American cooking ingredients - what to buy?

sparklymessygirl

Hello all,

My mum is going to the US this week and I have asked her to pick up something that I either cannot get over here or is too expensive to buy over here (Butterscotch drops for a brownie recipe I want to try)

She has asked if there is anything else I need - I can't think off the top of my head and wondered if you had any favourite American ingredients you would suggest I get her to bring back for me. I'm always looking at US recipes and concluding I don't have the right ingredients or don't know what they are on about but at the moment my mind is blank! Please let me know and let me know what recipes you would use them in.

Thanks a lot
Sparkly

Bongedone

I would check with customs as there are quite a few things that it would be illegal to bring back: -

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali/allow/whatfood.htm

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/TravellingAbroad/BeforeYouTravel/DG_064942

sparklymessygirl

Good point - I've just checked and she can't bring back more than 1Kg of frogs legs (shame) or any meat, pate, butter , cheese or dairy products or potatoes. Looks like my butterscotch drops will be ok though as they are basically just sweets. I'll make her declare everything - she loves being difficult!

Sparkly

ifonlyitwaseasier

how about sweet potato/carrot glaze? just a sweet mix you stir into cooked veg that tastes lovely!!

liz545

Most of my favourite things to bring back from the US are candy and treats, to be honest, but there are some things I would suggest. I really love pickle relish - it's made of chopped gherkins and it's amazing in tuna mayo - Bicks and Heinz both make it. Chili sauce - yes, you can get Tabasco here, but nothing compares to Frank's Red Hot which is great for perking up chili, chicken wings, ribs, barbecue etc. Old Bay seasoning - in fishcakes, and also for roast chicken. If you like Mexican food, it's much easier and cheaper to find the ingredients for it there - things like a wide range of chilis, tomatillos, corn meal (masa) to make tortillas etc. Pumpkin butter - it's a thick jam made of pumpkin, usually spiced with cinnamon, and it's delicious on toast.

Why not go to peapod.com and have a browse and see if anything catches your eye? You can browse online with a Chicago zip code (60601)

Bongedone

Shame about the frogs legs. That would not be France protecting their market would it ?

lightisfading

Personally I'd bring back my own weight in double chocolate oreos, almond m+ms and mountain dew.

Whaddya mean they aren't ingredients?!

Definitely mexican-food ingredients - things like dried chillies, tomatillos, seasonings rather than cornmeal (easy enough to get here if you look in the right place) and tortillas etc. I'd probably bring back something like bisquick too, if I had room - it's american pancake type mix but it has a certain flavour and my OH is Canadian.

pawpurrs

Nigella allways has lovely american things for her cakes.
http://www.americansweets.co.uk/nigella-lawson-nigella-express-and-nigella-christmas-ingredients-183-c.asp

pawpurrs

You can get Bisquick in sainsburys! Makes nice pancakes.

melanie_frontage

If you need any silicone bakeware get your mum to check out the prices. I found it was a lot cheaper in Canada than the UK, and if she gets some it isn't too heavy in the luggage.

I have a silicone sheet which can be used to roll out pastry on or to bake cookies on (they don't get their bottoms overdone). There may be other gadgets which are cheaper in the US too.

You should be ok with your butterscotch drops if they are in a sealed bag, and any preserves or bottled sauces will be ok although heavy!

jonny2510

Popcorn salt???

It's what I'm gonna ask for next time someone goes across