PETER PAN AND A LONDON MEWS

How about a roam through a park and a classic London mews? The blue skies, no clouds, no rain in sight here in Arizona is getting to me....

All photos taken by Kimberly Wold

                            We will start by entering through Lancaster Gate entrance at Hyde Park.

              Rain has stopped so fingers crossed we can make it through the park and stay dry.

             We'll make a quick detour over to Kensington Gardens to say hello to Peter Pan and pals.

                           This statue is a favorite of mine.  Sir George Frampton is the sculptor.

                                        Just look at that detail.  Thank you, Mr. Frampton.    

                                    Still no rain, so let's slip down this street and walk about.

           A mews is a little back street of houses that were former stables or carriage houses.  Very little traffic so roaming around is even more of a treat.

Yes, this door is as narrow as it appears.  But the high gloss black paint, silver hardware, thick white trim, not to mention the lead planters filled with greenery all make that little door inviting, don't you think?

The sea glass green paint caught my eye along with the pretty wrought iron balcony.  Such a delicate and feminine house front.

                                    A little left over Queen's Jubilee exhuberence at this flat.

           A nice breeze in the air, scarf around the neck, still no rain, so we will keep walking.

                           The black striped garbage can adds an unexpected detail.

                   That's it for our walking tour of the mews.  Now we need a little break.

                    Despite the 108 temps outside, I now have a little spring in my step.

                                            (All photos taken by Kimberly Wold)

                                                         

POPCORN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

A fun twist to chocolate chip cookies--the neighbor kids loved the addition of the popcorn (I used microwave buttered popcorn).  I divided the batter and added chocolate chips to one batch and white chocolate chips to the other.  Both were a hit.

Slightly adapted from Joy the Baker (who slightly adapted Smitten Kitchen's recipe).

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate (or white chocolate chips)

coarse sea salt for sprinkling

Microwave a bag of your favorite buttered popcorn.  Piece through the popcorn to remove any unpopped kernels.  Set aside to cool.  You’ll need about 4 cups of popcorn.

Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.  Cream until butter is pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Beat in egg and vanilla extract for one more minute.  Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and beat on low until just combined.  Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and use a spatula to fold in the popcorn.  It might seem like a disproportionate amount of popcorn considering the cookie batter.  Keep folding.  The popcorn will break down a bit as it’s folded in.  Fold in chocolate.

Scoop dough by the heaping tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheet.  Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with coarse sea salt.  Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until the edges and tops are golden brown.  Remove from the oven, allow to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. 

WANDERING AROUND OXFORD

                                             Mercury Fountain, Tom Quad, Christ Church College

Last summer was my fourth visit to attend the Oxford Experience.  Since I'm in the mood for a return trip I am posting a few pics I snapped as I wandered around Oxford.

                                              Cloister Fountain, Christ Church College

                                  One of ten windows in my room--this latch is perfection.

    Food trucks are something new to Oxford.  This one served the best pizza and it was parked right
     outside Christ Church College.

                                           This truck even had a wood-fired oven to bake the pizzas.

                         

                                               I never tire of the classic red phone booths.

                                     

                                        Afternoon tea at the Randolph is always a must.

                                                         Gardens of Christ Church College.

                                                   Tom Quad, Christ Church College

                             Roaming around Oxford through pictures was just what I needed.

                                                  (All photos taken by Kimberly Wold)

HAM HOUSE & GARDEN - England

After our visit to Petersham Nurseries, we walked down the path to tour the nearby Ham House and Garden. 

                                       This glossy black signpost makes my heart skip a beat.

The most interesting stiles and gates are found along the English countryside footpaths.  This is a stile to climb up and over to continue on your merry way.

                                                 We passed a few riders along the way.

           
                                                       Welcome to Ham House and Garden

      A strange art exhibit was underway which I ignored, focusing on the house and gardens instead.         But no pics taken inside of this 17th-century home.

                                                                 I want this door.

                                  And I want these gates to be the entrance to my backyard.

Ended our tour with a little cafe in the garden treat.  Due to some forward thinking, we had arranged for our taxi driver (the nicest guy) to pick us up at Ham House and return us to the train station.  Clever.

GRANOLA COOKIES

                      Not a chocolate chip in sight and these cookies were still delish.  Enjoy!

Adapted from Pioneer Woman Cooks

Preheat oven at 375 degrees

3 sticks of butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick cook oats
3 cups granola - mine came from the bins at Sprouts (love those bins)
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup dried cherries, chopped
1 1/2 cups apricots, chopped

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Next add flour, baking soda, and salt. Add in oatmeal and granola. Fold in pecans, cherries, and apricots.

Use small to medium sized cookie scoop and drop onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 12 minutes. Makes 5 dozen yummy cookies.

PETERSHAM NURSERIES - London

Last July, after arriving in London we stashed our bags, and immediately caught a train to Richmond to visit Petersham Nurseries.  What a treat!

There was a bit of a buzz about this place last summer.  Wall Street Journal wrote an article and a few favorite bloggers posted about Petersham so it went on our list.  I always add a few new places to visit whilst in London along with visiting old favorites.

This greeted us at the entrance--it almost feels as if there is an entrance fee but don't worry, there isn't.

                                          First stop: straight back to the Teahouse to grab lunch.

                            Brilliant to place dessert at the beginning of this groaning board.

                            Chicken, salad, bread with a gorgeous slab of butter, and lemon cake for me.

                                                     Onward to the garden shop.

 
                                                   Aren't those terra cotta pots just perfect?

          This summer I am going to tuck those brilliant green sweet potato plants around the garden.

         
                                                            An abundance of Dahlias.

                             Surprisingly comfortable, although a few pillows wouldn't hurt.

                                                           Love galvanized anything.

                            If I lived in anywhere near this place I would be absolutely broke.

                                                           Those chairs, those bowls....

                                               Hope this visit adds a bright spot to your day.