Archive-name: cooking/faq
Maintained-by: Victor Sack <cooking.
...@mac.com>
LAST UPDATED 20 June, 2008
- some links in section 8.2 (Other cooking/food sites) updated
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|Copyright © Victor Sack 2003-2008, Copyright © Mary Frye and Victor |
|Sack 1999-2003, Copyright © Amy Gale 1993-1999, Copyright © Cindy |
|Kandolf 1992-1993. All Rights Reserved. Portions Copyright © by |
|their particular authors. |
| |
|This FAQ may be cited as "The rec.food.cooking FAQ and conversion file|
|as of <date>, available in rtfm.mit.edu FAQ archives as /cooking/faq" |
| |
|Permission to reproduce this document, or any whole section or |
|substantial part (unless it was you who wrote it!) for profit is |
|explicitly not granted. Permission to distribute free of charge or |
|with charges only to cover the cost of reproduction is granted, |
|provided credits remain intact. This paragraph and the two above |
|must also be included, and the same restrictions apply to subsequent |
|use of the material. |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
An easier-to-navigate frames version of the FAQ is available at
http://vsack.homepage.t-online.de/rfc_faq.html
Welcome to the rec.food.cooking FAQ list and conversion helper!
The primary purpose of this document is to help cooks from different
countries communicate with one another. The problem is that
measurements and terms for food vary from country to country,
even if both countries speak English.
However, some confusion cannot be avoided simply by making this list.
You can help avoid the confusion by being as specific as possible. Try
not to use brand names unless you also mention the generic name of the
product. If you use terms like "a can" or "a box", give some indication
of how much the package contains, either in weight or volume.
A few handy hints: a kiwi is a bird, the little thing in your grocery
store is called a kiwi fruit. Whoever said "A pint's a pound the world
around" must have believed the US was on another planet. And cast iron
pans and bread machines can evoke some interesting discussion!
If you haven't already done so, now is as good a time as any to read
the guides to the Net and the Net etiquette which are posted to
news.announce.newusers and news.newusers.questions regularly.
They are also available via anonymous FTP from
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/news/announce/newusers/
or from
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/news/newusers/questions/.
In particular, you are strongly encouraged to read the following
postings:
What is Usenet?
A Primer on How to Work With the Usenet Community
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Usenet
Rules for posting to Usenet
Emily Postnews Answers Your Questions on Netiquette
Hints on writing style for Usenet
Advertising on Usenet: How To Do It, How Not To Do It
How To Find the Right Place To Post
The moderators of news.newusers.questions maintain an excellent Web site
with helpful links to basic Usenet information. The site is at
http://members.fortunecity.com/nnqweb/nnqlinks.html.
The traditionally accepted quoting style is discussed at
http://members.fortunecity.com/nnqweb/nquote.html.
Another excellent introduction to Usenet is available from
http://www.cs.indiana.edu/docproject/zen/zen-1.0_6.html.
You should be familiar with acronyms like FAQ, FTP and IMHO, as well as
know about smileys, followups and when to reply by email to postings.
This FAQ is currently posted to rec.food.cooking, news.answers,
rec.answers and rec.food.recipes. All posts to news.answers are
archived, and it is possible to retrieve the last posted copy via
anonymous FTP from rtfm.mit.edu as /pub/usenet/rec.food.cooking. Those
without FTP access should send e-mail to mail-ser...@rtfm.mit.edu with
"send usenet/news.answers/finding-sources" in the body to find out how
to get archived news.answers posts by e-mail.
This FAQ was initially written by Cindy Kandolf, and has been extended
and maintained by Amy Gale since 1993. In August 1999, Maryf and Victor
Sack have taken over the FAQ maintaining. In July 2003, Victor Sack
became the sole maintainer. The FAQ has always benefited from
contributions by readers of rec.food.cooking. Credits appear at
the end.
Each section begins with forty dashes ("-") on a line of their own, then
the section number. This should make searching for a specific section
easy.
Any questions you have that are not addressed here will surely have
many people on rec.food.cooking who are able to answer them - try it,
and see.
Comments, corrections and changes to:
Victor Sack <cooking....@mac.com>
----------------------------------------
List of Answers
1 Substitutions and Equivalents
1.1 Flours
1.2 Leavening Agents
1.3 Dairy Products
1.4 Starches
1.5 Sugar and other sweeteners
1.6 Fats
1.7 Chocolates
1.8 Meats
1.9 Salt
2 US/UK/metric conversions
2.1 Oven temperatures
2.2 Food equivalencies
2.2.1 Flours
2.2.2 Cereals
2.2.3 Sugars
2.2.4 Fats and Cheeses
2.2.5 Vegetables and Fruit
2.2.6 Dried Fruit and Nuts
2.2.7 Preserves
2.2.8 Egg sizes
2.3 American liquid measures
2.4 British liquid measures
2.5 British short cuts
2.6 Energy output of cooktops
2.7 General Conversion Tables
2.7.1 International Liquid Measurements
2.7.2 Weight
2.7.3 US Liquid Measurements
2.7.4 Miscellaneous
2.7.5 Weight/Volume Conversion Chart
2.8 Some Australian Conversions
2.8.1 Metric Cups
2.8.2 Metric Spoons
2.9 Catties
2.10 Some Old Measurements
2.11 Authorities
3 Glossary of Culinary Terms
4 Cooking Methods
4.1 Poaching
4.2 Frying
4.3 Sautéing (and deglazing)
4.4 Broiling
4.5 Caramelising (of onions)
4.6 Braising
4.7 Cooking with alcohol
4.8 Roasting
5 Distilled Wisdom on Equipment
5.1 Woks
5.2 Cast Iron
6 History and Lore of rec.food.cooking
6.1 Origins of rec.food.cooking
6.2 Some Higlights in the Life of rec.food.cooking
6.3 What's all this about xxxx?
7 This has come up once too often
8 Recipe archives and other cooking/food sites
8.1 Recipe archives
8.2 Other cooking/food sites
9 Food newsgroups and mailing lists
9.1 rec.food.cooking
9.2 rec.food.recipes
9.3 rec.food.drink, rec.food.restaurants
9.4 rec.food.veg
9.5 rec.food.veg.cooking
9.6 rec.food.preserving
9.7 also...
