< PreviousYou’ll need: 2x Aubergines4 x Courgettes 2x Red or yellow peppers4 x ripe tomatoes 5 tbsp olive oilBasil 1x onion, peeled and sliced3 x garlic cloves 1 tbsp red wine vinegar1tsp sugar What to do: Cut aubergines in half lengthways, then place them cut-down on a board and cut them lengthways again, before across into chunks of about 1.5cm. Cut the ends off the courgettes and slice them into similarly sized chunks Peel the peppers from stalk to bottom, cutting around the stalk and separate into three pieces. Cut away any membrane and slice evenly. Cut a small cross into the bases of each tomato, place in a heatproof bowl and blanch them by pouring boiling water over them for 20-30 seconds. Then peel the skin away and quarter the tomatoes, scraping away any seeds. Set a sauté pan over medium heat. When hot add 2 tbsp olive oil. Brown the aubergines on both sides for 5 minutes each side until soft, then set aside. Fry the courgettes in another tbsp of olive oil for 5 minutes (or until golden on all sides). Repeat with the peppers. Tear any leaves from the basil and set aside. Cook thinly sliced onion in a pan for 5 minutes, then add the three crushed cloves of garlic and fry for a further 1 minute. Stir in a tbsp of red wine vinegar and 1 tsp sugar, then tip in the tomatoes and basil. Return the other vegetables (aubergine, pepper, courgettes) to pan with some salt and pepper, cook for 5 minutes and serve with basil. Ratatouille 40 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING Deliciously Deliciously Lincolnshire Platinum Awarded for outstanding quality and service by LincolnshireToday award WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET The Cross Keys The pub with the view To make a booking please call us on 01652 628247 Brigg Road, Grasby, Lincolnshire DN38 6AQ E: info@crosskeys‐grasby.co.uk W: www.crosskeysinngrasby.co.uk - Fine Ale - Good Food - Great Pub The Cross Keys’ menus are all about brilliant ingredients cooked simply to let the flavours shine. The Cross Keys Bottomless Brunch 11am - 2pm 90 minutes sitting £29.95pp including drinks Ever changing cocktails to keep things interesting Keep an eye on our Facebook page for our Valentine’s Menu © stock.adobe.com/Sławomir Fajer Bring a touch of Parisian class to your kitchen with this old French classic straight out of the titular movie. 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:37 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 A pretty pink-hued cocktail perfect for a romantic Valentine’s dinner – a crisp and fresh flavour that isn’t too heavy and is as delicious as it is easily made. FOOD & DINING Picture your venue 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. BACARDÍ Old Cuban You’ll need: 2 oz. BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho Rum 2 ½ oz. Martini & Rossi® Prosecco 4 mint leaves 1 oz. simple syrup 1 oz. lime juice 2 dashes of bitters What to do: Combine all the ingredients (except prosecco) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Double strain, and top with prosecco. Garnish with a mint leaf float. Special Edition Chocolate Willingham Hall, Market Rasen, LN8 3RH Tel: 01673 844073 Web: www.specialeditionchocolate.co.uk Treat yourself or someone to our beautiful handmade chocolates. Free delivery January and February quoting LT1222 38-41.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:37 Page 442 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY VALENTINE’S DAY © st ock. adobe .com/P rost ock -studio 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:39 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 VALENTINE’S DAY With lockdown lifted, we suddenly have a lot more options this Valentine’s – our suggestion is not to squander that opportunity, and to go all out! Thankfully for the month of love, lockdown has been lifted and we’re free to go out and enjoy the sights and sounds of Lincolnshire. This couldn’t come too soon for the economy, but also for many couples across the county who have found their relationship stressed by lockdown. It’s said that love can conquer all, and it certainly can, but that’s not to say there aren’t ups and downs here or there. Lockdown had a profound effect on relationships, causing some to flourish and some to falter, and many new relationships to peter out entirely as people who had only been dating for a short amount of time were 44 Á Something new this Valentine’s Something new this Valentine’s 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:39 Page 244 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY VALENTINE’S DAY suddenly left struggling to find opportunities to meet at all. Relationships live or die on time and proximity after all, which is why keeping a long-distance relationship is so difficult. We’re very fortunate then that with lockdown lifted, there are no excuses keeping us from going out and really showing our partners the time of their life – and there’s more reason than ever this year! People have been locked indoors, forced to compromise and set aside their fun for well over a year, so don’t make the mistake of thinking that this year’s Valentine’s can be a lazy one. Show your better half how much they mean by pulling out all the stops and celebrating your relationship as it should be. There are plenty of options for that in Lincolnshire – what with our county being the home of fine food. Any one of the county’s many restaurants will be bringing out their romantic menus, and many of them have had ample time to prepare with the recent lockdown. We always believe that a good meal should be central to any Valentine’s celebration, but it should never be the be all and end all. Go out and let the professionals take care of the food but have more in plan than just that. Whether you want to go home and intimately exchange gifts or recreate a movie night with popcorn, or if you have more plans out is up to you. It’s masks off as well, which will be a great relief to many not wanting to