The Friday before my birthday I took the day off and Ryan took a half day. There is something extra indulgent and exhilarating about having a random day off when you’re meant to be working and everyone you know is still at work. With our special day off we decided to go to Portobello Market.

When we first moved to London we went to the market on a Saturday. I mentioned this trip briefly when I made sausage rolls. During that trip we ate some food, went to Books for Cooks and I got a cookbook, and we walked around a bit. However, the crowds were punishing. Around the food stalls we were able to peak in and browse a bit, but towards the antiques the sea of humanity was so thick we could only walk forwards, crane our necks to try to glimpse anything at all, and yearn for when the crowds would begin to disperse. The best part of the day was getting fish and chips and having a quiet picnic in the park. However, what we were able to see that day piqued our interest and we knew we’d have to go back, but not on a Saturday.

This trip we started out by the antiques side of things. In this part of Notting Hill we got to see the iconic pastel colored housing. They are so cheery which I really enjoy. I also find it really fun to browse among the stacks and stalls of charming antiques and knick-knacks. The truth is I love little bits and bobs. I like looking in shops, touching things, and imagining it in a future room or house (even if it’s not mine). I especially like things with a bit of personality. I like things that remind me of a place where I’ve visited, or make me feel like I’m in my favorite book, or make me laugh. And that’s what made the market so fun.

We saw gorgeous old wooden storage boxes with company names and trades printed on the sides. Where they really old? I have no idea. But they look cool and would make you smile when you see it in your house. We saw stacks of beautiful flowered print tea pots, cups, and china patterns. I even saw one pattern that nearly matched the red china patterns of the dishes my mom has. It felt like such a small world to see a bit of home at the market. And I saw rows of feathered, laced, and girly fascinators (those tiny hat things on a headband) – which I badly wanted to buy but have no real use for. That’s one of those English things I really want to do – be invited to a place where I’m meant to wear a fascinator. There’s so much to see and the market is a place where you’d love to take things home, but just looking is also lots of fun too.

Ryan and I browsed in a store that sold old maps and engravings. We saw maps that were hundreds of years old, beautiful flower drawings, and much more. A few objects were outside to flip through, but Ryan and I went in to see more. Inside the shop things were arranged by topic or geographic location. Ryan mostly looked at the maps and I looked around to see what was most unusual. My favorite section was the engravings about professions and I found many detailed and ornate drawings about dentistry. I’m not a fan of the dentist, but it helped me have a different appreciation for them after seeing artfully drawn images of molars and people sitting in the dentist’s chair.

The end of the day was all about food. We walked through the fruit and vegetable market ogling everything. The strawberries were fat and red, the olives were shiny and colorful, the pizzas were gooey and cheesy. Needless to say, we wanted everything. We decided on cheese fries and we inhaled them. So often cheese fries are fries topped with imitation cheese sauce but these – these were topped with real sharp cheddar cheese and rosemary sprinkled on top. The cheese had a bite but also a rich creamy flavor. Ryan and I even fought a bit over who could have the best cheesy bites. After that snack, we had lunch at a nearby place and had pie and mash while sitting outside at a table on the street. I love being outside when ordinarily I’d be inside at work. Finally, we decided to walk off the food with a long walk along the canal. I don’t know if it’s possible to have a better Friday afternoon off – we saw some cool things (but bought nothing), we lusted after food (and also ate some too), and we took a stroll through London (well we took the tube halfway home). With such success, I think we should take the day off more often!

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London has so many places where you can go and walk outside and wander around. Camden Market is one of those amazing places. And maybe this statement will bring down a load of judgement, but before I moved here I didn’t even know this place existed! But now that I know about it, I think it’s wonderful and that every one should go. First of all, look how pretty it is by the water! And then beyond that there’s so much food, shopping, and people watching to be done. For real, Ryan and I saw a lady with purple hair and a guy with a mohawk feeding a parrot an ice cream cone.

But anyway, Camden Market is near the Hampstead Road Lock of the Regent’s Canal and is technically made up of three markets: the Union, the Lock, and the Stables. And the whole area is crowded and full of everything you could ever want to buy, eat, see – and tons of things you probably never thought of. The first time Ryan and I went was shortly after we moved here. Our landlord was putting furniture in the flat and we had to clear out for a little. We got there hungry and were overwhelmed by the vast array of food stalls. 

That first time I got a Peruvian lunch sample platter with chicken, rice, beans and tons of other stuff. Ryan got a really juicy steak sandwich. This past weekend we got potatoes and Polish kielbasa, a slice of red velvet cake, and some churros stuffed with chocolate sauce. We also ran into some friends who had just had Mexican food. So you see, in such a small space you everyone can get what they want and also find foods from all over the world.