9.8 mailing lists
10 Other culinary FAQs
10.1 Foods
10.2 Beverages
10.3 Religion, lifestyle and special diets
10.4 Miscellaneous
10.5 Humour
11 "Unofficial" rec.food.cooking Web site
12 Sources
12.1 Contributors
12.2 Bibliography
----------------------------------------
1 Substitutions and Equivalents
This section contains information on where substitutions can be made,
and what they can be made with.
----------------------------------------
1.1 Flours
US all-purpose flour and UK plain-flour can be substituted for one
another without adjustment. US cake flour is lighter than these. It is
not used much anymore, but if it does come up, you can substitute
all-purpose/plain flour by removing three tablespoons per cup of flour
and replacing it with corn starch or potato flour.
Self-raising flour contains 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2
teaspoon salt for each cup of flour. Some brands in some regions don't
contain salt.
US whole wheat flour is interchangeable with UK wholemeal flour.
----------------------------------------
1.2 Leavening agents
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It must be mixed with acidic
ingredients to work. Baking powder contains baking soda and a powdered
acid, so it can work without other acidic ingredients.
----------------------------------------
1.3 Dairy Products
Evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk both come in cans, both are
thick and a weird colour... but are not, as I thought when I was small,
the same thing. Sweetened condensed milk is, as the name implies, mixed
with sugar or another sweetener already. It isn't found everywhere, but
this recipe makes a good, quick substitute: Mix 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons
dry (powdered) milk and 1/2 cup warm water. When mixed, add 3/4 cup
granulated sugar. If you're not sure whether it is available in your
market, try looking with the nonrefrigerated milk products - "Good Luck"
is apparently a common brand in North America.
If a recipe calls for buttermilk or cultured milk, you can make sour
milk as a substitute. For each cup you need, take one tablespoon of
vinegar or lemon juice, then add enough milk to make one cup. Don't
stir. Let it stand for five minutes before using.
The minimum milk fat content by weight for various types of cream:
(UK) (US)
Clotted Cream 55%
Double Cream 48%
Heavy Cream 36%
Whipping Cream 35% 30%
Whipped Cream 35%
Single Cream 18% (=Light Cream)
Half Cream 12% (=Half and Half*)
* Half and Half has only 10% butterfat in British Columbia.
For the definition of a specific dairy product, see section 3.
Quark (aka quarg) [7]
A soft, unripened cheese with the texture and flavour of sour cream,
Quark comes in two versions - lowfat and nonfat. Though the calories
are the same (35 per ounce), the texture of lowfat Quark is richer than
that of lowfat sour cream. It has a milder flavour and richer texture
than lowfat yoghurt. Quark can be used as a sour cream substitute to
top baked potatoes, and as an ingredient in a variety of dishes
including cheesecakes, dips, salads and sauces.
----------------------------------------
1.4 Starches
UK cornflour is the same as US cornstarch. Potato flour, despite its
name, is a starch, and cannot be substituted for regular flour. It
often can be substituted for corn starch and vice versa.
In the US, corn flour means finely ground cornmeal. If in doubt about
which type of cornflour is meant in a recipe, ask the person who gave it
to you! A couple of rules of thumb:
- in cakes, especially sponge cakes, it's likely to mean cornstarch
- as a coating for fried okra, it's likely to mean finely ground
cornmeal
Cornmeal or polenta is not the same thing as cornstarch or cornflour!
What one can buy labelled 'polenta' really looks no different to
cornmeal though, so hey, lets not panic too much.
Polenta is commonly used to describe cornmeal porridge but may also be
used to mean plain cornmeal. Beware.
If you don't have cornstarch/corn flour, you can use twice the amount
of all-purpose/plain flour. However, unless whatever you're adding it
to is allowed to boil, the result will taste starchy.
----------------------------------------
1.5 Sugar and other sweeteners
UK castor/caster sugar is somewhat finer than US granulated sugar.
There is a product in the US called superfine sugar, which is about the
same as UK castor/caster sugar. It is called "berry sugar" in British
Columbia. Usually, you can use granulated sugar in recipes calling for
castor/caster sugar and vice versa, but I've got reports of times this
didn't work so well! As usual, give the recipe a trial run with the
substitute some time when it doesn't need to be perfect.
(US) Confectioner's sugar is (UK/Aust/NZ) icing sugar. Sometimes these
are marketed as mixtures containing about 5% cornflour (cornstarch).
This can interfere use in making candy such as marzipan.
Corn syrup is common in the US but not always elsewhere. Sugar (golden)
syrup can be substituted.
Corn syrup comes in two flavours - dark and light. Light corn syrup is
just sweet, dark has a mild molasses flavour. Some people have
substituted dark corn syrup for golden syrup in ANZAC biscuits and found
it successful. A common US brand is Karo.
Golden syrup is a thick, golden brown (fancy that) by-product of cane
sugar refining. The taste is mostly sweet, although there is a slight
acidic, metallic component. Lyle's is a common brand spoken about in
rec.food.cooking, the New Zealand brand name is Chelsea.
If desperate, a plain sugar syrup may be a possible substitute, boil 2
parts sugar, 1 part water. This could be messy. You may want to thin
it out with water. Again, you may want to try this out on your own
before making something for a special occasion.
Black treacle and blackstrap molasses are similar but not identical.
----------------------------------------
1.6 Fats
Shortening is solid, white fat made from hydrogenated vegetable oil. (A
popular brand name is Crisco, and many people call all shortening
Crisco.) It is common in the US, tougher to find in some other parts of
the globe. In my experience, you can usually but not always substitute
butter or margarine for shortening. The result will have a slightly
different texture and a more buttery taste (which in the case of, say,
chocolate chip cookies seems to be an advantage!). Sometimes this
doesn't work too well. Not to sound like a broken record but - try it
out before an important occasion.
Copha is a solid fat derived from coconuts, it is fairly saturated and
used in recipes where it is melted, combined with other ingredients and
left to set.
Lard can be successfully substituted in some recipes, for example it
makes very flaky pastry.