stare adoringly into sanitary equipment. The weather may be crisp still, but it’s getting warmer and brighter, so a visit to a local park or a walk across any of Lincolnshire’s scenic views may be a nice compliment to a good meal. Alternatively, why not consider something you couldn’t have done during lockdown? Lincolnshire has many theatres holding shows and they’ll be eager to get back on the track after lockdown so you may be able to snag some tickets still. The trick, or perhaps the angle, this year should be on diversity – on spoiling each other with all the things you’ve had to give up on for so long, even if that is something as simple as time spent together outdoors. In fact, this year might be a rare one where some couples consider doing their Valentine’s shopping together! While a surprise is normally all the rage, walking down the high streets of Lincolnshire arm in arm might be worth more than that – and we would definitely encourage going out shopping. Online has been our lives for the past year and a bit, so we’re all by now tired of it. Lincolnshire is host to many independent and family businesses that offer a unique range of gifts that are sure to excite. © st ock. adobe .com/ V iacheslav L ak obchuk 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:39 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 VALENTINE’S DAY Museum Boston’s beautiful, medieval Guildhall can be the setting for your special day. Have your ceremony in the stunning banqueting hall, used for centuries for celebrations and have your photographs taken in any of our wonderful historic rooms. For more information please contact us ticboston@boston.gov.uk www.bostonguildhall.co.uk South Street, Boston, PE21 6HT (01205) 365954 Boston Guildhall Museum @bostonguildhall For more information please contact us guildhall@boston.gov.uk www.bostonguildhall.co.uk South Street, Boston, PE21 6HT (01205) 365954 For those who may not have steady or longer-lasting relationships – those who might have been forming a new one before lockdown hit, or who have only been dating for a few weeks or months – it’s more important than ever to make up for lost time. Other, more familiar, couples have had years together to create a buffer against the frustrations caused by being forced to work from home and live together twenty-four/seven, but newer couples may have not enjoyed it to the same degree. Now that those restrictions have been removed, it’s the perfect time to reaffirm the romance that brought you together in the first place, to remind both sides that lockdown was the exception to the rule, and that there was a good reason you were attracted to one another. For those couples, the order of the day may be renewal or rebirth. Lockdown is over, those times are hopefully now gone, and we should get back to having fun and showing our partners just how much they mean to us. Go with a splash this Valentine’s Day. If there has ever been a year not to take it slow, this is it. The mood the past year has been one of constant frustration and fear, so take full advantage of the removal of lockdown to get out there and enjoy Lincolnshire to its fullest. © st ock. adobe .com/ almaje 42-45.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:39 Page 446 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY HEALTH & FITNESS The struggles of What can you do when the need to workout has been replaced by the urge to stay in? How can you work out when the cold weather takes away your motivation to stay healthy? It is undeniable that between lockdowns, working from home, the fear of going out and the inability to go to the gym, the urge to workout has been replaced by the inability to leave the warmth and comfort of your own sofa. People have been struggling to find the motivation to exercise and keep healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and during winter weather conditions this motivation is absolutely nowhere to be found. What was once not just a way to stay healthy, but a way to socialise, unwind and relax now seems like a chore, another burden, and added stress to an already hectic life. It is not surprising many people have been putting off or even completely eliminating working out from their daily routines, as they couldn’t find the time or the desire to do it. But if some people struggled, others found the extra time a blessing and came up with new, creative ways to stay healthy in the comfort of their own homes. Home workouts have become the go-to for many people and there are now so many ways to do it effectively, efficiently and most importantly, safely. There are many apps, free and easy to download, that offer customisable programmes to follow based on the results you wish to achieve. What makes these kind of apps extremely cost-effective is the simplicity; they offer you a wide range of workouts that you can easily do anywhere – from your bedroom to your kitchen - without the need of expensive and overcomplicated equipment. Sometimes they even offer fun tips on how to use your own furniture as an alternative to fancy gym accessories. However, if you want to be more professional and are willing to spend some money on real, authentic gym equipment, you can easily find many accessories that will meet your economic and physical needs. From dumbbells to bikes and treadmill, sport equipment shops, both online and on your local high street, will be happy to provide you with what you need. But always ask for help from experts as they will make sure you leave the store with what will help you achieve your goals. Working out alone in your own house could be a little lonely and scary, there is always a chance of performing an exercise wrong and hurting yourself. If you don’t want to run this risk, it might be a good idea to turn to online or hybrid fitness, which involves enrolling in online programmes offered by gyms, or personal trainers and other professionals, who provide you with on demand classes and show you what to