Adventures in the Kitchen - with Panasonic!

If you had invited me over for a meal and told me that you were going to cook all of it in a microwave I would have assumed you were cooking me beans on toast.

And if you only owned a basic microwave I am sure that is exactly what I would have gotten, but there are so many different kinds of microwaves these days! Maybe they always existed and I have just been enlightened by the existence of the variety of microwaves out there? It now is clear of why they are sometimes called microwave ovens.

Either way I went for lunch at the Panasonic Ideas Kitchen and I was served a meal prepped by us and cooked in microwaves.

We had roast beef, focaccia, chopped salad, lemon drizzle cake, dulce de leche brownies and freshly juiced juice all cooked in microwaves except the juice and salad of course.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good the beef turned out. To be completely honest I was extremely skeptical of the beef. I needn't have been because it was perfectly cooked and tasted great! The bread dough was proved in a bread machine and then rolled out and proved a second time in a microwave oven at a low heat before being baked in the same microwave oven.

Salad was chopped using a food processor and had a gorgeous basic dressing of olive oil, mustard, and seasoning. The juice was very experimentally made and had a bit too much ginger. We whipped up the lemon drizzle cake and chocolate brownies and both were cooked in the microwave ovens as we had lunch.

Especially in England where space is crucial I wouldn't mind having a multi functioning microwave ovens. It would be nice for no thinking cooking after a busy day and it would especially be useful when making a big meal like Christmas dinner.

Learn more about the products here!
Microwave Oven: NN-DS596B
Food Processor: MK-F800SXE
Slow Juicer: MJ-L500
Hair Dryer: EH-NA65
Hair Straightener: EH-HS95

I listed two none foodie gadgets because before we went into the kitchen I had my hair washed and blow dried in the salon across the hall .... I know right? This place is amazing. Think I might just move in! My hair always looks great when someone else straightens it. I have sort of given up on straightening my hair, but now I remember how great it looks!

And a last last note before I go, we were given goodie bags and mine contained my very own slow juicer!! So, stay tuned for more on that as I get my juice on!

*I was invited out for the day, all opinions are my own!

Day Out: Free Half Term Event at Reading Museum {Doodle Tree Trail}

It's half-term! Again! Half-terms have a tricky way of sneaking up on you unexpectedly. You're busy taking the kids to school, picking them up, doing homework, and other school things and then it's half-term and you have to plan all these things! I don't know about your children, but my two are now used to a routine and struggle with not being told what to do next.

That means it's up to me to give them suggestions or to take them out! It can be hard to get out and about without spending a lot of money at the movies or indoor play centres. I went looking online at free stuff for kids to do in Reading over the half term and was directed to the museums site.

Now this event was outside, but I thought rain or shine it's a good way to get out of the house for the afternoon. There is only so much baking, crafting, and watching movies parents and children can do!

The event was called the Doodle Tree Trail: discover some extremely special trees in Reading town Centre. It sounded different and interesting so I signed us up!

We started outside of the museum with a fun activity pack that asked us not only about the trees, but included fun facts of the trees or local history!

Trees we saw: 

Hornbeam (carbines betulus)
Judas Tree (circus siliquastrum)
Mulberry (mores nigra)
Maidenhair Tree (ginkgo biloba)
Weeping Willow (sail babylonica)
London Plane (platens xhispanica)
Indian Bean Tree (catalpa bignonioides)

The crew of people who were running the tour were very friendly, informative, and patient with the children... and adults who had questions! My girls seemed to really enjoy it. At 8 and 6 they might not have taken it all in, but they liked walking around the different parts of town we rarely go too and filling out their activity packs along the way.

This tour won't be happening again, unless they get funding, but they will be leaving the activity packs and a map of the tour at the Reading Museum for anyone interested in checking it out! If anything it takes you around the town centre and shows you a bit more then just shops!

I would recommend checking it out if you happen to be in Reading and looking for something a bit different to do! Plus there is so much more to see and explore at the museum as well as hosting other free half-term events!

