Help rebuild local economy and shop locally

While this will be good news for business owners in Market Rasen, they may be required to adapt their premises and ways of working to adhere to continuing social distancing.

Outdoor markets have got the go-ahead to fully open from next Monday, June 1, as have car showrooms.

Hospitality venues - pubs, restaurants, etc - will remain closed.

More information will be released later this week for the measures shops will need to take to adhere to the government guidelines.

Some retailers have, of course, continued to be open in Market Rasen’s high street throughout the coronavirus pandemic, providing essential items to residents.

Now, it is time to help all local businesses rebuild the local economy.

The Market Rasen Mail has teamed up with Nicky from Nice and Naughty Cafe-Bistro in the town’s Queen Street for a regular feature looking at what the town has to offer, as well as providing a healthy way of eating.

Nicky is known for her ‘fakeaways’ - a healthy at home option for traditional takeaways.

All the ingredients for Nicky’s chicken noodle satay stir fry have been purchased from the town’s independent retailers; they would, of course, also be available at the town’s supermarkets.

Nicky said: “I am pleased to be able to help promote our local high street in this way.

“It is all about giving businesses that bit of hope and creating ongoing support for our local traders.

“We have a lot to offer and people need to know what there is.

“The Bistro is popular for its fakeaways, so it sounded like a good idea to start with one of our favourites “including my secret ingredient, which won’t be secret any more.

“If there are ingredients people don’t normally have at home, like the red chilli flakes, you can buy just the quantity you need, even if it is just a teaspoonful, from the Green Life Pantry.

“This recipe is relatively cheap and can feed six to eight people, so its perfect for families.

“If people are allergic to nuts, they can swap out the satay for soy sauce and five-spice to make it more Like a chow Mein.”

Nicky gives her fakeaway recipe below and has also created a video to view online, which can be found on the Rasen Mail website, as well as via Facebook.

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So here we go, with the recipe for a delicious, simple noodle stir fry with chicken vegetables and a peanut sauce.

Ingredients:

Chinese egg noodles: Get about 4 or 5 of the dried noodle bunches from Jenny at Green Life Pantry. She has some new noodles in that have a hint of paprika; apparently they are the ones that the Chinese restaurants use. I would get 5 or 6 to feed 8 people, but 4 or 5 for a smaller family.

Spring onions, red and yellow peppers, mushrooms, baby corn, shredded cabbage and broccoli - all from Rose & berries. You will need one bunch of spring onions, one red and one yellow pepper, one pack of baby corn,1/4 of a cabbage, 5 to 6 mushrooms and half a broccoli.

Grated carrots are also nice to add. I’d say 2 carrots .

Chicken breast or thighs: thighs are a cheaper alternative. Id rather use Briggs or Lancasters as we are supporting independents. One bag of thighs will make two family portions.

2 tablespoons of peanut butter - crunchy or smooth

2 tablespoons of honey

3 tablespoons of soy sauce.

Pinch of red chilli flakes.

Frylight

And the secret ingredient......150ml of diet cola (any brand).

Method;

Pre-soak the noodles in boiling water.

Pre-cook the chicken thighs in the oven for 20mins on 200 degrees. Once cooked through, shred and remove skin. You’ll need one thigh per person minimum.

Spray a wok or deep frying pan with Frylight.

Finely shred the cabbage, grate carrots, dice mushrooms, finely slice peppers, the baby corn and spring onion.

Fry these off in the Frylight until slightly softened. I like a bit of crunch still.

Add the chilli and a splash of water.

Cook for 1-2 more minutes.

Add the soy, honey, peanut butter and a dash of water. Stir into the vegetables.

Cook for 1-2 more mins. Add the chicken, stir and add the diet cola. You should get a sticky sauce.

Then drain the noodles. Mix the noodles with the stir fry. Add a bit more soy if required at this stage - if you think it needs loosening at all.

There you have a quick healthy dish, cooked in 30 minutes. It freezes well too and will last up to 6 months in the freezer.