US-to-UK food names/substitutions/equivalents

i have a fridge magnet that's got all that stuff on it!

I have a little dial-up cylindrical device which is FAB. It was from Lakeland, but I just checked and they don't sell them anymore. That's a real shame.

I know people from Italian-American families who say gravy. My friend is Portoguese, but married into an Italian-American family and they have her calling it gravy now.

That would make sense.  I was friends with more Italian-Americans in WNY.

That would make sense.  I was friends with more Italian-Americans in WNY.

It does make sense. I was attributing it to Rhode Islanders, but then RI has a huge Italo-American population which would account for it.

So 'sauce on pasta' is called 'gravy'?  Really?  i always wondered what was meant by this!  I knew it couldn't be the same as English gravy, that would be too wierd!


vicky

So 'sauce on pasta' is called 'gravy'?  Really?  i always wondered what was meant by this!  I knew it couldn't be the same as English gravy, that would be too wierd!


vicky

Yup! If you ever watch The Sopranos they all call it "gravy" on that show.

So 'sauce on pasta' is called 'gravy'?  Really?  i always wondered what was meant by this!  I knew it couldn't be the same as English gravy, that would be too wierd!


vicky

I've never heard of sauce on pasta being called gravy, either. (I never watched the Sopranos.)

Shortening (Crisco) = vegetable fat spread (brand names include Cookeen, Stork)

Okay, so colour me the last-minute valentine person....I decided a few minutes ago that I want to surprise Tim with a cake tomorrow night....I even plan on taking the bus down to Waitross instead of asking him to drive me to Tesco! 

Anyway.  I want to make red velvet cake....and it needs shortening.  Where in the store do I find the veg fat spread? 

and "cocoa powder"...does this exist?  Or should I pick something else to make?

Cocoa powder definitely does exist.  It isn't same as drinking chocolate, but will be alongside drinking chocolate.

I have been advised that shortening is evil, and butter is best.  Never having baked with shortening means I can't verify this, or say whether it works in red velvet cakes, but if it is a sponge cake then you can't go wrong with butter.

Vicky

Trex is the equivalent of Crisco and should be with the butter and margarine.

Cocoa powder definitely does exist.  It isn't same as drinking chocolate, but will be alongside drinking chocolate.

I have been advised that shortening is evil, and butter is best.  Never having baked with shortening means I can't verify this, or say whether it works in red velvet cakes, but if it is a sponge cake then you can't go wrong with butter.

Vicky

Thanks Vicky! I'm used to seeing the brown box if Hershey's cocoa, so I wasn't sure.

Shortening *is* evil, but Red Velvet cake is so decadent and delicious it almost makes it worth it!

Trex is the equivalent of Crisco and should be with the butter and margarine.

So, it's a refrigerated item rather than a shelf item?

So, it's a refrigerated item rather than a shelf item?

Yes. If you can't find Trex, there's also White Flora. But they're all refrigerated with the butter and margarine.

Yes. If you can't find Trex, there's also White Flora. But they're all refrigerated with the butter and margarine.

Thanks!  Here's hoping I can find it, then

(and do i get brownie points to replying to a really old thread instead of starting anew one? LOL)

Is there any reason why butter can't be used?  Just wondering.

Vicky

Is there any reason why butter can't be used?  Just wondering.

Vicky

no idea. The recipe calls for shortening, and has always been made with shortening in my family, so I have no idea. 

Oh,and I found the stuff at the co-op! Yay.

Is there any reason why butter can't be used?  Just wondering.

I think it might be a texture thing - butter is more liquid-y. Ages ago my mom used to make chocolate chip cookies with shortening rather than butter to keep them from spreading out and getting really thin.