Find it here:
Reading Museum
The Town Hall
Blagrave Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 1QH

notes: all opinions are my own and in no way associated with the Reading Museum - I really enjoy local events and sharing them with my readers, for more information please see my contact/policy page.

Day Out in Reading, Berkshire! {WOLF, Snog, Urban Decay}

A few posts ago you saw how I went to an Urban Decay event at the Oracle and since the night was a bit rushed Alyssia, a fellow blogger, went back for round 2!

First we went to lunch at a new place in Reading town centre called WOLF: Italian Street Food. It's a bit like Subway. You choose your base: pasta, wrap, bread, salad. Then you choose your meat/veggies followed by sauces and hot toppings and cold toppings.

I picked out an olive bread and had the hot and spicy chicken with peppers and cheese sauce. Topped with more olives, sundries tomatoes, and rocket. It was so good! I couldn't recommend this place more! With only three locations across the UK if you are in Reading it's definitely worth a try!

Then we did a little shopping in the Oracle stopping at a few stores (more of that in a future post) before stopping for a little snog.... at Snog!

I went for the salted caramel frozen yogurt topped with blueberries and dark chocolate chips and covered in caramel sauce! It wasn't my first Snog and it won't be my last, but it was my favourite I've tried so far!

Then we headed upstairs for our Urban Decay makeovers by the same two guys we saw at the event. It was nice to catch up with them and check out a few of the new products!

I went for a day look as I had the school run later, but I did get to try out Gwen Stefani palette which was fun! On my lips we used a lip liner called Liar and the lipstick was Lovelight. We also used the complexion primer, B6 Vitamin-Infused complexion prep spray, liquid makeup foundation #2, Naked flushed palette - bronzer/highlighter, and the chill - cooling & hydrating makeup setting spray. 

We even booked ourselves in for a few weeks time to try out all the new spring products! It should be another good day out! 

Check out Alyssia's post - Girls Day Out!

note: All opinions are my own. We went on our own money and had a great day out! Please see my contact/policy page for more information.  

My Day as a Tourist in London! #TravelexTourist

One of the best things about being an expat (expatriate) is still getting to play the tourist. I have been asked before, from fellow Americans, what there is to do in various cities around the UK. Of course the most popular being London.

Answering that question is hard there are three things that need to be taken into consideration. 1. How much time are you spending in London? 2. Do you have any specific interests? and 3. How many people and age groups?

If someone is not into art then I wouldn’t send them to the art museums, but I would point them in the direction of the science or history museum! If you have children with you I would suggest the same, who doesn’t want to see dinosaurs? London can be tailored to anyone! That’s how much stuff there is to do in London.

Travelex asked me to spend a day in London as a tourist with a budget of $150 (American dollars). On the day of exchange it equalled £114.53. Could I manage a day in London, on my own, with that budget? Let's find out!

Shakespeare’s Globe 

£15 adult entry + £6 gift shop

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is an open theatre and has mostly a summer season aka the Wonder Season which runs from April 30th - October 16th. So, I was unable to see a performance, but the exhibition is open all year long (see dates on the website). It was very informative and entertaining, my tour guide was funny and knew everything there was to know about Shakespeare and the history of the current globe theatre. For more information visit the website linked above! Before I left I picked myself up a couple of magnets with Shakespeare quotes.

Instead of going right next door to the Tate Modern, I took the tube from Blackfriars to Monument, (tube stations are named for a reason - Black Friar Pub and the Monument to the Great Fire of London are both right near the tube stations) in search of the Sky Garden. If you don't book a (free) ticket there are weekday walk-in tickets. They are available from 10am to 11:30am and from 2pm to 4:30pm and are given out on a first come first serve basis, so I wanted to get there before 2! I was early so I stopped to get coffee and cake. Also an excuse to get out of the rain!

Konditor & Cook 

(The Gherkin) - £9.45

This bakery has been on my “to visit” list for ages, because they have a cake called the curly wurly cake (nothing to do with Cadbury) that is suppose to be amazing! It was pretty amazing. Soft and dense dark chocolate cake covered in just enough vanilla frosting. Paired with a latte it was just what I needed after walking through the rain! The above cost also includes a take away fudge brownie that I shared with my partner when I got back.