Deep frying requires fats/oils with heat-tolerant properties. Butter
and margarine, for example, are right out, as are lard and olive oil.
Corn and peanut oils are both good.
----------------------------------------
1.7 Chocolates
If you don't have unsweetened baking chocolate, substitute three
tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder plus one tablespoon of fat
(preferably oil) for each one ounce square.
US dark chocolate is the same as UK plain chocolate, that is, the
darkest and least sweet of the chocolates intended for eating (also
called bittersweet). What is called milk chocolate in the UK is called
milk chocolate in the US, too, but many people simply refer to it as
"chocolate". The stuff called "semi-sweet chocolate" by some folks is
the US dark or UK plain. "Bitter chocolate" is, apparently, the UK term
for high quality plain chocolate.
Some manufacturers apparently distinguish between "sweet dark,"
"semi-sweet" and "bittersweet" (Sarotti is one), but they seem to be
minor variations on a theme.
Chocolate chips are not necessarily a substitute for bar chocolates,
because the chips have something added to them to slow down melting.
----------------------------------------
1.8 Meats
If a recipe calls for spatchcocks, you can use Cornish game hens
----------------------------------------
1.9 Salt
There are basically two types of food salt: table salt and sea salt.
They are chemically identical, containing mainly sodium chloride. Table
salt is mined from deposits left by dried-up or receded sea. Sea salt
is extracted from evaporated sea water.
From these two types of salt several varieties are produced, differing
somewhat in composition, form, colour, taste, and intended use. Some of
them are listed below.
- Table salt. It is often mixed with iodine (and called iodized salt)
and often contains anti-caking agents.
- Kosher salt. Called so, because it is used for koshering purposes,
i.e., drawing blood from meat. It is a coarse salt which generally
contains no additives. Because of the large size of the crystals, about
twice as much kosher salt is required to achieve the same taste
intensity as would be needed using regular table salt. Many people
prefer it to the regular table salt.
- Pickling salt. It is a fine-grained salt used for pickling and
canning. Like kosher salt, it contains no additives, such as
anti-caking agents, which would cloud the brine.
- Sel gris. Grey sea salt. This kind of salt is unprocessed, retaining
various minerals. Produced near the town of Guérande in Brittany,
France. It is said to smell of the sea. Generally used for seasoning
already cooked dishes.
- Fleur de sel. A very expensive kind of sel gris, it is not grey but
creamy-white in colour. Harvested from the thin white film that forms
on the surface of the salt marshes in Brittany. Said to be prized by
some French chefs. Some other people consider it a marketing gimmick.
Also supposed to be used for seasoning already cooked dishes.
- Indian black salt (kala namak). Brown-to-black in colour, it has a
smoky, sulphuric flavour. Used in some Indian dishes.
- Hawaiian alaea salt. It takes its name and a reddish colour from the
red clay (alaea) found along the shores. It is also generally used for
seasoning already cooked dishes.
- Rock salt. Greyish in colour, it is an unrefined salt, containing
many minerals and impurities. Supposed to be inedible, it is used in
ice cream machines and for melting ice and snow on the roads.
----------------------------------------
2 US/UK/metric conversions
Some of these tables were combined from various sources by Andrew
Mossberg aem(at)symcor.com, whose sources included Caroline Knight
cdfk(at)otter.hpl.hp.com, Fruitbat and the New York City Library Desk
Reference. Other tables were compiled from a variety of sources.
Corrections and additions welcomed!
----------------------------------------
2.1 Oven Temperatures
An approximate conversion chart(P):-
Electric Gas mark Description
Fahrenheit Celsius
225°F 110°C 1/4 Very cool/very slow
250°F 130°C 1/2
275°F 140°C 1 cool
300°F 150°C 2
325°F 170°C 3 very moderate
350°F 180°C 4 moderate
375°F 190°C 5
400°F 200°C 6 moderately hot
425°F 220°C 7 hot
450°F 230°C 8
475°F 240°C 9 very hot
----------------------------------------
2.2 Food Equivalencies
Sometimes the sources did not agree... I've given both:-
British measure American equivalent
----------------------------------------
2.2.1 Flours
flour - white plain/strong/ sifted flour - all-purpose/
self-raising/unbleached unbleached white
4 oz(P) 1 cup
5 oz(K)
wholemeal/stoneground whole wheat
6 oz(K) 1 cup
cornflour cornstarch
4 1/2 oz (P) 1 cup
5.3 oz (K)
yellow corn meal/polenta coarse corn meal/polenta
6 oz(P) 1 cup
rye flour rye flour
6 oz(P) 1 cup
----------------------------------------
2.2.2 Cereals
pearl barley pearl barley
7 oz(P) 1 cup
rice/bulgur wheat/millet/wheat rice/bulgur wheat/millet/wheat
berries
7 oz(K) 1 cup
semolina/ground rice/tapioca semolina/ground rice/tapioca
6 oz(P) 1 cup
fresh soft breadcrumbs/ fresh soft breadcrumbs/
cake crumbs cake crumbs
2 oz(P) 1 cup
dried breadcrumbs dried breadcrumbs
4 oz(P) 1 cup
porridge oats rolled oats
3 1/2 oz(P) 1 cup
----------------------------------------
2.2.3 Sugars
light/dark soft brown sugar light/dark brown sugar
8 oz(P) 1 cup (firmly packed)
castor/caster/granulated sugar granulated sugar
7 1/2 oz(P) 1 cup
icing sugar sifted confectioners' sugar
4 1/2 oz(P) 1 cup
----------------------------------------
2.2.4 Fats and cheeses
butter, margarine, cooking butter, shortening, lard,
fat, lard, dripping drippings - solid or melted
1 oz(P) 2 tablespoons
8 oz(P) 1 cup
grated cheese - cheddar type grated cheese - cheddar type
4 oz(P) 1 cup
1 lb(K) 4 - 5 cups (packed)
----------------------------------------
2.2.5 Vegetables and fruit
onion onion
1 small to med 1 cup chopped
shelled peas shelled peas
4 oz(P) 3/4 cup
cooked sweet corn cooked sweet corn
4 oz(P) 1 cup
celery celery
4 sticks 1 cup (chopped)
chopped tomatoes chopped tomatoes
7 oz(P) 1 cup
button mushrooms button mushrooms
3-4 oz(P) 1 cup
chopped pickled beetroot chopped pickled beetroot
2 oz(P) 1/3 cup
black/redcurrants/bilberries black/redcurrants/bilberries
4 oz(P) 1 cup
raspberries/strawberries raspberries/strawberries
5 oz(P) 1 cup
Dried beans:
