American cookery terms

Angel_Jenny

I love the Duggars! I even have their book and I can watch their shows over and over. The Bates family seem really sweet too.

I bought a Martha Stewart baking book and it has the cup measurements in the front. It is a lot more complicated than I thought it was!

Solid measures

1 cup of rice US = 225g
1 cup of flour US = 115g
1 cup of butter US = 225g
1 stick of butter US = 115g
1 cup of dried fruit US = 225g
1 cup of brown sugar US = 180g
1 cup of granulated sugar US = 225g

Liquid measures

1 cup US = 275ml
1 pint US = 550ml
1 quart US = 900ml

jcr16

i'm not as keen on the bates, but they do have a certain appeal. the bates daughter who can sew has made some stunning dresses, i was really amazed at her ability. very talented.

thanks everyone for all you help on these.

ice cream sandwiches appear american ones are a cookie slice with ice cream in middle, english version in more slice your own ice cream between waffer's. but there is a maxibon? icecream, might be my closest option. however i'm thinking something like this might be found in lidl.

i'm watching the 17 and counting series on dmax at the mo. but i'm sure i've read she's due her 2oth child soon? but not sure on that. and there second grandchild is due this year. all very exciting for them . not sure if they celebrate xmas , but that must be a busy time of year.

wish we had thirft store like that do there tho.

Angel_Jenny

jcr16 wrote: »

i'm not as keen on the bates, but they do have a certain appeal. the bates daughter who can sew has made some stunning dresses, i was really amazed at her ability. very talented.

i'm watching the 17 and counting series on dmax at the mo. but i'm sure i've read she's due her 2oth child soon? but not sure on that. and there second grandchild is due this year. all very exciting for them . not sure if they celebrate xmas , but that must be a busy time of year.

wish we had thirft store like that do there tho.

Their thrift stores are amazing!

I like the Bates and think the dresses are cute. Not sure I would wear them though - a bit too prairie for me! Neither family seems to have any unattractive children - the girls are really pretty and talented too.

I'm not sure if they are having number 20 but I think the new series starts in America soon. It just seems to take ages for the shows to be aired over here.

I am amazed that they have no debt and that they buy so much second hand.

patchwork_cat

RachelS wrote: »

Patchwork cat, I would say that for most people in the area of America my hubby is from, the eating lots of processed food is a normal way of life. That's what there is in the shops and it's seen as normal. Not for everyone, but for a lot of people. It's really not questioned at all.

They surely do not follow the norm in other things so why food? They are not having no 20 as no 19 was so ill. Also as Michelle is 45 that may well be it. They have started on the next generation though! no2 on the way there. Have you not noticed how little contact the adults have with the babies once they are weaned they are palmed off on an older child. The older children have to do all the washing etc. There are plenty of Americans that believe in frugality and do not buy packaged rubbish. The catalogue of US blogs on frugality are prolific.

ChocClare

I'd never heard of these people so just visited their website.

Their recipes sound pretty disgusting to me to be honest:rotfl:but very typically "American" - in that they use lots of prepared/prepackaged ingredients. This is not at all unusual - I've seen that on lots of American websites. You don't *have* to use the prepackaged stuff at all. For example, lots of American recipes call for a box of yellow cake mix :eek: Basically, this would just mean that you need 4oz butter/flour/sugar and 2 eggs all mixed together. Similarly with things like vanilla pudding mix; Italian seasoning; spaghetti sauce - these are all things that most of us would probably make from scratch.

My American friend was asking me about the difference between digestive biscuits and graham crackers, so we swapped so we could compare. I was making fun of how "prepackaged" Americans are, so she sent me a box of graham cracker crumbs as well. So yes, you want to make a cheesecake base? Too much effort to drop a packet of digestives on the floor - get yourself a box filled with pre-bashed crumbs....

415SanFran

To be so subdued in most areas and so excessive in others (ie they number of children they have)

Please remember that in the USA they do not receive any kind of child benefit, tax credits, health care has to be paid for, they are not getting any form of housing from the council with help for the rent, and she is home schooling. So having a large well mannered family is not frowned upon the same way as it is over here, as one's children do not cost the tax payer anything for the most part.

lostinrates

415SanFran wrote: »

TSo having a large well mannered family is not frowned upon the same way as it is over here, as one's children do not cost the tax payer anything for the most part.

There was a stat on the debate board here yesterday. 1 in seven families receive food stamps ATM in the United States.


I'd like to stick up for American cooking - of which I have very fond memories. Yes, there ARE a lot of packets....but for a kraft mac and cheese I raise you the Pot Noodle. For precrumbed Graham crackers, what about the bread crumbs, flan cases, pizza bases and meringues we can buy here too instead of simply making?

TBH, the cake mix etc bugs me too, but I believe it to be a social issue of the west and the times rather than a national one of America (and fwiw I was similarly disappointed as a housewife in Italy..that country f foodies has lots of packet food too).

But there are good home cooks and bakers in US just as there are here. Its not so uncommon on these boards to read of pasta/curry sauce from a jar, and not so long ago since we as a nation had a really bad reputation for our food, we shouldn't seek to impose that somewhere else. There has always been good food here, as there has in US.

US, being such a wonderful cultural melting pot has, much like we have developed, a lot of food that's crossed cultures and been enriched by being cooked by people of different backgrounds and of different ingredients. Some of my dearest cook books are community cook books from us...and of course there are some ''take a packet of....'' but so are there in the WI cookbook in my last village in UK.

CrazyNerd

As an American living in Britain, I feel I must defend my food here.

The last time I shopped in the US , there weren't aisle upon aisle of ready meals, or alcohol for that matter.

I also find that people get "takeaways" here much more often.
Yeah Americans like fast food sometimes, but most would have to drive miles to get it. Here its on every corner.

cheeswright

I'm gonna stick my head ot here - i found american food fantastic compared to what we get here - it took me a whole year after comming back to be able to gag down the brown stuff we call beef - its hard to belive that the animals are even related considering the taste and texture of beef bread to be eaten - not cast off dairy produce...
Supermarkets - that -as standard would have tanks of live lobster - not breadedwhite ...stuff......in plastic boxes
artizan breads - 100s of varieties - and choice...
eating out - all the time - eating out with kids not forcing you to eat reconstituted chips and meat with icky sugary sauce on it

theres a great great deal i love about british cooking - but you dont find it in many of our restaurants - cafes - and its not even obvious in our supermarkets - you have to eat in peoples homes - just like you do over there...

(now ducks back behind the barricades and waits for the incomming)

lostinrates

CrazyNerd wrote: »

I also find that people get "takeaways" here much more often.
Yeah Americans like fast food sometimes, but most would have to drive miles to get it. Here its on every corner.

I think that's an urban/suburban/rural thing. :D As well as a geograhic thing. How my DH's NYC friends eat is very different to how I remember eating and being cooked for in the South. But that might be a thing of tie, its been almost twenty years ..:eek: My american step mil in NYC never, ever, ever cooks...they eat out or the food comes in. But there are people like that here too.

Although its increased dramatically in UK in the last ten years I think..the frequency and variety of takeaway. We live rurally and people out here don't eat takeaway like people in a town might. We're not as committed to driving four miles for our supper where as a similar American community would without dreaming drive 40!:D