The Sky Garden

Free (need ID)

The Sky Garden is a rival for the London Eye. Having been on the London Eye a few times, I would say that the Sky Garden is by far superior. There is no cost, you’re free to roam around, and there are places to relax, eat, and visit! The gardens are full of pleasant smelling vibrant green plants. Did I mention the view is amazing! You can literally see all of London, it was a cloudy day for me so I bet I could have seen further if it was a clear day! The observation deck was closed due to the rain, but I don’t think I would have wanted to go out there with it all wet and slippery…….

Tate Modern

Free + £5.50 gift shop

Is my favorite museum in London. There was a time I could walk into the Tate and tell you all about the artists and their time periods, but that time was when I was fresh out of college where I studied art. Also, the current exhibits are a lot more modern artists as in the last couple decades. Which I really enjoyed seeing and experiencing. I would gladly spend a whole day in the Tate! I bought another magnet and a couple of buttons for my girls.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Evensong - Free

There are many churches and chapels in London, but St. Paul’s is probably the most popular. It does sit on Ludgate Hill, which is the highest point in London. It has a deep rooted history in London having been built in 1708 and it still runs as a functioning church with daily services. Services which are open to the public aka who ever wants to attend. Tours are available, but I find the best way to experience St. Paul’s is through the Evensong. A beautiful choral service that is a great place to sit and relax after a day of sightseeing.

Burger & Lobster 

Dinner - £35.16

I was really hungry when I walked into Burger and Lobster! I had researched restaurants near St. Paul’s and Burger & Lobster isn’t right next door it’s near by. It’s also something I don’t have in the town I live. For £20 you can have a burger with bacon and cheese, a lobster, or a lobster roll; served with fries and a salad. Drinks and dessert not included. I had the lobster roll in a brioche bun that was delicious, I cleaned my whole plate and then had a lemon cheesecake for dessert. Although I wouldn’t have called it a cheesecake. It was more lemon mousse like with crumbs and a lemon jelly/jello like substance at the bottom. It was good; tart and refreshing after a rich meal is just want you need!

That was the end of my day, if I had been a proper tourist or a Londoner, not someone who had to get back to “reality” I would have seen a show, but I had a train to catch and if I had stayed for a show I would have missed my last train back!

The Verdict: With a jam packed day of mostly free events I still spent £71.11, with £43.42 leftover. The majority of what I spent was on food. As I mentioned before everyone’s priorities or interests are different. I find food, when exploring a city, is a must and something I’d always happily spend a little bit more on. Note that I did not include travel into my total spending. Because I traveled in I bought an all-day off-peak travel card prior to arriving in London. For tube/bus travel I highly recommend getting a hold of an Oyster Card, it’s the cheapest and easiest way to get around London.

Final Thoughts: I went to London with a vague plan and nothing pre-booked. Which is a great way to spend a day in London wondering around, however if there are things you want to do plan ahead. A lot of websites offer discounts if you book online, this may keep you to a time schedule, but will save money. I had a great day out and would love to do it again .... with all new things to see and do!

notes: In association with Travelex UK & Travelex USA  - #TravelexTourist and their connecting with your favorite bloggers campaign. All opinions are my own, the only compensation was what was put on the Multi-Currency Cash Passport card on the day. It was super easy to use and a great no stress way to convert and carry money abroad. Please see my contact/policy page for further information.

Follow me @unitedcakedom on Twitter and Instagram for more images and news about my day. There is also a short video on my YouTube Channel check it out! To find other bloggers and how they spent their day search #TravelexTourist

Zero Degrees - BrewMasters - Microbrewery Tour

Zero Degrees is a microbrewery - a brewery which produces limited quantities of beer, typically for consumption on its own premises - sometimes to referred to as a brewpub. They aren’t a new concept. A lot of pubs have brewed and sold their ale on the same premises since the Middle Ages. 

It’s funny because I felt that Zero Degrees had an old world-y vibe with modern look. They invited to me to visit in the Reading location for a tour and tasting. They fed and watered us. We tried their various pizzas and starters along with their ales, lagers, and beers. 