Truly though I don’t know if my pictures or words can truly explain how much is going on in Camden. Besides food there is everything to buy. There are cheesy tourist t-shirts, beautiful scarves, jewelry (I bought 3 pairs of earrings this weekend), and lots of leather goods. There are stalls of fine china and antique tea sets. Old maps, leather books, and piles of old trunks and suitcases. Ryan and I spent a somewhat long time looking at the suitcases and trunks and sort of lusting after them. He wanted a big one to use as decorative storage. I wanted a small one to use to bring things to work. Later when we saw someone who has actually purchased a mid-sized suitcase covered in a few antique stickers – we both sighed a little with jealousy.

 What I love most about Camden Market is that there’s always something else going on in any direction. In the picture above, on the bridge is a baraat for an Indian wedding. In the bottom left, is just a gorgeous tree carved around a staircase. And we’d walk down one aisle of  shops and then come to a cross roads and find another little cluster of stands. It was like being in a rabbit warren because everything connects, but somehow you continue on into an enclosed totally different world.

My favorite part of the whole thing is the Stable Market. Once upon a time, in the Victoria era the stables were actually stables. Specifically, it was used as a horse hospital for treating horses who were injured pulling barges down the canals. Based on the ground and gentle sloping ramps, you can still get a feel that this is a place for horses. But what I like best is all the statues and sculptures that give a nod to the place’s history.

Honestly, if you’ve got time during a visit to London, check out Camden Market. As I said at the top, Ryan and I first visited here shortly after we moved. I remember that first visit as exciting and a bit overwhelming. It was the start of our new life in London and this place just had so much going on! And this time, I still thought there was so much going on, but I liked that I felt more comfortable, more a part of it,  and more at home in London. It’s a really wonderful, bustling place to visit with such a cool vibe. It’s the perfect spot for a few photos, a souvenir, some food, a relaxing rest by the canal, and to see a vibrant and amazing part of London.

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So Ryan very kindly went to the store and got us a Christmas tree. It’s tiny, fits nicely in our apartment, and is exactly what I wanted. I love him (both Ryan and the tiny Christmas tree). I’m calling the tree R2Tree2, it’s embarrassing but I like the name. He is potted so he is actually alive which is nice. He’s also small and easy to fit through the door so when it does time to clean up, it shouldn’t result in as big a mess as we’ve had in Christmases past.

I know I should really get started on my own Christmas shopping, but instead I’ve decorated the tree, I’ve hung stockings, I’ve baked (but not constructed) a gingerbread house, and I’ve gathered present ideas online (AKA wasted time on Pinterest). During all that procrastination, I’ve found some cute kitchen stocking stuffers that I just have to share with you. So, I’ve made another gift list, and hopefully my procrastination can help you if you’re also a bit stuck with your shopping.

1. Cat Studio Dish Towels, $20 – These are really beautiful embroidered dish towels with images and designs of your favorite cities, states, and countries. They even have some holiday/Christmas themed ones. I have the one for Washington, DC and for the longest time I was worried about using it because I didn’t want to ruin it. But eventually I used it, got a giant chocolate stain on it, then washed it, and it was good as new. I think this is a really nice item to roll up for a stocking stuffer.

2. Fox Run Chicken Spoon Holder, $6. This is really cute and is also available in pig or rooster. Basically, this little kitchen friend clips to the side of your pot and then in the larger opening will grip your spoon. So, as you’re stirring or mixing you’ll have a nearby place to keep your spoon and won’t get any drips or puddles on your counter. I have one like this that’s just a metal hook, and it’s useful, but not nearly as charming.

3. Death Star Silicone Mold Ice Cube Tray 2-Pack , $8 – I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to share Star Wars related kitchen ware. This Death Star ice mold is hilarious, and apparently you can also use it to make ice cream or chocolate balls too. Also, I’m told large circular ice cubes are especially good for cocktails because they cool the drink, but melt slowly so they won’t water down your beverage.

4.Fred & Friends Ninjabread Men Cookie Cutters, $7 – Christmas is a time when you make lots of cookies. Why not spice up the regular gingerbread men and Santa with some super awesome ninja kicks? They are fun and you can use them throughout the year too. If I were in the US, I know I would be buying this for many of my friends!

5. Vacu Vin Wine Saver Vacuum Wine Pump with 2 Stoppers, $10 – I bought this as a present for someone last year, and I totally regret not buying one for myself. This vacuum wine saver is meant to give you 1-3 more days on your wine which is so nice! Sometimes I just want a glass with dinner, but I don’t want to open a whole bottle and ruin it. This thing would do just the trick and doesn’t take up too much space in your drawer or your stocking.

