American cookery terms

HappyIdiotTalk

Not 100% sure but I think glucose syrup is closer to corn syrup than our golden syrup.

lightisfading

Cups are kinda difficult as they're based on volume, not weight, so the weight equivalents would change depending on what ingredient it was. Have a look online for conversion tables and you should be able to find something though.

Alternatively, go to Asda and buy a set; they only cost a couple of quid and are well worth it if you use american recipes even only occasionally. And doing things by cups is soooo much easier than messing about with scales

dannahaz

As Light says, their cups are volume based. A cup is 8 fluid ounces. So, its easy to use a measuring jug (or see where 8 fluid ounces comes in one of your own cups or mugs).

Once you get the hang of it, the good thing is that you don't need scales for the recipes.

TheFlyingGerbil

1 cup is 8 fl oz - if you have a measuring jug with fl oz on, try pouring this amount of water into one of your 'real' cups/mugs (iynwim) and then use this cup/mug as your measure.

edit: oh well, beaten by dannahaz )

Joe

Pink.

Hi Zziggi,

We have a long thread on American cookery terms that should help you, so I've merged your thread with it as it helps to keep all the replies together.

Pink

sancho

Not sure if this is in the right place, i seem to remember ages ago there was a thread where people would convert American recipes into English, after searching i couldn't find it but could someone convert this part of a recipe please


3 tablespoons of shortening, melted
1/2 cup of cake flour

3 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening


Thanks if anyone can help me!!

thriftlady_2

sancho wrote: »

3 tablespoons of shortening, melted shortening is something like Trex or white flora but I always use butter or a combo of butter and lard and have never had any problems.
1/2 cup of cake flour 4½ oz plain flour

3 3/4 cup powdered sugar 30 oz (1 lb 14oz)
1/2 cup vegetable shortening 4 oz

Hope that helps

sancho

thriftlady wrote: »

Hope that helps

Thanks


is powdered sugar icing sugar?

is vegetable shortening vegetable oil?

would you say to use white flora then, or half butter, half lard?

Pandora123_2

Powdered sugar is the same as icing sugar.

Vegetable shortening is a solid vegetable fat, something like Trex. Though if it were me, I would just substitute margarine.

:A

thriftlady_2

Sorry, yes as Pandora says powdered sugar is icing sugar.

I would take vegetable shortening to be something like Trex. Personally I always substitute butter or lard (or half and half) as I don't like eating hydrogenated vegetable oils or food that has been over processed.