Then we went on a tour and they explained how they brew the beer right there. They kept repeating the fact that there are no added ingredients and it really stuck with me. Even the carbonation is natural and not added in afterwards. 

This video basically sums up the tour. We met Alex from Cardiff and Kani Naim who has been with Zero Degrees for years and was happy to answer any of our questions. He was very passionate and enthusiastic when talking about what Zero Degrees is and what they are selling. 

We tried all of the on tap drinks and I would have to say my favourite is the Mango Beer, but it would be wouldn’t it. It’s obvious I have a sweet tooth! The food was good too. The wide variations of pizza was adventurous and delicious! 

It was a good and informative night for more information check out the Zero Degrees nearest you! They will be out and about over the next few months hosting brewery tours- just ask in store or follow on one of their social media sites to find out more! 

Zero Degrees: Reading

9 Bridge Street
Reading
RG1 2LR

notes: as mentioned above I was invited out, but was not asked to write or give a favorable opinion - please see my contact/policy page above for more information

Day Out in Bath, United Kingdom

One of the reasons I love the UK is because of its history. The USA has a history too, don’t we all?? However, the history of this country is much older and it’s reflected in pretty much every town you visit.

For my birthday we went to Bath for the day and we were lucky that the weather was beautiful! We got there just in time for lunch. We ended up at Wagamama because we were all hungry and when feeding kids it’s sometimes good to go somewhere we all know and love.

Then because it was my birthday we went to The Jane Austen Centre. It is located on the same street that Jane Austen lived on when she resided in Bath. I could be wrong, but I believe they told us that Bath is mentioned in all of her books. Of course if you’re a fan like myself you know that in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion her heroine’s visit and reside in Bath. All the staff at the center wear the name of one of Jane’s many characters and they will answer any questions you have. I found a lot of the information available I already knew from reading up on her before, but there was also a bit more on her family and herself that I wasn’t aware. It was interesting and enjoyable!

Right out side The Jane Austen Centre is a little park and lucky for us that weekend there was a sort of pop up/kickstarter children’s event called Forest of Imagination. There was a lot going on and the girls had a lot of fun jumping around on space hoppers and writing their names on the giant rabbit and more! I would love to see something like this in Reading.

After that we went in search of Sally Lunn’s. Still full up from lunch we took some of the famous bun’s home with us along with some homemade cinnamon butter. We were instructed by the lady on the till to split the buns in half and gently toast them under a grill before spreading with the cinnamon butter and grilling again to get the cinnamon butter smell throughout the house! That’s what we did and we weren’t disappointed! We also stopped to get Bath buns from The Bath Bun. There are so many tea places in Bath and there is no way we would have gotten to them all in one day.

We stopped for ice cream and while we ate our ice cream listened to some street music. The human statues were also fun to see! Then before we left we stopped at an art gallery, Rostra Gallery. There were some prints in the window that drew my attention and as a fellow/former printmaker I had to have them. The simple style of imagery is inspiring and I highly admire this type of art. The best part is that Ruth Broadway, the artist, is local to Bath. I don’t know why that makes it the best part, but I like the fact that she’s a local artist.

I think that’s what I loved about Bath the most, the art. It’s everywhere including the architecture! I can see how it inspired Miss Austen to create her work.

Places I have been in Bath before:

The Roman Baths

Bath Abbey

The Royal Crescent

Hands Tea Room

Walking Tour/Bus Tour

Things I’d like to see and do next time:

Richard Bertinet Bakery and Cookery School

Jane Austen Festival (September)

The Pump Room
Alexandra Park.

notes: All opinions are my own: for more information see my contact/policy tab above.

Five on Friday: Five Fun things to do in the Twin Cities

As a way to get myself back into the swing of blogging, after taking a short break to go visit my family in Minnesota, I thought I would start five on Friday.

I have seen this on other blogs. So, it’s not an original idea but hey most things aren't these days!

My Five on Friday’s will mostly be about foodie things because yes this is a foodie blog. But I am not going to limit myself to only foodie things. This is going to be a way for you my readers to get a better idea of me! Sound fun?