Two weeks to Christmas friends! Hope your shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning, decorating, preparing is going well.

Disclaimer – Most of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you were to make a purchase through one of these links, Cooking is Messy receives a small percentage of the sale price. I’m suggesting these items because I have them or want them, and think they are really good gift ideas.

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This weekend was a lovely long weekend filled with food! Ryan had a half day on Friday and he came home and we made lunch together. I was in the mood for a delicious sandwich so we went to the grocery store to get ingredients for steak sandwiches. Ryan was the executive chef and I was the sous chef. He made all the decisions and did most of the cooking. I did the prep and washed the dishes. Our steak was topped with cheddar cheese, onions, and mushrooms on a baguette and served along side fries. It was so good and I ate so much, I didn’t even eat dinner!

On Saturday we had a relaxing day. It’s practically fall here so we were craving pumpkin spice lattes. Unfortunately it’s too early for that so we got regular coffee, then did some shopping, and then went to the pub for the Arsenal match.

Sunday we went to the BBC Good Food Festival at Hampton Court. I’ve gushed about Hampton Court before. It’s the palace of Henry VIII and it’s gorgeous and wonderful. When I heard about this festival I could not contain my excitement. Lots of food in my favorite place?! YES PLEASE! This past weekend the palace gardens were foodie paradise. There were demonstrations and lectures and cookbooks on sale. And there was so much food to eat. There were tons of vendors selling and giving away samples. I tried sauces, curries, blood orange liqueur, wine, and cheese. I also tested out some fancy knives. One of them was truly impressive. I cut through a turnip like it was butter and the vendor showed me how she could easily peel a tomato. It was a really cool knife.

We were lucky to have a gorgeous sunny day. We sat in the grass, listened to the brass band, and indulged in food. Ryan and I had venison sausage, a steak sandwich (Ryan’s was better), churros, gelato, and a lemon cake. We did share most of that food, but in total we still ate a lot. I especially liked the lemon cake. We were walking along when a boy came up and asked if we’d try his stands’ cakes and biscuits. I said no and he looked so crestfallen. I felt so guilty and I was about to go back to him when I saw the Little Round Cake Co. Everything they had looked so beautiful. Ryan took one beautiful picture of the cake and then some silly pictures of me pretending to eat it. People looked askance at us but I didn’t care, I was eating cake.

Don’t worry too much about my eating, I worked out on Monday to make up for the weekend’s gluttony

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My 29th  birthday was a little over a week ago! I went to New York to have a last hurrah. I actually hadn’t been to New York since my graduation, and I was excited to go back and see the city one more time. On Friday (the 20th) I went to Staten Island and stayed with my friend Inga (who also has the same birthday as me). It was so great to catch up with her. She and I were roommates years ago when we studied abroad in Rome. Visiting her, I got to see her new house, meet her  beautiful daughter, and celebrate our birthdays. We had sushi and cake and it was wonderful.

I then went into Manhattan and met up with my  friend Chris, from graduate school. We sat in Battery Park, talked, and looked at the Statue of Liberty. It reminded me of the times when we used to pretend to go for a run along the water, but really we’d just walk and gossip. Then, I met up with my parents and my brother and we had a blast! Seriously, we indulged in New York. We ate at a few of my favorite restaurants. Lunch at Ippudo, dinner at John’s of Bleecker, and dessert at Max Brenner’s. We also found a tiny place that only sold macaroons! We bought six and shared them all. There were amazing flavors like passion fruit and lavender-honey. We also went shopping on 5th Avenue and browsed books at the Strand. It was a great New York weekend with some touristy activity and some old favorites.

After New York I hopped on the train back to DC. I got dolled up in a fancy dress and went as my friend Anna’s date to the Ford’s Theatre Gala. I saw some great theater, had a tasty dinner in the beautiful courtyard at the Portrait Gallery, took pretty pictures with my friend, and said goodbye to some of old colleagues. Great night. I stayed out way too late, but loved it anyway.

Then Monday and Tuesday were my last two days at work. I don’t talk about my job very much on the blog but I have loved working with Live It Learn It. While at Live It Learn It, I’ve had a wonderful time. In this job I’ve been busy running all over DC, I’ve taught lessons, met great students, befriended some awesome coworkers, and led field trips throughout the city. I’ve eaten more Wendy’s than ever before, I’ve sent group texts of just emojis, and I’ve helped create hilarious and weird Mad Libs. And I’ve laughed so so much. Live it Learn It has been everything I was looking for in a job and even though I’m moving they can’t get rid of me yet. I’m hanging on even while abroad.