do. Hybrid and online fitness have been very popular during lockdown as they give people a taste of the assistance and one on one approach they would experience in a gym but in the safety of their homes, so you don’t entirely lose the unique approach of an in-person session. Often enrolling in online fitness classes comes with the purchase of equipment, so make sure to pick the right one for you so that your investment is not in vain. Winter and low temperatures might not seem the ideal conditions for outside workouts, but if you prepare yourself enough and plan ahead you can make the most of winter and have the best time. There are many sports and exercises that are perfect for the winter, like hiking and walking, running, or, if you are lucky enough to have easy access to snow and ice rinks, you can ski, snowboard or ice skate. When it comes to winter exercising it is all about being prepared and having the right equipment, starting with shoes and clothing. The right shoes are essential to avoid slipping and falling, while the appropriate clothing will make sure you will stay warm while keeping you fresh. But it’s not just about the cold, winter comes with shorter days, and less time and more chores to do, which might result in the complete lack of motivation to exercise; it might be a good idea to find yourself a workout partner and make plans, have a running programme and start slow. Build up your routine and don’t be afraid to mix it up. Don’t be too hard on yourself, be patient and workout in your own time. If you only have half an hour available to work out every day, or maybe just once a week, that will do. Start slow, don’t set goals that are too big and focus on staying safe and comfortable, but most importantly on having fun, and you’ll find your motivation back in time for spring and the warmer weather. winter workouts winter workouts The struggles of 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:40 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 HEALTH & FITNESS © st ock. adobe .com/bernar dbodo 46-47.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:40 Page 248 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION In 1961, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) was founded to put itself on the front line of support for ground- breaking surgical advancement. Funding from surgeon Donald Ross in the charity’s early days led to him performing the UK’s first heart transplant in 1968. The fact that the patient only survived for forty-five days only proved the need for further research. Having been inspired by Ross and his fellow surgical trailblazers, in 1979 Sir Terence English performed the first successful UK transplant. This time, the patient lived for five more years, spurring BHF to fund a specialised heart transplant research unit at Papworth Hospital. Today, the new BHF part- funded Heart and Lung Research Institute is under construction right next door where it’s set to be the largest research development centre of its kind in Europe. In this way, the foundation has been at work for the last sixty years behind major breakthroughs in heart and circulatory disease treatment. But although backing heart transplants is perhaps the first BHF initiative to spring to mind, it only counts for a fraction of its efforts towards better heart health for the UK. From funding research into the impact of genetics on our health, to setting up the Teen Heart and One Beat programmes for young people with heart conditions, BHF carries out its essential work in labs, hospitals and the homes of people living with the day-to-day impact of cardiovascular disease. The organisation was the first to employ heart failure specialist nurses, who now fill an important community role, supporting and caring for patients in the comfort of their homes. To help prevent the heartache of ongoing need for care on patients and their loved ones, until its completion in 2018 the 100,000 Genome Project DNA- mapped people battling cancer and 190 rare diseases, spearheaded by the BHF- funded Chief Scientist for Genomics England, Professor Mark Caulfield. As well as providing insights into the treatment needs of patients who took part in the project - aiding in development of new drugs and treatments - breakthroughs in decoding how genes affect health will impact how the onset of illness is prevented, sharing crucial information about each individual’s susceptibility to life- threatening illnesses. The Genome Project was supplemented by the BHF Family Heart Study, which internationally DNA-tested more than 190,000 people to identify small changes in their genomes which could indicate higher risk of coronary heart disease. In 2018, Professor Samani and colleagues at the University of Oxford study found that they could calculate and predict this risk in individuals as accurately as more established test factors, such as cholesterol and blood pressure. In people with a moderate risk score, the slight differences at over one million Healing hearts Our British Heart Foundation feature shines a light on this ever- important charity, one that Lincolnshire Today is proud to support. 51 Á 48-53.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:42 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION © st ock. adobe .com/REDP IXEL Visit www.oms.uk.com, call us on 01530 833 533 or email info@oms.uk.com to learn more about us and how we can enhance your organisation. www.oms.uk.com 01530 833 533 info@oms.uk.com Helping you to perform at the highest level OMS have delivered consultancy and training services throughout the Midlands and UK for over 22 years. We are a leading authority in health and safety, employment, quality, environmental and business continuity management systems and training. Our tailored solutions support organisations throughout the UK. Could we help you too? For all your Health & Safety Training & Consultancy needs visit www.oms.uk.com. 48-53.qxp_Layout 1 21/01/2022 14:42 Page 2Next >