Slow food, classic fun and winter warmers: How to have a cosy night in this winter

The freezing weather has everyone craving a bit of old-fashioned bonding by the fire! No matter who you’re holed up with this winter, try these traditional ideas for fun and games.

From cooking a jaw-dropping romantic meal for your partner, to a classic card game by the fire with the family, or camping in the backyard and snacking on freshly charred corn from the gas BBQ, these winter ideas will warm your heart.

Winter games nights for traditional family fun

Starting a tradition of family game nights can create treasured memories that will last a lifetime. In future years, when you look back on what you did during winter 2020, you won’t remember the time you spent scrolling social media or doing chores, but you might find memories of laughing yourself silly during a game of Twister are the kind of things that stick with you!

So, set down the screens and set up a standing date with the whole family for a regular games night this winter. Make sure you give the event a sense of occasion, which might mean designing invitations to give the night a formal feel (and set up the excitement in advance!). Older kids might like dressing to a theme, such as the 80s or 90s. You could vote on the game selection, or stick to old favourites like Guess Who, Go Fish or invent a game like competitive LEGO building. Find a way to end the night the same way each time, perhaps jumping into flannelette PJs and reading a favourite family story by the fire for that proper magical fairytale feel (if you don’t already have a hearth, make it easy on yourself and opt for a Natural Gas fireplace which is totally mess-free!).

Dinner for Two

Turning an ordinary evening into a night to remember can be easy as pie - literally as easy as making a pie (with a burned-butter caramel sauce, of course)! If your other half is in need of a little TLC, try a romantic night in, cooking up a three (or four, or five!) course menu from soup to roasted nuts. Instead of splurging on an expensive meal at a restaurant, especially with restrictions in place, make use of your kitchen basics. If you’re lucky enough to have Natural Gas, you’re perfectly placed for a night of precision cooking, whether your significant other is craving seared steak, delicately poached fish, or grilled prawns.

For dessert, go all-out and put the gas cooktop’s wizardry on show by creating a crazy kazandibi, which is a burnished-bottom Turkish milk pudding described as a ‘fire-licked marshmallow’. If your kitchen fitout doesn’t extend to a flambe to crème brûlée, keep it to a low-fuss night in with a pancake stack (or consider a few kitchen upgrades so you can readily cook like a professional chef!).

Backyard Camping

This winter, traveling might be limited, but there’s no restriction on taking a trip to your own backyard and making the most of outdoor living! Start with a garden party around the BBQ in the afternoon, serving up platters of fresh charred corn from the gas grill. Then as night falls, gather around for ghost stories, games of torch ‘spotlight’, or simple star-gazing from a picnic blanket spread out under the sky. No campout is complete without a fire, so stock up on marshmallows to toast. For those new to camping, a Natural Gas fire pit is a great place to start. Keep in mind that any form of outdoor gas heating can extend your indoor activity to outdoors all year round, making gas a smart and cost-effective choice. Don’t forget sleeping bags for the kids (and adults) and at bedtime, whip up a warm hot chocolate before snuggling down for an outdoor snooze. The bonus part is, if you forget anything (like the tent pegs!), you’re just steps away from home.

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