LIST: Things you wish you had brought with you

I will second that on the Zip loc bags. After almost three years of visiting/living here I've yet to find decent bags.

Funny, I don't like candy corn but DH loves it. 


I'm going to add mine in here: I wish I would have brought marshmellows. Little did I know how difficult they were going to be to get some.  I'm not a huge marshmellow fan either... I like them maybe once a year in hot chocolate or roasted on a stick over a fire. The ones here are small and usually in a mixed pack with white and strawberry ones (ick) and not very pillowy soft.  I did get a bag of jumbo marshmellows last week that were being sold for bonfire night. Made in the US. I had to make hot chocolate just to have it. And it was so good. I could have cried. I think their marshmellows are made differently here... it did not seem to melt in the same consistency. I secretly want to go back to ASDA and buy a few bags to horde. (probably sold out though lol)

I've definitely seen good ok' jet puffed marshmallows in the American section of a few tesco stores. If you're looking, you might try there.

I know that you should never bring a US hairdryer over to use in the UK as that can be a serious hazard, even with converters. However, my husband and I sometimes enjoy taking cruises and some cruise ships have American outlets in the cabins (but the provided hairdryers are often sub par). I do wonder now if it's worth bringing one from the US just to keep for cruise holidays.

Other than that, I wish I'd brought over my American measuring cups and spoons to use with family recipes. Not a biggie, but would be convenient! Easily rectified next visit... 

Some US hairdryers have dual voltage.

I bought a dual voltage hairdryer in the US way back in the 80s, and a cheap one at that, so it's definitely something to check on one you may already own.

Measuring cups and spoons are pretty much available everywhere now. I've even seen them in a pound shop, albeit not very nice ones. All the major grocery chains sell them, but expensive for what they are. I would check Home Bargains, Wilko (Wilkinson), Dunelm Mill or B&M Bargains (or any similar store) and I'm sure you will find measuring cups/spoons quite cheap. No need to wait for the next US trip.

The only problem that I have noticed buying measuring cups and spoons over here is that the British cup, teaspoon, etc. is slightly different from the US cup, teaspoon, etc.  I've been able to work around the difference when baking but I do plan on getting a US set when I can.

And I do like a Pyrex measuring cup.

I brought over a set of US measuring cups, just simple plastic ones, because the UK ones only have 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and 1 cup. They're missing the 2/3 and 3/4 and I'm lazy. Haha. I've not noticed anything different in the teaspoons though and I use my UK ones for cooking and baking.

Aldi and Home Bargains had pyrex measuring cups recently, fairly cheap as I recall.

You know you won't turn communist if you learn the metric system...

I second home bargains. They always have loads of Pyrex stuff.

You know you won't turn communist if you learn the metric system...

Ha! 

Even though I would be very happy to never have to use The Metric System ever again !
It is because of my USA recipes that use 1/2 cups etc.. etc.. that I brought over my Pyrex 1 C. & 2 C. measuring cups & besides, using these measurements is what I am used to and it has worked for me so far! 

Ha! 

Even though I would be very happy to never have to use The Metric System ever again !
It is because of my USA recipes that use 1/2 cups etc.. etc.. that I brought over my Pyrex 1 C. & 2 C. measuring cups & besides, using these measurements is what I am used to and it has worked for me so far! 

I grew up in the UK with the metric system, but I also have a set of US measuring cups and jugs in case I ever need to make anything using a US recipe .

You know you won't turn communist if you learn the metric system...

With regard to cooking, it helps if you can visualize the amount (how many times have you seen the great expert cook on TV say add 1/2 cup of flour and they just toss in a bunch without measuring).  So I find it very difficult to visualize what  400 gram thingies look like.  To "learn" metric would mean weighing it out and then bunging it in a cup measure and having light bulb go on: that's what it looks like!!  Besides, I don't trust the crap scales we have.

You know you won't turn communist if you learn the metric system...

I won't mind using the metric system for cooking and baking once I have the space to store a set of scales...

I also don't have any recipes as of yet that need scales, everything I make is US so far and the new recipes I tend to find on Pinterest are all US as well.