Is anyone here from the UK?

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24

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  • cygnoir
    cygnoir Posts: 6 Member
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    Hi there. I'm an American expat in the UK and happy to answer any other recipe questions you might have. I have to do a lot of learning the opposite way, as I brought my recipes with me from the States. :)
  • Mollyanna79
    Mollyanna79 Posts: 23
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    Casper - Goodle might tell me what things are but it doesn't tell me where I can buy locally if we don't have it in England.
    Thanks for your help though....
  • Mollyanna79
    Mollyanna79 Posts: 23
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    GooGle (dammit)
  • casperuk
    casperuk Posts: 195 Member
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    Casper - Goodle might tell me what things are but it doesn't tell me where I can buy locally if we don't have it in England.
    Thanks for your help though....

    use this

    Buy *insert product* UK

    Buy Ranch dressing UK
    http://www.americansweets.co.uk/american-hidden-valley-ranch-dressing-236ml-bottle-892-p.asp

    For things you just cannot buy in the UK substitute for the lowest fat one you can. Who on earth wants to eat fat free cheese? I cannot think of anything that would be worse.

    Good luck in your quest.
  • Libby81
    Libby81 Posts: 734 Member
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    I'm from the UK! I know what you mean about the food..I'm really gutted we don't get Squash spaghetti over here, looks like a great alternative to pasta!

    this is something I would love to try
  • beccarockslife
    beccarockslife Posts: 816 Member
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    Hi. Sorry! I was distracted by my throwing up 3 year old and now my bed has broken, jeez!

    Anyway, I've found some examples from the recipes section...

    Ranch Dressing ?

    Fat free mozzarella - Can only find low fat
    Fat free ricotta - same as above
    Apple sauce (used instead of sugar) - I see this all the time on here. Do they buy it in jars? Or make it themselves? Seems a real faff to be cutting up, peeling and boiling...
    Egg beaters? What?
    Turkey Pepperoni - I have searched high and low for this to no avail...

    There are loads more I keep stumbling over.

    Annoying when I find a recipe I want to have a go at!


    Fat Free in US is the same as our Low Fat for the majority of things.
    Apple sauce can be bought in Tesco/Sainsburys but it takes 10 mins to do it yourself. I don't peel, just slice, chuck in slow cooker on low for a few hours and then mash/blend.
    Egg beaters are just egg whites with added chemical vitamins. You don't want that. Just use whites if you are worried about fat.
    The only place I've seen Turkey Pepperoni is a london deli (primrose I think). Not easy to come by.


    Hope that helps a bit.
  • rachey_v
    rachey_v Posts: 127 Member
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    Feel free to add me, I like to cook my own recipes... and steal parts from lots of others to make a NEW perfect one :D
  • beccarockslife
    beccarockslife Posts: 816 Member
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    I'm from the UK! I know what you mean about the food..I'm really gutted we don't get Squash spaghetti over here, looks like a great alternative to pasta!

    this is something I would love to try

    You can buy the squash in season here, and make your own http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AK1KRZG8pg
  • robinhardysmall
    robinhardysmall Posts: 246 Member
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    You guys have me worried- I'm visitng at Christmas and was hoping for two weeks I would have all of the tools I have here in the U.S.!!!
  • cygnoir
    cygnoir Posts: 6 Member
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    I meant to add that instead of apple sauce as a sugar substitute, I use honey or agave nectar. Works just fine, unless the recipe is looking for something textural (as with baking recipes) -- then you'll need actual apple sauce.

    For everyone craving spaghetti squash -- I miss it a lot -- try "pasta" made from courgettes! Here is a recipe: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/health/22recipehealth.html
  • cygnoir
    cygnoir Posts: 6 Member
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    @robinhardysmall: Don't worry. Just tell us about the recipes you're planning to make, and we'll help you find suitable substitutions. :)
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
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    http://www.ecrater.co.uk/p/14577781/pb2-peanut-butter-powder-as

    I keep wondering if this really is as good as its made out by the fellow Americans...
  • craigy_84
    craigy_84 Posts: 73 Member
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    I'm from the UK. Feel free to add :)
  • Mollyanna79
    Mollyanna79 Posts: 23
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    Yummo, I love Agave nectar. I actually have some in my cupboard.

    Thanks for the great advice everyone.
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
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    i am! live in essex but i'm a suffolk girl
  • Mollyanna79
    Mollyanna79 Posts: 23
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    Oh yeah. This is another thing I keep seeing. Peanut butter POWDER? What the actual jeff is that about?
  • JennetteMac
    JennetteMac Posts: 763 Member
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    :flowerforyou:
    Hi, I'm from the uk. Have been using this site for over a year and mostly make it up as I go along. The applesauce isn't really a problem, I microwave an apple or 2 and throw it in to the brownies and muffins. Works just fine.
    Agave has me confused though.
    I went to Asda a bought a measuring jug which included American cups on one side. You're right though, the cauliflower is a tricky one, the florets just won't conform!
    Best of British in your endeavours, add me if you want friends. :smile:
  • Feathil
    Feathil Posts: 163 Member
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    Cups are supposed to be somewhere between 200 and 227 grams depending on who's talking, but seeing the word "cups" in a recipe drives me mental... too vague!
  • orangesmartie
    orangesmartie Posts: 1,870 Member
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    For basic conversions look here: http://www.deliaonline.com/conversion-tables.html

    There's a really detailed list of food conversions from cups to weights here: http://www.recipes4us.co.uk/us_cups_to_weight.htm#C

    The 'theory' behind cups is it doesn't matter what size 'cup' you need, as long as you consistently use the same 'cup' as the measuring tool for that recipe. Not helpful for us calorie counters!

    I am also very jealous of some of the foods our american cousins have - cool whip seems to feature in desserts a lot I don't know what this is. I have no idea about the applesauce or the agave nectar either. I tend to skip over recipes which require these kinds of things (or which have a huge list of ingredients).
  • casperuk
    casperuk Posts: 195 Member
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    Cups are supposed to be somewhere between 200 and 227 grams depending on who's talking, but seeing the word "cups" in a recipe drives me mental... too vague!

    I agree in one way but it is a defined measure:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_(unit)#United_States_customary_cup


    Its no different to how americans must feel when they see "I lost 3 stones"

    Stones? Of What? How vague :)

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