Culture: Two nations divided...

[UKRay]

I can't believe I was dumb enough to click that link WITH the sound turned on!

Johanna

I love it when a plan comes together...

[JohnD]

Hope in every bowl. Thats funny.

Ron Paul in 2012

[electrathon]

While this thread seems to have gotten far off from the origional idea of the differances between two differant countries, Ray and I have started an exchange of "stuff. I sent him Oreas. A big enough box he can even have an Orea party if he wants to (it came from Costco, another shoping experience likely missing in Europe). He sent me a few differant candies and some Marmite. This stuff can most acuratly be described as liquified bullion with a lot of salt added. I think it has to be an aquired taste.

It is fun exchanging thing with someone far away. Things we take for granted have likely never been heard of over there, and vise versa.

Aaron

[Washroad]

Do they have English muffins in England?

[UKRay]

Do they have English muffins in England?

Sure we have English Muffins in England - the finest baker in Ludlow www.pricesthebakers.co.uk makes a batch every day in time for breakfast and very nice they are too!

We also have crumpets and can recommend this recipe as I have used it myself: http://www.history.uk.com/recipes/index.php?archive=17

The very best is a Sussex Scone - we like the fruit ones for afternoon tea on Sundays: http://www.history.uk.com/recipes/index.php?archive=18

Sadly, we don't have Oreos... at least, the rest of the country doesn't have Oreos, but I do (many thanks Aaron!) and I think it extremely mean spirited of you Americans to have kept Oreos to yourselves for so long. I am starting a movement to ensure my local Tesco stocks them in huge quantities... heheheh!

I have also had a truly wonderful parcel from Crystal that contained a treasure trove of amazing goodies. We loved almost everything but I almost had to draw the line at Root Beer Barrels which taste almost exactly like horse liniment - don't ask how I know... strangely, the more of them I ate, the more i started to appreciate them. Thank you for your kindness, Crystal, and thank you George J Howe of PA for one of the strangest taste experiences of my life.

Edited November 13, 2008 by UKRay

[wildrose]

Scones! Ahhhh I love scones. It's amazing the variety of them here though: no one seems to know exactly how to do them.

[Merrik]

On the marmite thing....

Go easy. I think often folks can get put off first time by using way too much. Suppose it is a bit like getting used to Chilli peppers. Also there is the whole hot toast vs cool toast thang.

Hot buttered toast makes the marmite a bit trickier to spread evenly and often leads to too much being slapped on to get good "coverage". Cool toast is easier... cool enough to soften the butter but not melt it... much easier to spread.. it mixes in with the softened butter and, i think, tastes a little "softer" than on hot buttered toast.

How much to use to start out with? erm... hard to quantify it but summat like 1/2 a (flat) teaspoon? probably a bit less. think of it more as a flavouring to use sparingly than a spread like peanut butter or jelly (or jam to us brits).

Some trowel it on.. others use a tiny bit. It`s just finding the right amount for you.

Final thought... there is absolutly no comparison between marmite and vegimite IMHO. Brits usually cannot stand vegimite and are a amazed that it not used in colder climate as an enviromentally friendly petrochemical free alternative to bitumen. Aussies generally feel the same way about marmite. (there are however, as in all areas of life, exceptions to the previous statement)

All Hail Biltong ! King of the dried preserved meat stuff!

[electrathon]

Sadly, we don't have Oreos... at least, the rest of the country doesn't have Oreos, but I do (many thanks Aaron!) and I think it extremely mean spirited of you Americans to have kept Oreos to yourselves for so long. I am starting a movement to ensure my local Tesco stocks them in huge quantities... heheheh!

Here is the icky part that they do not tell you about Oreos: They are basicly filled with whipped lard. Why it tastes so good I am not sure.

Edited November 13, 2008 by electrathon

[Merrik]

Hey Ray..

I`m pretty sure Oreo's are far more common in the UK supermarkets now than they were a year ago. I seem to remember a recent ad campaign with a kid explaining to his dog how to eat them.

Ya might want to keep an eye out for stores like "sweets from heaven" in the big shopping centers. I know there are a couple down near me in lakeside and bluewater for example ( i think there might be one on Telford High street). Then import and stock a huge range of US sweets and stuff. Also the jars of marshmallow and varieties of peanut butter.

[tashabear]

Sadly, we don't have Oreos... at least, the rest of the country doesn't have Oreos, but I do (many thanks Aaron!) and I think it extremely mean spirited of you Americans to have kept Oreos to yourselves for so long. I am starting a movement to ensure my local Tesco stocks them in huge quantities... heheheh!

Ask them to stock fudge-covered Oreos. You'll hate me, but your mouth will be ecstatic.