now, although toffee may not automatically make you feel all warm and cosy, believe me when I say that after working out that jaw on this dark and chewy delight, you'll be shedding the scarf!
Ingredients:
Oil for greasing
125ml hot water
450g soft dark brown sugar
¼ tsp cream of tartar
115g black treacle
115g golden syrup
Line an A4-sized tin with greaseproof paper and grease it well with the oil.
Add the sugar and water to a heavy-based saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Do not stir the mixture; tilt the pan if required.
Once the sugar has dissolved, add all remaining ingredients and put a sugar thermometer in. Again, try not to stir the mixture.
Bring to the boil and simmer for up to 30 minutes until you reach 'soft crack' on your sugar thermometer – 270/140C. Once it reaches this temperature, pour the mixture into your tin and leave it to cool.
Once your toffee has cooled, break it into pieces using a rolling pin or toffee hammer and enjoy!
