< Previous40 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY FOOD & DINING Witch’s Cauldron Stuffed Peppers With no toil or trouble, these cauldrons are full of veggie-packed flavour. Serves: 2 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes What to do: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / Gas 4. 2. Slice the tops off the peppers and remove seeds and membranes. Reserve the tops if you want to use them as lids. 3. In a frying pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion until soft, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the lentils or mince, tomato purée, paprika, and oregano. Cook for 5 minutes, then stir in the cooked rice and Opies Capers. Season with salt and pepper. 4. Fill each pepper with the mixture. Top with cheese if using. Replace the tops or leave open for a bubbling cauldron look. 5. Place the stuffed peppers in a baking dish with a splash of water. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25–30 minutes, uncovering for the last 5 minutes if using cheese. 6. Serve hot with a green side salad or mashed sweet potatoes. For Halloween flair, present with some eerie lighting or themed garnishes. Lincolnshire Today shares some frighteningly good Halloween recipes to try this month. You’ll need: * 2 medium bell peppers (green or red for spooky effect) * 1 tsp olive oil * 1/2 small onion, finely chopped * 1 garlic clove, minced * 100g cooked rice or couscous * 75g cooked lentils or minced meat (beef, turkey, or veggie mince) * 1 tsp tomato purée * 1 tbsp Opies Capers, drained and chopped * 1/2 tsp smoked paprika * 1/4 tsp dried oregano * Salt and black pepper, to taste * 25g grated cheese (optional) All treats, no tricksFOOD & DINING LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 41 Monster Burger Perfect for a kid’s (or adult’s) Halloween party! What to do: 1. In a small bowl, mix together the beef mince, grated onion, garlic, mustard (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper. Shape into 1 burger patty. 2. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook the burger for about 4–5 minutes per side or until fully cooked through. 3. Prep the toppings: Cut jagged edges into the cheese slice to make monster “teeth.” Keep the Opies Sandwich Gherkin whole or slice in half lengthwise for a thinner tongue. Slice the Opies Pickled Walnut in half for the eyes. 4. Assemble the burger: Lightly toast the bun. Layer the lettuce on the bottom bun, add the cooked burger, then the jagged cheese. Tuck the gherkin under the patty so it sticks out like a long tongue. Add tomato if using, then place the top bun slightly askew. 5. Finally, add the eyes. Skewer each walnut half with a cocktail stick and place on top of the bun for monster eyes. For a gory effect, drizzle with ketchup around the bun. Makes: 1 burger Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes You’ll need: For the burger patty: * 125g beef mince * 1 tbsp finely grated onion * 1 small garlic clove, minced * 1/4 tsp mustard (optional) * Salt and black pepper * 1 tsp oil (for cooking) To assemble: * 1 burger bun * 1 slice cheddar or gouda cheese (cut with jagged “teeth”) * 1 lettuce leaf * 1 slice tomato (optional) * 1 Opies Sandwich Gherkin (for the tongue) * 1 Opies Pickled Walnut, halved (for the eyes) * 2 cocktail sticks or skewers (to hold the eyes) * Optional: ketchup or hot sauce for decoration FOOD & DINING 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 Spiced Pumpkin Servings: 8–10 slices Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus pumpkin roasting) Cook Time: 45 minutes Cooling Time: 30 minutes You’ll need: For the cake: * 300g fresh pumpkin (peeled, deseeded, and cubed) * 250g plain flour * 2 tsp baking powder * 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda * 2 tsp ground cinnamon * 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg * 1/4 tsp salt * 100g light brown sugar This fiery, spicy and moist cake will last from Halloween through to Bonfire Night. * 100g caster sugar * 3 large eggs * 180ml sunflower oil * 3 Opies Stem Ginger balls, finely chopped * 1 tbsp syrup from the Opies Stem Ginger jar * 3 Opies Sliced Oranges, finely chopped * 1 tbsp syrup from the Opies Sliced Oranges jar For the orange drizzle: * 100g icing sugar * 1–2 tbsp syrup from the Opies Sliced Oranges jar or orange juice * Optional: orange or black food colouring Cake What to do: 1. Preheat oven to 200°C / 180°C (fan) / Gas 6. Spread pumpkin cubes on a baking tray and roast for 25–30 minutes or until soft and lightly golden. Allow to cool slightly, then mash or blend into a smooth purée. You should have around 300g mashed pumpkin. 