There are many wonderful and unique attractions that can be viewed at Kew Gardens.
The serene Garden of Harmony with the Chokushi-Mon (Imperial Envoy’s Gateway) are gems in Kew’s landscape.
The Japanese Gateway perched above the Japanese garden. The Garden of Harmony was designed in the style of the Momayama period of the original gateway.
The gateway is a four-fifths replica of the 1573 Nishi Hongan-Ji gate in Kyoto, Japan. The gateway was created for the Japan-British Exhibition in London in 1910. Once the Exhibition was over the gateway was dismantled and reconstructed on Mossy Hill, near the Pagoda in Kew Gardens.
Pagoda from the Garden of Harmony
The Great Pagoda was completed in 1762 under the supervision of Sir William Chambers from a design imitating traditional Chinese pagodas.
The ten story-high Great Pagoda is 163 ft high, making it an excellent landmark of Kew Gardens
The Great Pagoda offers a lovely shady spot in which to rest
We ended our tour of Kew Gardens with a relaxing break under the shade offered by the Great Pagoda.
Spicy Apple Chutney
This is a delicious spicy apple chutney that I created upon my return from the United Kingdom when I discovered that chutney is not easy to find in the Midwest. I soon realized that if I wanted a ploughman’s platter or sandwich which I had come to love so much I would have to make the chutney myself. For this chutney, I have included some Indian flavors that the British are so found of and which I adore.
Spicy apple chutney stores nicely for several weeks in a glass jar
Gather the ingredients before you start the cooking process
Spicy Apple Chutney
Ingredients:
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup yellow onion, minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seed
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground ginger powder
1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar (quality is important here), plus 3 tablespoons to be added at the end
1/3 cup cranberries or raisins
Method:
1. Toss the apples with the lemon juice to add extra tartness and keep the apples from turning brown.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, warm the 2 teaspoons of oil then add the onion, cumin, salt, mustard seed, turmeric, ginger, red chile flakes, and cinnamon. Sauté until the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes.
This is what the onions should look like after about 7 minutes, note that they are not browned. We are just looking for the onions to become slightly tender and the spice profile to develop.
3. Stir in the apples, brown sugar, and vinegar, raise the heat to bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover for 30 minutes.
This is how the chutney will look while you are simmering it
4. Add the cranberries or raisins and 2-3 extra tablespoons of apple cider vinegar: simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick, this will take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Completed chutney with cranberries added
5. Spoon into a glass jar or other storage container and allow to cool until no longer steaming. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Yield: 2 cups
This Spicy Apple Chutney is great on a ploughman’s sandwich which is made with a hearty bread (we like oatmeal bread), an aged cheese, butter, lettuce, and a tangy chutney.
This ploughman’s sandwich will make you feel like you are back in the United Kingdom
We hope that you enjoy our take on a spicy and tangy chutney and that it makes your ploughman’s sandwich remind you of your journeys in the United Kingdom.
Avoiding Post-Vacation Blues: Advice from a Purple Hippo
When returning from an amazing vacation there is always the fear that post-vacation blues will hit the newly returned traveler. To avoid this gloomy mood, I will be posting several tips that are sure to brighten your mood and keep you excited about your vacation, even after it has concluded.
One of the best ways to extend your vacation experience is to bring back customs that you learned while on your travels. For a tiny hippo, such as myself, discovering new flavors are a big part of traveling. When I return from a vacation I try to bring home some new flavor ideas to recreate in my own humble kitchen. Once I have mastered the new food techniques at home I like to share them at a special occasion with friends and family. The perfect occasion for trying new foods is, of course, the picnic!
Here is my homemade ploughman’s sandwich with a lovely picnic spread
While traveling in the United Kingdom I fell in love with the ploughman’s platter, and more specifically with ploughman’s sandwiches. These scrumptious sandwiches are made with a hearty bread, an aged cheese, butter (all sandwiches in the UK seem to have butter on them), and spicy and tangy chutney. The chutney is key to this sandwich, without it you just have a plain cheese sandwich.
Recreating foods that you enjoyed during your vacation and then making a bit of an event out of them, such as a picnic, is a great way to bring your trip home with you. This post-travel tip allows you to bring your vacation home with you while avoiding corny souvenirs that have no personal connection to you.
Follow the link to my spicy apple chutney to spread onto your own ploughman’s sandwiches and stay tuned for homemade scones with fresh clotted cream.
Click here to see more of my Travel Tips.
Travel Tip #9: Advice from a Purple Hippo
Whether sightseeing in the country or city there are several things that you need to do in order to be able to appreciate your trip.
First, make sure to take lots of breaks, you are going to be walking for miles each day, so take it easy.
These umbrella like plants at Kew Gardens provide an excellent shady spot in which to take a quick break
Be sure to stay well hydrated, this is very important. If you overheat you will become very grumpy, so drink plenty of cool water.
The fountain in the Queen’s Garden at Kew Gardens is a great place to have some refreshing water
If you can catch a ride with a local, do so. Locals can give you a more authentic perspective into what daily life is really like at your destination.
This colorful camel was able to show me around the British Museum, a place he has called home for several years
Most importantly, be sure to relax, a stressed explorer is not a happy explorer. Be sure to smell the flowers and enjoy the experience, no matter what it brings.
Stop and smell the Azaleas, but be sure not to eat too many of them, people will notice
Hopefully these tips will help you make the most out of every day of your vacation. Be sure to enjoy yourself and take lots of breaks.
Click here to see more of my Travel Tips.
Loch Slapin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, is an exquisite place to escape from it all. We suggest exploring the coastline around dusk to be able to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of this area of the Island.
Bla Bheinn and Clach Glas mountains on the opposite side of Loch Slapin
Loch Slapin, an ideal retreat
The sun slipping behind the mountains, across from Loch Slapin
This lovely view is just a short drive from the ruins of Cill Chriosd, on the road from Broadford village to Elgol.
Meanderings Abound 