black/lentils/chick peas/pinto/ black/lentils/chick peas/pinto/
white white
3 1/2 oz(K) 1/2 cup
----------------------------------------
2.2.6 Dried fruit and nuts, etc.
currants/sultanas/raisins/ currants/sultanas/raisins/
chopped candied peel chopped candied peel
5-6 oz(P) 1 cup
2 oz(K - raisins) 1/3 cup
glace cherries candied cherries
8 oz(P) 1 cup
sesame seeds sesame seeds
3 1/2 oz 3/4 cup
whole shelled almonds whole shelled almonds
5 oz(P) 1 cup
ground almonds ground almonds
4 oz(P) 1 cup
chopped nuts chopped nuts
2 oz(K) 1/3 to 1/2 cup
Nut butters:
peanut/almond/cashew etc. peanut/almond/cashew etc.
8 oz(K) 1 cup
----------------------------------------
2.2.7 Preserves
clear honey/golden syrup/ clear honey/golden syrup/
molasses/black treacle molasses/black treacle
12 oz(P) 1 cup
maple/corn syrup maple/corn syrup
11 oz(P) 1 cup
jam/marmalade/jelly jam/marmalade/jelly
5-6 oz(P) 1/2 cup
----------------------------------------
2.2.8 Egg sizes
According to the BEIS (British Egg Information Service) Web site, eggs
in the UK are now sold in four different sizes: Small, Medium, Large and
Very Large (these replace the old sizes 0 to 7).
UK egg sizes
New Size Weight Old Size
Very Large 73g +over Size 0
Size 1
Large 63 - 73g Size 1
Size 2
Size 3
Medium 53 - 63g Size 3
Size 4
Size 5
Small 53g +under Size 5
Size 6
Size 7
US egg sizes
Egg sizes Average weight
Jumbo 2 1/2 oz (71g)
Extra-large 2 1/4 oz (64g)
Large 2 oz (57g)
Medium 1 3/4 oz (50g)
Small 1 1/2 oz (43g)
Peewee 1 1/4 oz (35g)
----------------------------------------
2.3 American Liquid Measures
1 liquid pint 473 ml ( 16 fl oz)
1 dry pint 551 ml ( 19 fl oz)
1 cup 237 ml ( 8 fl oz)
1 tablespoon 15 ml (1/2 fl oz)
1 fluid ounce 30 ml
----------------------------------------
2.4 British Liquid Measures
1 pint 568 ml ( 20 fl oz)
1 breakfast cup ( 10 fl oz) 1/2 pint
1 tea cup 1/3 pint
1 tablespoon 15 ml
1 dessertspoon 10 ml
1 teaspoon 5 ml 1/3 tablespoon
And from
"Mastering the art of French cooking". Penguin UK, issue 1961
UK UK oz Metric ml US oz
1 quart 40 1140 38.5
1 pint 20 570
1 cup 10
1 gill 5
1 fluid oz 1 28.4 0.96
1 tbl 5/8 (1/16 cup) 17.8?
1 dsp 1/3 10
1 tsp 1/6 5
----------------------------------------
2.5 British Short Cuts (S)
Cheese (grated) 1 oz = 4 level tablespoons
Cocoa or chocolate powder 1 oz = 3 level tablespoons
Coconut (desiccated) 1 oz = 4 level tablespoons
Flour (unsifted) 1 oz = 3 level tablespoons
Sugar (castor/caster) 1 oz = 2 level tablespoons
(granulated) 1 oz = 2 level tablespoons
(icing) 1 oz = 2 1/2 level tablespoons
Syrup (golden) 1 oz = 1 level tablespoons
----------------------------------------
2.6 Energy output of cooktops
From a post on rec.food.cooking by Andrew Nicholson
BTU - British Thermal Unit
BTU x 1054 = Joules
Watts x Seconds = Joules
BTU = Watts x (Seconds/1054) = Watts x 3.415
Gas Cooktops typically have a range of burners from about 200 BTU up
to 12,000 BTU.
Electric Cooktops typically range from 35 watts to 2900 watts.
To help you compare gas burners to electric elements:
BTU Watts
------- ---------
100 35
200 70 <- gas burners lowest setting
3400 1000
6500 1900
8000 2300 <- most electric tops stop here
10000 2900
12000 3500
----------------------------------------
2.7 General Conversion Tables
Some general tables for volume and weight conversions
(mostly by Cindy Kandolf)
----------------------------------------
2.7.1 International Liquid Measurements
standard cup tablespoon teaspoon
Canada 250ml 15ml 5ml
Australia 250ml ** 20ml ** 5ml
New Zealand 250ml 15ml 5ml
UK 250ml 15ml 5ml
----------------------------------------
2.7.2 Weight
1 ounce = 28.4 g (can usually be rounded to 25 or 30)
1 pound = 454 g
1 kg = 2.2 pounds
----------------------------------------
2.7.3 US Liquid Measurements
1 litre = 1.057 quarts
2.1 pints
1 quart = 0.95 litre
1 gallon= 3.8 litres
1/8 cup = 2 tablespoons
1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
1/3 " = 0.8 dl = 78 ml
1/2 " = 1.2 dl = 120 ml
2/3 " = 1.6 dl = 160 ml
3/4 " = 1.75 dl = 175 ml
7/8 " = 2.1 dl = 210 ml
1 cup = 2.4 dl = 240 ml
1 dl = 2/5 cup
= 6 to 7 tablespoons
----------------------------------------
2.7.4 Miscellaneous
1 UK pint is about 6 dl or 600 ml
1 UK liquid oz is 0.96 US liquid oz.
a "stick" of butter or margarine weighs 4 oz and is
1/2 cup US.
each 1/4 cup or half stick butter or margarine in
US recipes weighs about 50 g.
there are 8 tablespoons in 1/4 pound butter
Gelatine is available in sheets, as well as in powdered form. The
following is from a post by Sophie Laplante.
