< Previous40 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING meals! Many people start to feel a little bummed out come the end of summer, so here are some exotic meals from around the world, to bring a little excitement back into the home. Exotic Chicken Shawarma Serves 2 Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Allergens: Dairy, Gluten You’ll need: * 2 Chicken Breasts * 1 tsp Paprika * 1 tsp Ground Coriander * 1 tsp Cumin * 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika * 1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt * 1/2 tsp ground Black Pepper * 1 Lemon, juiced * 4 tbsp Greek Yoghurt * 3 Garlic cloves, crushed What to do: * Dice the chicken breast and place in a bowl with the spices, 1 tbsp of yoghurt, and 1/2 the lemon juice and 1 of the crushed garlic cloves. Leave to marinate for at least 20 minutes. * Heat a frying pan with a small splash of olive oil and fry the chicken until cooked through. * Make a sauce by mixing the rest of the yoghurt, lemon juice, garlic and season. Loosen with a splash of water if necessary. * Lay the vegetables on the flatbread and top with the chicken, Opies Mini Gherkins, and sauce. Wrap it up using tin foil to hold it in place. To serve: * Lettuce, shredded * 1 large Tomato, sliced * 1/2 Red Onion, thinly sliced * 1/2 jar Opies Mini Gherkins * 2 x Flatbreads FOOD & DINING LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 Lemon & Ginger Thai Green Curry Serves 2 Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Allergens: Fish, shellfish. Check allergens of curry paste as may include nuts. You’ll need: * 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil * 1 small Onion, finely chopped * 2 cloves Garlic, minced * 2-3 tablespoons Thai green curry paste (adjust to taste) * 400ml can of Coconut Milk * 1 Opies Stem Ginger Ball, grated * 1/2 jar Opies Lemon Slices, drained * 100g Sugar Snap Peas * 100g Baby Corn, halved * 300g Prawns, deshelled * 1 tablespoon Fish Sauce (adjust to taste) * 1 tablespoon Sugar * Juice of 1 Lemon * Fresh Coriander (cilantro) leaves for garnish What to do: * Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. * Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes until it begins to soften. * Add the Thai green curry paste to the pan and fry for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly to release the flavours. * Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook for another minute until fragrant. * Pour in the coconut milk and add the lemon slices. Stir well to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. * Add the peas and baby corn to the pan. Allow the vegetables to simmer in the curry sauce for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are tender but still crisp. * Stir in the prawns and cook for 3-4 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. * Season the curry with fish sauce, sugar, and lemon juice. Adjust the seasonings to taste, adding more fish sauce for saltiness or sugar for sweetness if needed. * Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving with steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles. Tip: Make this vegan by replacing the prawns for tofu or extra vegetables. Alternatively, swap out the prawns for cooked chicken breast but make sure food is piping hot when serving. To promote your services call Angie Cooper on 01472 310302 or email: a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk Click’em Inn Swinhope, Nr Binbrook, Market Rasen, LN8 6BS Tel: 01472 398253 Web: www.clickem-inn.co.uk The Click’em Inn is a family-owned freehouse, established for over 30 years in its current incarnation. Steeped in history, the inn is open 6 days a week, Tuesday- Sunday, offering a wide choice of drinks, including six real ales available at any time, with a regularly changing selection of personally recommended guest ales. The Kitchen is open Tuesday-Sunday for evening dining, plus lunchtimes Friday-Sunday. The menu varies from day-to-day with the chef’s specials, alongside regular meals. 42 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Beef Bourguignon with a Cheesy Garlic What to do: * Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / Gas 5. Add the porcini to a small bowl and cover with hot water then set aside. Season the beef very generously then toss in the flour to lightly coat. * Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large oven-proof casserole dish on high. Shake off the excess flour and add the beef, frying in batches until evenly browned. Remove using a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate. * Deglaze the pan with 4 tablespoons of the reserved pickled walnut liquor to help loosen any brown bits on the bottom of the pan, then drain the porcini and add the water to the pan too before roughly chopping the porcini. Add another tablespoon of oil, reduce heat to medium then add the onions and garlic, fry for 4-5 minutes before adding the beef, tomato puree, wine, beef stock, bay leaves, thyme, sugar and porcini. Stir, cover with a lid and transfer to the oven for 2 hours. * Remove the dish from the oven and add the carrots, then cover and return to the oven for 1 hour or until the carrots are cooked through and the meat is tender. Halve the pickled walnuts