2. Reduce the oven to 180°C / 160°C (fan) / Gas 4. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin or loaf tin. 3. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, bi- carbonate of soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In another bowl, whisk eggs, sugars, oil, and mashed pumpkin until smooth. Stir in the chopped stem ginger, ginger syrup, chopped sliced oranges, and orange syrup. 4. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared tin and smooth the top. 5. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. 6. Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool fully. Mix icing sugar with orange syrup or juice to form a smooth drizzle. Colour if desired, then spoon or pipe over the cake in a web or drizzle pattern.FOOD & DINING LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 43 Vampire Kiss Cocktail Makes: 1 cocktail Prep Time: 5 minutes You’ll need: * 25ml vodka * 25ml raspberry liqueur (e.g., Chambord) * 50ml cranberry juice * Splash of fresh lemon juice (optional) * Ice * 1–2 Opies Cocktail Cherries, plus a little syrup from the jar * Optional: red sugar for rimming the glass What to do: 1. Lightly wet the rim of a martini or coupe glass with lemon juice and dip in red sugar to create a “bloody” rim. Set aside. 2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice, and a small splash of lemon juice (if using). Shake well until chilled. 3. Strain into the prepared glass. Drop in 1–2 Opies Cocktail Cherries for a dramatic finish. For extra flair, drizzle a small spoonful of cherry syrup into the drink to create a “blood” effect. With this vodka- based vampire cocktail, embrace the blood-red theme at your Halloween party. Recipes courtesy of www.bennettopie.com / @opiesfoods Woolliss & Son Butchers –– AWARD-WINNING LINCOLNSHIRE BUTCHERS –– LOOKING FOR A TOP QUALITY BUTCHERS IN LINCOLNSHIRE? Look no further, we have a proven track record when it comes to providing top quality cuts of meat and home made pastries at a competitive price. We are proud of our locally sourced produce and our 5 star hygiene rating. 29-31 Mercer Row, Louth LN11 9JG. T: 01507 603230 E: orders@woolliss-butchers.co.uk W: woolliss-butchers.co.uk Christmas Hamper orders now being taken44 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS C hristmas has a way of creeping up. One moment it feels distant, the next the calendar is packed with parties, shopping lists and last-minute dashes for forgotten ingredients. The pressure to make everything perfect has become a familiar part of the season, yet it often leaves people feeling drained before the big day arrives. Planning ahead, setting boundaries and focusing on simplicity are proving to be the most effective ways to enjoy the holiday without losing sight of what it is meant to be. Budgeting is the foundation for a calmer Christmas. Rising costs over the past year have made it more important than ever to set realistic spending limits, whether for gifts, food or decorations. Families are finding that making a budget early in the autumn spreads the expense and prevents the January slump when credit card bills arrive. More households are also turning to homemade gifts, secret Santa arrangements and experience-based presents as ways to keep spending in check while still 46 Á Planning a stress-free Christmas The festive season doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With early budgeting, honest conversations and a focus on simplicity, Christmas can be perfect without the pressure. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 45 CHRISTMAS © stock.adobe.com/Drazen46 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS Scan for tickets showing thoughtfulness. It is less about buying the most expensive present and more about matching the gift to the person in a meaningful way. Avoiding last-minute stress comes down to preparation. Ordering online with plenty of time to spare, writing shopping lists that cover everything from table decorations to batteries, and even preparing some food ahead can take the edge off. Many people find that setting aside a single day for present wrapping, card writing and final errands provides a sense of control and makes the final week before Christmas far easier. The rush is often unavoidable, but reducing the number of moving parts helps to keep it manageable. Balancing family expectations can be © stock.adobe.com/Elen NikaLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 47 CHRISTMAS DEC 2025- 4 ND 2 JAN 2026 TH 4 trickier. The season brings together people with different traditions, priorities and ideas of what makes the holiday special. Some want a bustling house full of guests, while others prefer a quieter day. The key lies in open conversations well in advance. Agreeing on who will host, how meals will 48 Á48 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS 17 Market Place, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9PD Tel: 01507 604029 www.striacroft.co.uk Gold, Silver & Diamond Jewellery Jewellery & Watch Repairs Pre Owned Rolex Watches be shared and what the plan looks like avoids disappointment and reduces friction. Many families are now rotating hosting duties each year or combining resources for a joint celebration, recognising that the burden should not fall on a single household. Simplicity is increasingly viewed as the way to reclaim Christmas from the weight of expectations. Rather than chasing a picture-perfect image filled with endless decorations, elaborate meals and tightly packed schedules, more people are choosing to pare things back. A smaller number of decorations carefully placed, a meal focused on quality over quantity, and time deliberately left unplanned create space for genuine enjoyment. Children are often just as happy with one thoughtful gift as they are with a pile of parcels, and adults benefit from moments of calm amid the festivities. The joy of Christmas is not measured in extravagance but in the atmosphere it creates. Shared meals, familiar music, a walk after lunch or even a quiet evening with a film can leave longer-lasting memories than the most lavish purchases. When the pressure to deliver a flawless holiday eases, families rediscover the parts that matter most. The season then becomes less about performance and more about connection. Planning a perfect Christmas does not mean orchestrating every detail. It means deciding what really © stock.adobe.com/Mariia Korneeva Book Now! % 0300 300 0035* grimsbyauditorium.org.uk* *Booking/transaction fee may apply/includes restoration levy Thursday 23 October 2025 Suitable for ages 14+ Saturday 1 November 2025Friday 7 November 2025 10 - 30 December 2025 Various performance times and prices.LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 49 CHRISTMAS burghley.co.uk shoppingexperienceatthe BurghleyChristmasFair 27—30November2025 9.30am—4pm(Thur/Sun) 9.30am—7.30pm(Fri/Sat) StandardTicket: Adult|£12Child|£5(3—15years) FlexiTicket: Adult|£18Child|£8(3—15years) Advancebookingonly|Freeparking BurghleyHouse,Stamford,Lincs|PE93JY InassociationwiththeAngelCommittee toraisefundsfortheSueRyderThorpeHallHospice Bookonline 27—30Noovemmm 9.30am—4pm( 9.30am—7..7730ppp StandardTTickkee Adult|£12Chiill lliikk Enjoyatruly shoppingexperienceeatthe BurghleyChristmasFFair magaical burghley.co.uk &OKPZPVSCSBOEOFXMPVOHFCBSTNBMMQMBUFT NFOVBU5IF0ME#BLFSZUIBUIJHIMJHIUUIFCFTUPG -JODPMOTIJSFQSPEVDF 9MJ4QI'FPJW^ Visit us: 8FhSFMPDBUFECFUXFFO-JODPMO$BTUMF .VTFVNPG-JODPMOTIJSF-JGF 9MJ4QI'FPJW^ 'PSCPPLJOHTFORVJSJFTQMFBTFDPOUBDUVT &NBJMUIFPMECBLFSZFORVJSJFT!MJODPMODPMMFHFBDVL 5FMFQIPOF]XXXUIFPMECBLFSZDPVL 'ZWYTS7I1NSHTQS131' 'ZWYTS7I1NSHTQS131' Lincoln's Local Artisan Restaurant & Guesthouse &WFSZCJUFUFMMTUIFTUPSZPG-JODPMOTSJDIIFSJUBHF :PVSNFBMOPUPOMZTVQQPSUTMPDBMGBSNFSTBOETVQQMJFST CVUBMTPUIFOFYUHFOFSBUJPOPGDIFGT CBSUFOEFST BOEGSPOU PGIPVTFFYQFSUTBU-JODPMO$PMMFHF 8(&394 ;.*<4:7 '7&3) 3*<2*3:8 matters, preparing enough to avoid chaos, and letting go of the rest. By setting budgets, spreading tasks across weeks, balancing expectations with honesty and embracing simplicity, the season shifts back into focus. Instead of being remembered for stress, it can be remembered for warmth. And that, in the end, is what makes Christmas truly perfect.Next >