It looks like there are different size sheets, and different size
packets (US vs Europe). So the only way to go is to convert by weight.
In France, powdered gelatine does not come in packets; in the UK
it appears that it does, but the packets are larger than in the US.
One Knox powdered gelatine envelope (US) = 1/4 oz, about 7 grams.
1 (US) envelope = 7 g,
= 7 1-gram sheets,
= 4 1.66-gram sheets,
= 3 or 3 1/2 2-gram sheets.
1 (Europe) envelope = 11 g
= 11 1-gram sheets,
= 6.5 or 7 1.66-gram sheets
= 5 2-gram sheets
----------------------------------------
2.7.5 Weight/Volume Conversion Chart
This chart was once posted by T. Terrell Banks who got it from a now
forgotten source. It was then preserved on William Chuang's Web site.
g/ ml/ g/ g/ g/ g/ cups/ cups/
substance ml g tsp Tbsp floz cup lb kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
allspice 0.42 2.36 2.1 6.4 12 100 4.5 10.0
almonds, ground 0.36 2.78 1.8 5.4 10 85 5.3 11.8
almonds, whole 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
anchovies 1.02 0.98 5.1 15.3 28 240 1.9 4.2
apples, dried 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
apples, sliced 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
apricots, dried 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
arrowroot 0.95 1.05 4.8 14.3 27 225 2.0 4.4
bacon fat 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
baking powder 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
baking soda 0.87 1.15 4.3 13.0 24 205 2.2 4.9
bamboo shoots 1.14 0.87 5.7 17.2 32 270 1.7 3.7
bananas, mashed 0.97 1.03 4.9 14.6 27 230 2.0 4.3
bananas, sliced 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
barley, uncooked 0.78 1.28 3.9 11.8 22 185 2.5 5.4
basil, dried 0.11 9.44 0.5 1.6 3 25 18.1 40.0
beans, dried 0.85 1.18 4.2 12.7 24 200 2.3 5.0
beef, cooked 0.97 1.03 4.9 14.6 27 230 2.0 4.3
beef, raw 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
biscuit mix (Bisquick) 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
blue corn meal 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
bran, unsifted 0.23 4.29 1.2 3.5 6 55 8.2 18.2
brazil nuts, whole 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
bread crumbs, fresh 0.25 3.93 1.3 3.8 7 60 7.6 16.7
bread crumbs, packaged 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
buckwheat groats 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
butter 0.97 1.03 4.9 14.6 27 230 2.0 4.3
cabbage, shredded 1.44 0.69 7.2 21.6 40 340 1.3 2.9
cake crumbs, fresh 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
candied lemon peel 0.57 1.75 2.9 8.6 16 135 3.4 7.4
candied orange peel 0.53 1.89 2.6 7.9 15 125 3.6 8.0
g/ ml/ g/ g/ g/ g/ cups/ cups/
substance ml g tsp Tbsp floz cup lb kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
cashews, oil roasted 0.47 2.15 2.3 7.0 13 110 4.1 9.1
cauliflower fleurets 0.97 1.03 4.9 14.6 27 230 2.0 4.3
celery seed 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
cereal, Rice Krispies 0.09 10.73 0.5 1.4 2 22 20.6 45.5
cheese, cheddar, grated 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
cheese, colby, grated 0.47 2.15 2.3 7.0 13 110 4.1 9.1
cheese, cottage 0.97 1.03 4.9 14.6 27 230 2.0 4.3
cheese, cream 1.02 0.98 5.1 15.3 28 240 1.9 4.2
cheese, grated parmesan 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
cheese, jack, grated 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
chives, chopped dried 0.03 29.50 0.2 0.5 0 8 56.7 125.0
chives, chopped fresh 0.21 4.72 1.1 3.2 6 50 9.1 20.0
chocolate chips 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
chocolate, cocoa powder 0.47 2.15 2.3 7.0 13 110 4.1 9.1
chocolate, grated 0.42 2.36 2.1 6.4 12 100 4.5 10.0
chocolate, melted 1.02 0.98 5.1 15.3 28 240 1.9 4.2
cinnamon, ground 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
cloves, ground 0.40 2.48 2.0 6.0 11 95 4.8 10.5
cloves, whole 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
coconut, shredded 0.32 3.15 1.6 4.8 9 75 6.0 13.3
coffee, ground 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
coffee, instant 0.23 4.29 1.2 3.5 6 55 8.2 18.2
cornmeal 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
cornstarch (cornflour) 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
cracker crumbs 0.25 3.93 1.3 3.8 7 60 7.6 16.7
cranberries 0.42 2.36 2.1 6.4 12 100 4.5 10.0
cream of tartar 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
cream of wheat 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
crisco, melted 0.89 1.12 4.4 13.3 25 210 2.2 4.8
crisco, solid 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
currants 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
g/ ml/ g/ g/ g/ g/ cups/ cups/
substance ml g tsp Tbsp floz cup lb kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
dates, chopped 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
egg noodles 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
egg whites 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
egg yolks 1.14 0.87 5.7 17.2 32 270 1.7 3.7
eggs, beaten 0.97 1.03 4.9 14.6 27 230 2.0 4.3
evaporated milk 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
farina 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
figs, dried 0.70 1.43 3.5 10.5 19 165 2.7 6.1
flour, Deaf Smith 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
flour, U.K. self-raising 0.47 2.15 2.3 7.0 13 110 4.1 9.1
flour, U.S. all-purpose 0.42 2.36 2.1 6.4 12 100 4.5 10.0
flour, buckwheat 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
flour, cake 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
flour, legume 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