and place on top of the stew. * To make the cheesy garlic bread, combine the mozzarella, cheddar cheese, butter, garlic and parsley in a bowl. Season and spread the mixture over the baguette slices. Arrange the baguette slices on top of the stew so they overlap with each other and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Remove, sprinkle with parsley and serve hot. Hints and tips: This dish can be frozen - follow until step 5. Defrost thoroughly then add the cheesy garlic bread and reheat in the oven. Bread Topping Serves 6 - 8 Meal Occasion: Midweek Meal, Family Favourite, One-Pot, Slow Cooked Cooking time: 3 hours + Allergens: Dairy, Gluten, nuts, sulphites (check wine). Check stock cube for any additional allergens. You’ll need: * 15g dried porcini * 1kg beef shin, diced * Salt and pepper, to taste * 75g plain flour * 4 tablespoons vegetable oil * 1 jar Opies Pickled Walnuts, pickling liquor reserved * 2 medium onions, cut into chunks * 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed whole * 1 tbsp tomato puree * 450ml red wine * 1l beef stock * 3 bay leaves * 1/2 tsp thyme * 11/2 tsp sugar * 200g carrots, peeled and chopped For the cheesy garlic bread : * 1 baguette, cut into slices diagonally * 1 ball of mozzarella, diced * 80g mature cheddar cheese, grated * 50g butter, softened * 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped * Handful fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped FOOD & DINING LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 Korean Beef Bulgogi Serves 6 Meal occasion: Midweek meal Preparation time: 20 minutes (plus extra time for chilling and marinating) Cooking time: 15 minutes Allergens: Soy, Sesame You’ll need: * 680g Steak (frying, rib eye, rump or sirloin) * 1/2 small Pear, peeled and coarsely grated * 60g Soy Sauce (use reduced sodium if you’re watching your salt intake) * 2 tbsp Brown Sugar * 2 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil * 3 cloves of Garlic, minced * 5 balls Opies Stem Ginger (thinly sliced) plus 2tsp of syrup * 1 tbsp Sriracha Sauce (or Gochujang sauce or paste for authenticity) * 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil * 2 Spring Onions, thinly sliced * 1 tsp Toasted Sesame Seeds (optional) flipping once, until the steak is charred and cooked through - this will take about 2-3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and steak. * Thinly slice the remaining 2 balls of stem ginger and spring onions. * Garnish the cooked steak with the ginger slices, onions and sesame seeds, if using. Hints and Tips: If you like things extra spicy, top with some spicy chilli sauce - preferably Gochujang which is an authentic Korean sauce. If you want to go carb-free, then serve the beef in lettuce cups rather than with rice. What to do: * Wrap the steak in cling film and place in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up. Unwrap and slice across the grain into thin slices. * In a medium bowl combine the pear, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, three balls of stem ginger, 2 teaspoons of the ginger syrup and sriracha sauce (or gochujang if using). Add in the steak, mix well, and marinate for at least 2 hours (or overnight), stirring occasionally. * Add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to a cast iron griddle pan over medium-high heat. Add half of the marinated steak to the grill pan in a single layer and cook, This month’s recipes provided by Bennett Opies. www.bennettopie.com • @OpiesFoods 44 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY EDUCATION S eptember is a busy time for schools, whether it be starting a new year, a new school, moving to university or considering any of the above. There may well be someone you know in their final year of one school, and then the question becomes of where they will go after. With A-level results having been released last month, it’s easy to look at schools based solely on how well students have done, but results aren’t everything, and they’re often skewed by geographical location in the UK as well. What we are seeing is that parents are taking the time to be picky – which is by no means a bad thing. It used to be that schools were just picked based on how close they were, or their average grades, but parents are now much more aware of a myriad of other factors, from extracurricular activities, sports, health (mental as well as physical) and inclusivity. Grades are important, of course they are, but in a world where more and more people are questioning what it means to be a part of the workforce, and seeking jobs that fulfil them, there has been a lot more care taken with our children’s educations. Lincolnshire is a large county and has a lot of different schools in it. Some are local, some not-so-local, and some have boarding facilities, which might seem a drastic step for some parents, but might be just what others, working long hours and not having availability, need. The search for the perfect school can be difficult however, and there is always the question: when does it start? The best time to start looking for the right school is any time, but we would advise that you don’t leave it too late. Two years before is good, and one year is alright, but if your child is ending their school