And today’s recipe is truly for them. In the last year, almost every dessert I’ve made has been shared with my Live It Learn It family – including this one. I decided to dabble in gluten-free baking because one of my coworkers keeps a gluten-free diet. Baking is fun for me because I like sharing the finished product with others – so it’s more fun if everyone is included. I have loved bringing in cookies and treats for them and it doesn’t hurt that they always say nice things and eat everything I bring. I will miss baking for them.

I then spent the rest of the week packing up my apartment. It was stressful and I had a hard time deciding what to ship, store, and pack. It might sound trivial but I had a hard time editing down and Ryan got more than one crazy phone call from me. My parents came down and helped me pack, trash things, and move out. Thank goodness for them because they helped me be decisive and keep from completely losing my marbles.  I could not have done everything so effectively without them! During this move weekend, we also went to my friend Lisa’s wedding. I have known Lisa for over 20 years and it was wonderful to see her get married. She looked amazing – and unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures of her! Her wedding was at the Center Club and it has the most beautiful view of Baltimore I have ever seen. The wedding was a blast. I danced with my friend’s 1 year-old son, I chatted with old friends, I danced some more, and then I sobbed when I said goodbye to my girls. We group hugged, and I felt loved and lucky. All in all, a great night and a wonderful farewell from Baltimore.

Now I’m sitting in my friend Charlotte’s guest room while her cat snuggles up on me. For those of you who know me, you know I’m anti-cat, but I’m actually liking this. What’s happening to me? My flight leaves later tonight – but until then my plan is to go to the pool and then out for dinner.

It’s been a busy ten days or so, but it’s been great. I said goodbye to many of my old homes – New York, Baltimore, and DC. I am deeply going to miss my wonderful network of people here, but being farther away doesn’t mean we’re really separated. To get a bit emotional, I want to say thank you for all the celebrations, activities, and fun I’ve had as I prepared for the move.  I’m so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life.

But now I’m ready. I’m ready to go to London. I’m ready for new adventures, new jobs, new restaurants, new friends. Mostly, I’m ready to be back with Ryan. Get ready London, here I come.

This recipe is adapted from the America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook, How Can It Be Gluten Free? This book is awesome with lots of really clear and helpful advice and suggestions. I’ve changed it by adding a bit more xantham gum than ATK recommended. I thought it helped hold the shape of the cookie a bit better. These cookies are great and the only difference between these and regular cookies are the thin and delicate structure and shape. The other change was that I used chips and Reese’s pieces instead of normal chips. Gotta spice things up now and then, and get a little creative with the cookie add-ins, right?

Ingredients:

3/4 cup + 2/3 cup King Arthur All-purpose Flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp xantham gum

1/2 tsp salt

8 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup packed, light brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 tbsp milk

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/8 cup mini chocolate chips

1/8 cup mini Reese’s pieces

Directions:

1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, xantham gum, and salt in a bowl.

2. Whisk melted butter and sugars in a large bowl.

3. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until smooth.

4. Add in the flour mixture.

5. Add in the chips and Reese’s pieces.

6. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 30 minutes.

7. Preheat oven to 350°.

8. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Use two spoons to arrange 1.5 tbsp size rounds of dough onto the baking sheet. The two-spoons advice is important. The consistency of the batter is stickier and softer than a regular cookie. The spoons help make sure you can make normal looking cookies.

9. Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, for 11 minutes. Rotate baking sheet halfway through. As they cook, cookies will spread and they can get dark quickly, so be sure to check on them!

10. Let cookies cool for 5 minutes before serving. The cookies are more fragile than gluten-full cookies so let them rest!

Messy level: This recipe is easy – there are only two bowls for this recipe and you don’t even need an electric mixer.

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Throughout the store there are jugs of oil and vinegar, and next to them there are small tasting cups and pieces of crusty baguette bread for dipping. I tried a basil olive oil that made me feel like I was sitting outside at a cafe in Rome eating a caprese salad. I tried a blood orange oil that had a nice tangy citrus accent. And I tried a thick syrupy dark chocolate balsamic that tasted like a decadent and sinful dessert. I held myself back though, and just bought a delicious smelling rosemary olive oil that I knew I could use often. I also bought a jar of caramelized garlic because the man from the store raved about it and I like garlic.

And then I also bought the chocolate pasta because I just had to know what it tasted like. There was more practical flavored pasta, like mushroom, sweet potato, and lemon basil – but those will have to wait for another time. I bought the chocolate pasta.

But what do I do with it? My first thought is to make a dessert take on spaghetti and meatballs. I could make some kind of fruit cookie-ball thing and then make a fruit sauce to go on top. But there’s so many other options – berries, Irish cream, whipped cream, nutella….

What would you do with it?

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