flour, potato 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
flour, rice 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
flour, rye 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
flour, semolina 0.74 1.35 3.7 11.1 21 175 2.6 5.7
flour, wheat bread 0.42 2.36 2.1 6.4 12 100 4.5 10.0
flour, whole wheat 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
fungus, wood ear 0.42 2.36 2.1 6.4 12 100 4.5 10.0
garlic 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
garlic, minced 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
gelatin 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
ginger, crystal 1.02 0.98 5.1 15.3 28 240 1.9 4.2
ginger, fresh 0.97 1.03 4.9 14.6 27 230 2.0 4.3
ginger, ground 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
graham cracker crumbs 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
grape nuts 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
gumdrops 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
gummi bears 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
g/ ml/ g/ g/ g/ g/ cups/ cups/
substance ml g tsp Tbsp floz cup lb kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
hazelnuts, whole 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
honey 1.44 0.69 7.2 21.6 40 340 1.3 2.9
kasha 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
lard 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
lemon rind, grated 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
lentils 0.85 1.18 4.2 12.7 24 200 2.3 5.0
macaroni, uncooked 0.49 2.05 2.4 7.3 13 115 3.9 8.7
margarine 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
marshmallows, small 0.21 4.72 1.1 3.2 6 50 9.1 20.0
mashed potatoes 0.89 1.12 4.4 13.3 25 210 2.2 4.8
mayonnaise 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
milk, evaporated 0.93 1.07 4.7 14.0 26 220 2.1 4.5
milk, powdered 0.49 2.05 2.4 7.3 13 115 3.9 8.7
molasses 1.48 0.67 7.4 22.2 42 350 1.3 2.9
mushrooms, Chinese black 0.21 4.72 1.1 3.2 6 50 9.1 20.0
mushrooms, chopped 0.32 3.15 1.6 4.8 9 75 6.0 13.3
mushrooms, sliced 0.28 3.63 1.4 4.1 7 65 7.0 15.4
mushrooms, whole 0.25 3.93 1.3 3.8 7 60 7.6 16.7
mustard seed 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
mustard, dry 0.49 2.05 2.4 7.3 13 115 3.9 8.7
mustard, prepared 1.06 0.94 5.3 15.9 30 250 1.8 4.0
oatmeal, uncooked 0.34 2.95 1.7 5.1 9 80 5.7 12.5
oats, rolled 0.34 2.95 1.7 5.1 9 80 5.7 12.5
oats, steel-cut 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
oil, vegetable 0.89 1.12 4.4 13.3 25 210 2.2 4.8
olive oil 0.81 1.24 4.0 12.1 22 190 2.4 5.3
olives, chopped 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
onion, chopped 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
onion, minced 0.85 1.18 4.2 12.7 24 200 2.3 5.0
onion, sliced 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
orange rind, grated 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
g/ ml/ g/ g/ g/ g/ cups/ cups/
substance ml g tsp Tbsp floz cup lb kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
oreo cookies, crushed 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
paprika 0.49 2.05 2.4 7.3 13 115 3.9 8.7
parsley, fresh 0.17 5.90 0.8 2.5 4 40 11.3 25.0
pasta, egg noodles 0.38 2.62 1.9 5.7 10 90 5.0 11.1
pasta, macaroni 0.49 2.05 2.4 7.3 13 115 3.9 8.7
peanut butter 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
peanuts, chopped 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
peanuts, oil roasted 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
peas, uncooked 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
pecans, chopped 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
pecans, ground 0.42 2.36 2.1 6.4 12 100 4.5 10.0
pecans, shelled 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
peppercorns, black 0.57 1.75 2.9 8.6 16 135 3.4 7.4
peppercorns, white 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
peppers, chopped chili 0.72 1.39 3.6 10.8 20 170 2.7 5.9
pignolias (pine nuts) 0.53 1.89 2.6 7.9 15 125 3.6 8.0
poppy seeds 0.57 1.75 2.9 8.6 16 135 3.4 7.4
potatoes, cooked diced 0.85 1.18 4.2 12.7 24 200 2.3 5.0
potatoes, mashed 0.89 1.12 4.4 13.3 25 210 2.2 4.8
potatoes, sliced raw 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
pumpkin, cooked 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
raisins 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
rice, steamed 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
rice, uncooked 0.89 1.12 4.4 13.3 25 210 2.2 4.8
rice, uncooked Basmati 0.83 1.21 4.1 12.4 23 195 2.3 5.1
rice, wild 0.61 1.63 3.1 9.2 17 145 3.1 6.9
salt 1.02 0.98 5.1 15.3 28 240 1.9 4.2
scallions (green onions) 0.21 4.72 1.1 3.2 6 50 9.1 20.0
sesame seeds 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
shallots 1.02 0.98 5.1 15.3 28 240 1.9 4.2
sour cream 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
g/ ml/ g/ g/ g/ g/ cups/ cups/
substance ml g tsp Tbsp floz cup lb kg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --
spaghetti, uncooked 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
spinach, cooked 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
split peas 0.85 1.18 4.2 12.7 24 200 2.3 5.0
strawberries 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
sugar, brown 0.85 1.18 4.2 12.7 24 200 2.3 5.0
sugar, castor 0.81 1.24 4.0 12.1 22 190 2.4 5.3
sugar, confectioner's 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
sugar, granulated 0.81 1.24 4.0 12.1 22 190 2.4 5.3
sugar, powdered 0.55 1.82 2.8 8.3 15 130 3.5 7.7
sultanas 0.64 1.57 3.2 9.5 18 150 3.0 6.7
sweet potatoes, cooked 1.02 0.98 5.1 15.3 28 240 1.9 4.2