term next year, then it’s certainly worth starting now and not leaving it too late, as the best schools do tend to have their places snapped up quickly, and you don’t want to be told your child will have to settle for their second or third choice – not if the reason for that is because of lack of action on the parents’ side. What are the important things to look for in a school, however? The first thing, and the most obvious, is results. Results- based analysis is often touted as a mistake, but it’s hard to think of it that way when dealing with your child’s future. High grades are a matter of the effort of the student for certain, but high grades Never too early It’s never too early to start thinking about your child’s future, and never too early to look at new schools. We delve here into what to look out for, what to consider, and when to start looking. 46 Á © stock.adobe.com/GorodenkoffStay local, Study local UCNL Information & Advice Office, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN16 1BU tel:(01724) 294125 email:enquiries@ucnl.ac.uk website:www.ucnl.ac.uk UCNLofficial@UCNLofficialFollow us on social media: Part of OUR WEBSITE Places still available to study Adam was seeking a new challenge and chose to study at the University Campus North Lincolnshire. Entering higher education at 36-years-old presented some nerves for Adam, but despite this, he quickly found his feet and enjoyed the challenge of studying for a degree. Initially enrolling onto our FDSc Health & Social Care course, Adam quickly discovered a passion in the mental health sphere, leading to a subsequent final-year transfer to UCNL’s BSc Mental Health and Wellbeing programme. A;er graduating, Adam gained employment with North Lincolnshire Council in the Public Health Team, specifically in Mental Health and Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention. Seven months later, he was promoted to Training and Support Officer within the team. Speaking about these achievements, Adam says they were “opportunities I would never have had were it not for UCNL!” Speaking about the supportive approach afforded to every student, Adam says UCNL’s inclusive environment not only helped him succeed, but fellow peers at our North Lincolnshire campus. “I don’t think you could find better without travelling for miles and miles. UCNL have a wonderful building in the heart of Scunthorpe with great facilities available. #e tutors are some of the best people I have ever met. #ey are so keen and willing to share their knowledge and expertise and they all really thrive on seeing their students achieve their absolute best. I honestly do not think you could find tutors on the same level at any other university.” Graduate Profile Adam Brown – Course(s) studied: FDSc Health & Social Care & BSc Mental Health & Wellbeing46 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY EDUCATION on average implies the school does a good job of keeping a child’s attention and ensuring them the best lessons they can possibly have. That said, academic prowess might not be the only thing you look for, especially if your child has needs that extend beyond simple grades. Some schools are rightfully praised for their contribution to children with special needs, or who might have learning difficulties, and a little research can go a long way to making sure you pick the right one. It’s always best to research first and then visit – paying attention to open days – to get a first hand look at how the school operates, and what facilities they have to offer. While you’re there, consider looking and listening to the language used and seeing what the school is passionate about. All schools will claim to be passionate about the children, and that will likely be true, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have specialities that will show up if you dig deeper. Perhaps one school is more well-known for its art and drama scene, or perhaps another regularly attends science competitions or does well in sport. Schools will always be eager to show off any awards or trophies they’ve earned, and these rightfully reflect strong areas for them, so pay attention to what is on offer and what they boast about – because these are things they will do well by your child with. If your child wants to pursue a career in sport, drama, music, art or anything else, then picking a school based on their grades in maths and science might not be doing them the best service. It’s tempting to shake such ideas away and point them toward more traditional jobs, but one look at the jobs market today should tell you that’s not necessarily the best approach. The economy is changing and the rise of successful and wealthy influencers is showing that you can make a career from almost any path. That’s not to say the core subjects aren’t important, but they are not the be all and end all, and you should keep in mind what your child wants. Finally, don’t forget to consider the logistical aspects of a new school. This could include bus routes, travel times or © stock.adobe.com/Halfpoint © stock.adobe.com/Chinnapong even if you want to consider a boarding school. There has been a shift towards this in recent times (they do say all fashions come around sooner or later and boarding schools used