April Timeline

They have coloured sugar for decorating but it's not the same bright colours you'll be used to or the same fine-ness. They don't allow artificial colours over here so everything is natural and there for more pastel.

Cookie decorating is big for my family too.

OOH!!! Where on earth do you get it??

OOH!!! Where on earth do you get it??

Well, with the cake decorating area of the normal grocery stores. I got a pink and a gold coloured sugar at Sainsbury's, they've got a lot of options at Tesco too. I haven't looked at Morrisons though.

You'd also find it at Hobby Craft in their cake decorating area.

No artificial coloring?  Ooh, that pleases me.  Here, there is even artificial coloring in dog food, to make it look more appealing to the humans feeding their pets.  I really don't think the dogs care.

Ooh, remember what you mean, lyonaria. No, I like a very specific kind of colored sugar. Very fine. Something like this: http://cf.lovegrowswild.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Best-Sugar-Cookie-Cut-out-Recipe-7.jpg

We did make do with the other types of cookie decorating things (the gel pens were fabulous), but never could find the sugar. However, we'll take a look at the hobby place you mentioned.

Ooh, remember what you mean, lyonaria. No, I like a very specific kind of colored sugar. Very fine. Something like this: http://cf.lovegrowswild.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Best-Sugar-Cookie-Cut-out-Recipe-7.jpg

We did make do with the other types of cookie decorating things (the gel pens were fabulous), but never could find the sugar. However, we'll take a look at the hobby place you mentioned.

I did say it wasn't the same in colour or how fine the sugar crystals are. Just that there is some.

I know exactly what you mean, my mom has it in blue, red, and green. Very fine, very brightly coloured.

Personally, the best sugar cookies are Mary's sugar cookies from the Betty Crocker cookbook. Light, delicate and tasty. Flavoured with vanilla and almond.

I've not seen any really fine decorating sugar here.

No artificial coloring?  Ooh, that pleases me.  Here, there is even artificial coloring in dog food, to make it look more appealing to the humans feeding their pets.  I really don't think the dogs care.

Until you try UK Froot Loops...  then it'll make you cry into your cereal how much you miss artificial colours and flavours!

I've not seen any really fine decorating sugar here.

Yeah, exactly. So I'm bringing some with me as it's always been a Christmas cookie tradition.

Speaking of things I really missed while living in the UK, does anyone know if I can bring coffee back to the UK? My favourite coffee brand is not available in the UK except for an extortionate fee online.

Speaking of things I really missed while living in the UK, does anyone know if I can bring coffee back to the UK? My favourite coffee brand is not available in the UK except for an extortionate fee online.

Yup!

Welp, I'm bringing back my body weight in coffee! I have yet to find a decent flavoured coffee in the UK. Starting my hoard now.

Do you know if it matters if it's whole bean or ground? Some customs are weird about the preparation of items.

No artificial coloring?  Ooh, that pleases me.  Here, there is even artificial coloring in dog food, to make it look more appealing to the humans feeding their pets.  I really don't think the dogs care.

When my wife had another dog for a few days, she bought our dog fancy canned food (thinking the other dog would have something similar)...so our dog wouldn't feel left out. Nothing that humans won't do for their pets.

Welp, I'm bringing back my body weight in coffee! I have yet to find a decent flavoured coffee in the UK. Starting my hoard now.

Do you know if it matters if it's whole bean or ground? Some customs are weird about the preparation of items.

Haven't a clue (not a coffee drinker) but I know lots of people bring it with no issues.  Just put it in your checked luggage versus in shipped items.  Shipped items are where they get weird with food.

Haven't a clue (not a coffee drinker) but I know lots of people bring it with no issues.  Just put it in your checked luggage versus in shipped items.  Shipped items are where they get weird with food.

Yeah, I've tried shipping candy before to my hubby pre-living together and not all of it made it.

I was going to check luggage anyway. I really only came back to the US with three days worth of clothing and some electronics so I got the room in my bags for all my stuff.

I've brought coffee and similar (dry brownie mix, tea, etc) and they tend to not mind if it's in your checked baggage.  Someone gave us some spices in the US and I carried it with me on my way here in February; they didn't even open my bag to inspect it further.

AV, I love this sugar cookie tradition as well!

Don't forget that Amazon is a great option if you can't fit everything in your bags! Of course it might be a bit more pricey but it's always there. I've also found some stores that specialize in American products - I discovered them while trying to make a Thanksgiving dinner!

If you like to use colored sugar to decorate cookies, bring that, too.

We went to about six stores at Christmas time AND looked online because sprinkling colored sugar on roll-out cookies is a cherished Christmas tradition for me. We resorted to dyeing our own granulated sugar, but it didn't work that well.