China Town (London)

We (myself and son) set of late afternoon, we wanted to purchase some items, that I knew will be available in the vast array of West end shops.
Now it has been possibly 4-5 years since my last visit to this particular area and and even longer for China Town.
We got the tube to Marble Arch as I emerged from the underground, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of crowds, so many hundred of people, tourist, locals, suits you name it.
I told my son to hold on to me for dear life and not to panic (this was his first experience of the West end stores)
Now the shop I wanted for a certain item was no longer there! The stores are many of your local High St stores but 10 times bigger, some with 2-3 floors alone.
You can't do them all, it's to tiring, to much ground to cover.
The ques are very long for the tills but do more quickly.
I didn't dare take out the camera in this area, the crowds were to much, I felt disoriented.
What I like about the stores here, there is much more availability in styles, sizes that your high street, My son's size is always sold out and not enough choice on colours.
I noticed a big Clark's and a sale on, I dragged my son in, I saw 3 styles of everyday shoes I liked, I must mention it's comfort first for me. 1 out of 3 were only available in my size, I was please with my buy alhamduillah.



This is what my son opted forfrom Foot Locker

We came across a deepish lilac-ish carpet out on the pavement like the red carpet(celebrity thing), I was thinking OMG what a silly person has decided to carpet the pavement,
with the hoards of people, how will they clean it?
so I followed the carpet trail to find i leading to Selfridges, lailahi!!!!!!!!!!!
What a waste, what a waste of money, maitence and up keep that carpet alone, I am sure I could feed a needy village in West Africa.
We walked from Marble Arch, Bond St, Oxford Circus then we slipped off down Wadour St, a trip down memory lane, one of my old haunts many years ago
As we walked along there towards China Town, I saw Berwick St and it rang a bell and something in my mind was telling me to take a trip down there,
I fought the lil voice and stuck to my route alhamduillah.
I spotted Soho, one of London's red light districts, the peep show, shops and sex aids on sale.
now I understood why, Berwick St was ringing in my mind!
As we entered in to China Town, London, a strong smell of roasted duck blasted right at us, For me China Town was a little bit of a disappointment unless you are dinning there as it's full of restaurants, a few stores selling Chinese grocery's and China made food. There was a H.S.B.C bank, Chinese signs on it to can you spot it in the picture.




dont ask about this one my son was picturing all!

Fruity Snacks

In line with 5 day , the UK healthy option maybe? I made these after seeing something similar on sale at the hospital a few days ago,
so in a bowl, plain flour, yeast, little dash of oil, brown sugar, mixed fruit, and sunflower seeds. Add water to bind and kneed , leave to rise , after kneed again and shape out, place on Baking tray andbrush with milk, bake in a moderatly hot oven.

Lamajun

here is a how they should look

Armenian Pizza (LAHMAJOON)
by Azniv Charkoudian

Dough:
6 cups flour
5 tbsp. shortening
1½ tsp. salt
1 pkg. yeast
3 tbsp. sugar
2 cups warm water

2 lbs. lamb or beef, ground once
2 cups canned tomatoes
2 tsp. salt
pinch of cayenne
pinch of blk. pepper
2 med. onions, finely chopped
½ cup parsley, finely chopped
½ cup green pepper, finely chopped

Dough:
Place yeast and 1 tbsp. sugar in ½ cup water and let stand for a few minutes. Use a dutch oven type pan with cover for kneading dough. Combine 6 cups flour, 1½ tsp. salt, 2 tbsp. sugar, 3 tbsp. shortening, 1½ cups water. Add yeast preparation and knead. Use remaining 2 tbsps. shortening on hand and rub on bottom of pan as you knead dough. This procedure will clean hand and bottom of pan of sticky dough. When dough is smooth, place cover on pan and place pan in oven which has been warmed for only 1 minute. Let stand until dough is double in size (about 2-3 hours).

Meat Filling:
Place all ingredients in bowl and mix well. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.

Rolling out of dough:
Take raised dough and make 12 balls. Now cut each ball in half, making a total of 24 balls. Place balls on tray sprinkled with flour. Let stand 10 minutes.

Roll out each ball to 7" diameter and place on cookie sheet. Place 1½ heaping tablespoons of meat mixture on each rolled dough and spread evenly. Bake in 450o oven. Place tray on bottom shelf for 10 minutes and then move to top shelf for an additional 5 minutes.

Remove from cookie sheet and place, staggered, on a tray to cool. (do not stack) When cold, stack with meat filling facing each other and place in refrigerator. When serving, it can be warmed by placing in a 325o oven for 5 minutes. May also be served cold.

Makes 2 dozen