to be very popular before). The idea of boarding schools took a hit due to movies and TV shows, and some claiming that they somehow imply less care for our children, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Boarding schools give children a chance to experience freedom early and learn responsibility, and only mirror what most experience when they go to university. Boarding schools can have different rules and timetables with regard to the boarding, including some that send students home over the weekends, so be sure to look around for what is best for you, and to make sure your children are happy with the idea. We definitely suggest bringing them along for open days on this matter, as the move can be quite the intimidating thought at first and seeing how it works in action (and how easy it is) can go a long way to alleviating concerns. There’s a lot of schools to pick from in Lincolnshire, and that can get confusing. Don’t make the mistake of only looking at what is closest, and certainly don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s still two or three years until your child has to move on. It’s better to visit and look now and prepare in advance than it is to leave things too late.LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 EDUCATION E very Child is formed from the belief that every child is creative, but not every child is able to express that creativity. With almost 36% of children in Lincoln living in poverty, many are forced to miss out on creative experiences. Lincoln Arts Centre are working with schools across the county to make sure there students don’t miss out on creative experiences, if you’d like to access Every Child tickets, please ask your school administrator to contact Lincoln Arts Centre. This initiative is a branch of their broader goals to widen participation to arts across the region; for example, the Arts Centre recently made a direct investment of £165,000 into new or established artists and their work. These funds supported Zest Theatre’s Camp Phoenix, a production which saw over 600 children participating in creating the performance which toured nationally with a youth cast. The Every Child scheme endeavours to see every person below the age of 12 offered the opportunity to see one of four productions that are gracing the Lincoln Arts Centre stage this Autumn: Room on the Broom, Curious Investigators, Science: Live on Stage or The Snow Queen. Every Child is powered by donations. To support the campaign to ensure that every child has access to creative experiences, you can donate to the scheme on the Lincoln Arts Centre website: lincolnartscentre.co.uk . Lincoln Arts Centre: Every Child Lincoln Arts Centre have announced their new season and are making sure as many children as possible can visit for free through their donation scheme Every Child. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 EDUCATION QE is set within a 220-acre, secluded site within the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside between Harrogate and York where it welcomes boarders from Year 3 to Year 13. At the heart of QE boarding there are three characteristics; opportunity, individuality, and a supportive community. Children are cared for by specialist staff who make boarding feel like home, promote independence, and who are separate to academic staff. QE has won or been a finalist in several prestigious boarding awards including BSA Belonging and Inclusion (finalist, 2024), BSA Innovation in Boarding (won, 2022), TES Boarding School of the Year (finalist, 2022) and Muddy Stilettos’ Outstanding Pastoral Care (finalist, 2022). The hustle around campus makes the school feel like a town. Students have access to an activity centre with a home cinema, climbing wall, weekend fast-food café and a selection of board games and game consoles. In addition, the campus has a medical centre, gym, swimming pool, uniform and essentials shop, tuck shop, coffee shop, 312-seat theatre, practice rooms, and plenty of outdoor space. Students take advantage of specialist academic support during ‘Power Hour’ and homework prep sessions to boost their understanding and knowledge of various topics. There are over 100 extra- curricular activities onsite covering a wide range of sports, art and design subjects, music, dance, drama, technology, life skills, and academic areas. There is plenty on offer at weekends too, including performing arts and creative arts academies, timetabled activities, and exciting trips to local cities, towns and activity centres. QE prides itself on its quality accommodation. Students in Years 6 to 13 have ensuite bedrooms with TVs, phones, desks and storage and every boarding house includes a modern, well- equipped common room for socialising and downtime. Sixth form students also have items like game consoles, coffee machines, ovens, kettles and washing machines whereas younger students have specialised dorms and common rooms designed for little people. There are chill-out spaces, a wellness room and study pods in addition to a communal open plan kitchen dining space. To learn more, visit qe.org, attend our September 28th open morning, or email admissions@qe.org to book a tour. Boarding at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) Next >