sweet potatoes, raw 0.76 1.31 3.8 11.4 21 180 2.5 5.6
syrup, corn 1.48 0.67 7.4 22.2 42 350 1.3 2.9
tea 0.32 3.15 1.6 4.8 9 75 6.0 13.3
tiger lily blossoms 0.17 5.90 0.8 2.5 4 40 11.3 25.0
tomatoes, chopped 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
tuna, canned 0.85 1.18 4.2 12.7 24 200 2.3 5.0
turmeric, ground 0.59 1.69 3.0 8.9 16 140 3.2 7.1
vanilla wafers, crushed 0.68 1.48 3.4 10.2 19 160 2.8 6.3
walnuts, chopped 0.49 2.05 2.4 7.3 13 115 3.9 8.7
walnuts, ground 0.36 2.78 1.8 5.4 10 85 5.3 11.8
walnuts, shelled 0.51 1.97 2.5 7.6 14 120 3.8 8.3
water 1.00 1.00 5.0 15.1 28 237 1.9 4.2
wheat germ 0.53 1.89 2.6 7.9 15 125 3.6 8.0
wild rice 0.61 1.63 3.1 9.2 17 145 3.1 6.9
yeast, active dry 1.23 0.81 6.1 18.4 34 290 1.6 3.4
----------------------------------------
2.8 Some Australian Conversions
From a post on rec.food.recipes by Stephanie da Silva
----------------------------------------
2.8.1 Metric Cups
Metric Cups Grams Ounces
(approx) (approx)
1 cup butter 250 8 3/4
1 cup biscuit (cookie) crumbs 110 3 3/4
1 cup breadcrumbs, soft 60 2
1 cup breadcrumbs, dry 125 4 1/2
1 cup cheese, grated 125 4 1/2
1 cup cocoa 110 3 3/4
1 cup cornflour (cornstarch) 125 4 1/2
1 cup cornflakes 30 1
1 cup rice bubbles (rice crispies) 30 1
1 cup coconut, desiccated (flaked) 95 3 1/4
1 cup dried split peas, lentils 200 7
1 cup dried fruit 160 5 3/4
1 cup dates, chopped 150 5 1/4
1 cup flour, plain, self-rising 125 4 1/2
1 cup flour, wholemeal (whole wheat) 135 4 3/4
1 cup golden syrup, honey, glucose 360 12 3/4
1 cup jam 330 11 1/2
1 cup nuts, chopped 125 4 1/2
1 cup oats, rolled 90 3 1/4
1 cup rice, short grain 210 7 1/2
1 cup rice, long grain 200 7
1 cup salt, or crystal sugar 250 8 3/4
1 cup castor sugar (superfine) 220 7 3/4
1 cup soft brown sugar, firmly packed 170 6
1 cup icing sugar (confectioners') 150 5
1 cup = 250 ml
----------------------------------------
2.8.2 Metric Spoons
Metric spoons Grams Ounces
1 level tablespoon peanut butter 20 2/3
1 level tablespoon baking powder,
bicarb soda, cream of tartar,
gelatine, rice, sago 15 1/2
1 level tablespoon cocoa, cornflour,
custard powder, nuts 10 1/2
1 level tablespoon golden syrup,
treacle, honey, glucose 30 1
1 level tablespoon sugar, salt 20 2/3
1 level tablespoon yeast, compressed 20 2/3
1 tablespoon = 20 ml
1 teaspoon = 5 ml
----------------------------------------
2.9 Catties
In ancient China,
1 catty = 1.33 pound = 600 grams.
In modern China, this went with kilograms and stuff. To make the
transition easier for the average people, they invented a new kind of
catty. 1 catty = 0.5 kilo ( = 1.1 pound )
However, old books from Hong Kong and Taiwan still use the
old catty = 600 grams.
----------------------------------------
2.10 Some Old Measurements
This chart appears on several Web sites. It is unclear where it
originated.
1 wine glass 1/4 cup
1 jigger 1.5 fluid ounces
1 gill 1/2 cup
1 tea cup a scant 3/4 cup
1 coffee cup a scant cup
1 tumbler 1 cup
1 peck 2 gallons - dry
1 pinch or dash what can be picked up between thumb and first
two fingers; less than 1/8 teaspoon
1/2 pinch what can be picked up between thumb and one
finger
1 salt spoon 1/4 teaspoon
1 kitchen spoon 1 teaspoon
1 dessert spoon 2 teaspoons or 1 soupspoon
1 spoonful 1 tablespoon more or less
1 saucer 1 heaping cup (about)
1 penny weight 1/20 ounce
1 drachma 1/8 ounce
----------------------------------------
2.11 Authorities
K = Mollie Katzen from "Still Life with Menu"
P = Marguerite Patten from "Cookery in Colour"
RD = Forward to British edition of "The Rotation Diet"
S = Ursula Sedgwick from "My Fun-to-cook-book"
----------------------------------------
3 Glossary of Culinary Terms
ADOBO - it is a sauce, a marinade, or a style of cooking, of Mexican or
Filipino origin. Common to both versions is simmering in a marinade of
vinegar (or acidic juices), garlic and peppercorns. In the Mexican
incarnation, the sauce is a spicy blend of chilies, herbs and vinegar.
The Filipino version replaces chilies with soy sauce.
AHI (AH-HEE) - The Hawaiian name for yellowfin, as well as bigeye tuna.
AJI - Aji (singular form) is what the Peruvians call chile peppers. The
species in particular is capsicum baccatum.
ALLSPICE - The dried, unripe berry of a small tree. It is available
ground or in seed form, & used in a variety of dishes such as pickles,
casseroles, cakes & puddings. Also known as Jamaica Pepper.
AMAZU SHOGA (ah-MAH-zoo SHOH-gah) - Thinly sliced or shredded fresh
ginger pickled in a sweet vinegar marinade. It's beige or pink, used as
a garnish for many Japanese dishes, particularly sushi. Also known as
GARI.
ARBORIO RICE (ar-BOH-ree-oh) - A high-starch Italian rice shorter and
fatter than any other short-grain rice. It's used to make risotto, a
creamy rice dish.
ASIAN PEAR - Ripe Asian pears (also called Chinese pears and apple
pears) are quite firm to the touch, crunchy to the bite, lightly sweet
and drippingly juicy.
ATEMOYA (ah-teh-MOH-ee-yah) - A fruit that is about the size of a large
sweet bell pepper with a dusty green skin that has a rough petal-like
surface. It has a custard-like pulp that is cream-coloured and studded
with large black seeds. Its sweet flavour tastes like a blend of mango
and vanilla. Makes a delicious snack eaten out-of-hand.
AUBERGINE - see eggplant
BAGEL - Chewy bread with a hole in the middle - round, and 3-4 inches in
diameter. The origin is Russian-Jewish. Can come with many types of
toppings on it. Dough is boiled then baked with toppings such as onion,
garlic, poppy seeds etc. Flavours can also be kneaded into the dough.