Well, it does to me! If you are also taking part in a Five on Friday or Five for Friday or whatever else it can be called please leave a link below in the comments so I can have a look! Or Tweet me @unitedcakedom I do like to re-tweet! 

Here it goes my first Five on Friday (drum roll) and the topic is……..

Five Fun Things to do in Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota 

1. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory (free)

1225 Estabrook Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55103

Go after you've had lunch so that you can spend any extra money on Sno-Cones and Cotton Candy or (Candy Floss if you are British). Also look online ahead of time for feeding times and seal shows! We managed to skip the ride parts by telling the girls that it was for big kids. You can always reverse that and tell your big kids it’s only for little kids, but they will probably be less gullible.

2. Science Museum of Minnesota (not free unless you know someone who works there)

120 W. Kellogg Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55102 aka Planet Earth, Latitude: 44° 56' 34" N, Longitude: 93° 05' 54" W

Make sure you have a whole day to explore here! There is just so much to do and see. Check out the performance times for the stage on the lowest level as they have some short fun performances that are all about science! Like the picture below shows two very talented people teaching kids about the water cycle! 

3. Lakes: Lake Nokomis (free)

4955 West Lake Nokomis Pkwy. Minneapolis, MN 55417

Tip for swimming in lakes: Do Not Take your Phone swimming with you! As long as you keep that in mind it’s a lake with a sandy beach. Bring a picnic and let the kids go splash and play in the water! Best day ever according to my girls! They don’t care if it’s not a tropical beach somewhere in the Pacific! I did a little. But hey you take what you can get!

4. The Walker Art Center’s Sculpture Garden (free)

1750 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403

The home of the iconic Cherry and Spoon sculpture it’s definitely a place to see and let the kids loose. The girls climbed on everything they could. We didn't visit the Walker, but I have been in the past and if you like Modern Art I would suggest going in (there is an admission charge). If you cross the bridge there is a big park for the kids to run around in too!

5. Midtown Global Market

920 E Lake St #G10, Minneapolis, MN 55407, United States

When you visit here go hungry! It’s like a massive food court with authentic global cuisines! Including a bakery called The Salty Tart. It had good bread! We took our baguette in our picnic to the beach! Plus it had other tasty looking treats and as I was in line a lady was ordering a massive amount of cupcakes, so I assume they do events too! There were other stalls/shops as well, but I was looking at the food! 

And that was my ... 

... next Friday there will be Five more fun things so until then! 

note: all opinions and pictures are my own! 

Relative Values at Harold Pinter Theatre & Viet Café

The Harold Pinter Theatre has seen it’s fair share of big names since it opened in October of 1881, under the name of “Royal Comedy Theatre.”

Since no official warrant had been issued the “royal” was removed and was titled the “Comedy Theatre” until as recent as 2011 when it was renamed “The Harold Pinter Theatre.” After Harold Pinter a distinguished playwright, screenwriter, director, political activist, and actor.

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to visit the theatre to see Noel Coward’s comedy Relative Values. 

My mother-in-law and her husband were supposed to attend, but do to unforeseen circumstances she found herself unable to attend. I got to take her place.

I am sorry she was unable to attend, but I was glad I got to go!

Noel Coward is a well-known writer, actor, director, film producer, painter, songwriter, cabaret artist – I don’t know if there was anything he didn’t do. His close friends called him ‘the Master’ so that says a lot!

He wrote Relative Values post World War II and it reflects the social atmosphere at the time. Our fascination with aristocracy and class is why this play is still a success today. I didn’t actually know anything about the play going in, but I soon found myself laughing out loud. Having grown up in America some British culture references were beyond me, but the over all comedy was brilliant.

As I mentioned above the theatre has seen a lot of big names and Relative Values was no different with Patricia Hodge, Caroline Quentin, and Rory Bremner! The whole cast was amazing! I loved the old world of England clashing with the Hollywood lifestyle of the US. 

