My Lovely Life Abroad

A few months ago,  I ventured into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kew Gardens,  just as thousands of tiny buds were attempting to burst their heads above the cold ground.   Now, mid-April, Kew is full bloom. I remember, the first time, feeling overwhelmed by the park's staggering 300 acre size, and only managed to cover the bottom 1/8th of my map. See my blog titled "Winter at Kew Gardens" for my first exploration.    www.mylovelylifeabroad.com/2019/02/winter-at-kew-village-and-gardens.html Today, I returned to experience the Chihuly: Reflections on Nature exhibit, and decided to take a stab at exploring the rest of this Royal Park.   So I did just that, and somehow after my exploration, the park just doesn’t seem unattainable any more. It just requires more than a couple hours.  A lot more.  So, why not give it a full day, and experience its full glory? I arrive via the Central Line, into the Kew Gardens tube stop, and ...

What's not to love about eating great food and learning some cooking skills at the same time?? So, since I (pathetically) have still not figured out how to use my stove here, and because I am on a mission to try new things,  I sign up for a lunchtime cooking class with Chef Debi Rubel and the wonderful ladies of the American Women's Club here in London.  Debi has generously allowed me to publish a couple of her recipes here, so you too will be able to make this scrumptious meal! The menu: Salmon Leek Pie* Brussel Sprout Salad Kale Caesar Salad with Watermelon Radishes and Kohlrabi Tiramisu* (* recipes included at the end) This is the amazing Debi Rubel, sautéeing leeks Debi is herself an American, but has lived and cooked in London for a number of years.  She teaches groups and individuals to cook, so I'm quite hopeful that I will leave with a couple of new skills and a full belly!       Chef Debi bargaining wi...