I had a really nice time. Unfortunately upon writing this play is no longer showing. If you are looking for another Noel Coward play the English Touring Theatre (ETT) are performing “Tonight at 8:30” until the end of July see if it’s near you! Or if you are looking to visit the Harold Pinter Theatre they will be showing The Importance of being Earnest from the 27^th of June. That's today! 

After the play my father-in-law were hungry and after something to eat. There are plenty of places to go, but we wanted something we've never really tried before.

Right around the corner (quite literally) we stopped out side a Vietnamese place called Viet Café and decided to go in. Having never tried Vietnamese food before I wasn't sure where to start, but we had decided to order a variety of things and share!

Nem Ga Tom (fried pancakes with chicken and prawns) - these were super yummy and probably my favorite out of all the dishes.

Goi Tom (summer rolls) since we were ordering a lot of sea food and chicken I thought we should try some tofu, it was okay, the crushed peanut sweet soy bean sauce is what made these!

Pho Xao Hai San (fried rice noodles) This was my choice as well and I thought it was very tasty. It was a bit of a small portion, but since we weren't starving it was perfect for us to share.
 

Tom Yam (soup) this was a nice subtle spicy soup that was refreshing and delicious! 

Overall the food was good and the play was entertaining, I couldn't have asked for a better day out! If you like this post and you'd like to see more of days out in and around England please leave a comment below! 

notes:

Harold Pinter Theatre: Panton St, London SW1Y 4DN

Viet Café: 23 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4DG

English Traveling Theatre

Noel Coward

Winchester City Mill Apple Baking Day!!

I had a lovely day yesterday! I grabbed one of my best friends and her son and we journeyed to Winchester to visit the Winchester City Mill. They were hosting an Apple Baking Day.

I first heard of it from a very nice lady, on twitter, who is a local baker who bakes for the special events when she can. Her specialty is bread, which is perfect for a mill that grounds their own wholemeal flour. I feel fortunate to have seen her tweet!

I was especially drawn into the event when I read that they would help identify any apple that was brought in. We have an apple tree in our garden, my husband planted when he was a kid, and we have no clue to what type it is. That and they were offering baked treats!

We got there early afternoon and it was quiet, but we were told it was a busy morning and before we left it had filled up again. Right as we walked up and there were apples right in the walkway to sample and buy. As all bag was only 50p and a large respectively £1! We didn't get apples, but pears Beurré Bosc pears to be exact. They were absolutely gorgeous!

Then we went into the mill and were greeted by a stand full of a wide variety of apples! It's here I was told that our tree produces Spartan apples. The gentleman there had several books that he checked in just to be sure, but he called it right away.

We also allowed to taste the apples out for display. Most of them I had never heard of before. Bramshott Rectory was the first variety we tried, it was sweet but crisp and comes from Hampshire. Allington Pippin was another variety that we tried it was crisp as well, but with a sharp tang to it. Both were lovely.

Then as you moved along to the back there was a baking demonstration and you were able to sample all that they made! There were cakes, scones, and bread to eat with apples and cheese. I wish I had paid a bit more attention to what everything was, but it was all very delicious. 

The kids loved going underneath to see the water rushing through and turning the mill. I have found that sometimes at National Trust places, especially small ones like the City Mill, they can be a bit funny about kids. However at the City Mill all the staff engaged with the kids and patiently answered their questions. They were all so lovely to talk with.

The bag you see there was being filled up with freshly ground flour!

Over all it was a good afternoon out and I will be watching the site for other events! I didn't leave with out purchasing a bag of the whole meal flour and I can’t wait to share what I bake with it! I am told I should definitely try the Apple and Marmalade Cake from the recipe card I picked up! There were recipe cards for Winchester City Mill Wholemeal Bread, Soda Bread, Spiced Apple Cake, Cheese Scones, and Fruit Scones. All sound amazing! 

notes: Visit The Winchester City Mill website to find out when the next event is! Also check out the National Trust website for other places to visit and other events!

Part 1 of Apple Week: I plan on posting a week worth of apple bakes! On Friday I will include a linky tool so you can all share your apples bakes! I would love to see them! Check back tomorrow to see what else I've been making with apples!