On the US east coast usually used as a breakfast bread but can also be
used as a sandwich bread.
BALSAMIC VINEGAR ("Aceto Balsamico di Modena") or BALSAMIC DRESSING
("Condimento Balsamico di Reggio Emilia") - see also Traditional Balsamic
Vinegar.
An unaged mix of red wine vinegar and concentrated grape juice (locally
grown grapes), flavoured with caramel and other ingredients, usually
used as a substitute to the "tradizionale" and actually trying to
imitate its taste. The price is in the 3-8 euros range for 0.5-liter
bottles.
BASMATI RICE (BAHS-MAH-TEE) - A perfumy, nutlike-flavoured long-grain
rice with a finer texture than regular rice. Often called for in Indian
and Middle Eastern dishes.
BEETROOT - Called beet in US. The red, succulent root of a biennial
plant (Beta vulgaris). Often dressed with vinegar and served cold and
sliced, but can also be served hot and is the basis of most borschts.
BELL PEPPER - see Capsicum
BERMUDA ONION - A large sweet onion with several regional names. May
also be known as Spanish Onion, and possibly 1015 onion.
BERRY SUGAR - caster sugar
BISCUITS - in the UK, equivalent of US cookies (small, sweet cakes). In
the US, a type of non-yeast bread made of flour, milk, and shortening,
usually
served with breakfast - small, and similar to what much of the world refers
to
as 'scones'.
BLACK BEAN - also called (black) turtle bean, Mexican black bean,
Spanish black bean, frijole negro.
BLACK TREACLE - see section 1.5
BOSTON BEAN - see Navy bean.
BOUQUET GARNI - A bundle of herbs tied with a string. Generally includes
thyme, parsley, bay leaves. Often, celery is included, too. Sometimes,
also basil, tarragon, chervil, etc. are added. Used in various recipes.
The bundle is removed when the cooking is complete.
BRINJAL - see Eggplant
BROASTING - A cooking process trademarked by the Broaster Company of
Beloit, Wis. It requires the use of the Broaster stainless steel
pressure fryer, as well as the Company-produced marinade, seasonings,
coatings and condiments. It is a high-pressure cooking method that is
supposed to make chicken moist and juicy on the inside and crispy on the
outside, i.e., not unlike plain fried chicken, but not as greasy, either.
BROCCOLRABE - A green bitter vegetable unless harvested young. Looks
like broccoli but has skinnier stalks. The leaves, stems and florets
are eaten. Really good sautéed with garlic and olive oil and served
over pasta. Also known as Italian Broccoli, rabe, rapini.
BURDOCK - Known in Japan as gobo, it is a slender root vegetable with a
rusty brown skin and greyish-white flesh with a sweet, earthy flavour
and tender-crisp texture. Burdock can be thinly sliced or shredded and
used in soups, and with vegetables and meats.
CABANOSSI - a salami-type sausage popular in Central, Eastern and
Southern Europe.
CANNELLINO BEAN (kan-eh-LEE-no) - (plural: cannelini) Large, white
Italian kidney beans, available both in dry and canned forms. They are
used in Italian soups and salads.
CANOLA OIL - see Rapeseed Oil
CAPSICUM - A large fleshy pepper with a sweet/mild flavour. Can be
orange, red, yellow, green or black. Also known as Bell Pepper.
CASTOR/CASTER SUGAR - see section 1.5
CATSUP - see Ketchup
CELERIAC (seh-LER-ay-ak) - This rather ugly, knobbly, brown vegetable is
actually the root of a special celery cultivated specifically for its
root. It's also called celery root or celery knob and tastes like a
cross between strong celery and parsley. Often called for raw and
shredded in salads or added to soups and stews.
CHAYOTE (CHI-OH-TAY) - Also known as mirliton. This gourd-like fruit is
about the size and shape of a very large pear. Under the pale green
skin is a white, rather bland tasting flesh. They can be cooked like
any summer squash or used raw in salads. Chayote seeds are edible, too.
CHICKEN MARYLAND - in Australia, refers to chicken leg with both thigh
and drumstick attached. In the US, refers to any parts of chicken,
crumbed, browned in hot fat, baked and served with cream gravy.
CHICKPEAS - Cicer arietinum. Also known as garbanzo beans, ceci beans.
CHINESE PARSLEY - see Cilantro
CHINESE VERMICELLI - Also called bean threads, glass noodles, cellophane
noodles or harusame. These translucent, thin noodles are made of the
starch of green mung beans. They are soaked in water to soften before
adding to recipes for side dishes. If added to soup they do not need to
be presoaked. They can also be deep-fried.
CHIPOTLE CHILE (chih-POHT-lay) - This is a dried, smoked jalapeño.
Chipotles are found dried or pickled and canned in adobo sauce. Because
they are extremely spicy, they are used sparingly as a seasoning in
recipes.
CHORIZO (CHOR-EE-ZOH) - A highly seasoned sausage made of coarsely
ground pork flavoured with garlic, chili powder and other spices that can
be cooked as a stand-alone meat or used in Mexican- or Spanish-style
recipes.
CIDER - widely varying definitions! A drink (almost) always made from
pressed apples, to many people but not all it is alcoholic. US usage is
typically that 'cider' is not alcoholic and 'hard cider' is. If in
doubt, ask the person who posts the recipe what they mean.
CILANTRO - the leaf of the coriander plant. Also called Chinese/Thai/
Mexican parsley, and green coriander.
CLOTTED CREAM - Traditionally served with tea and scones; a 55% (min)
milkfat product made by heating shallow pans of milk to about
82 degrees C, holding them at this temperature for about an hour and
then skimming off the yellow wrinkled cream crust that forms.
COCKLES - clams
CONCH - A Mollusc Gastropod - "Strombus" - Abundant in US only off
Florida Keys, where it is illegal to take (has been for 10? years now).
Most now comes from Caribbean islands such as Turks and Caicos,
Trinidad, or Honduras. One Conch steak typically weighs 1/5 to 1/3 lb
approx. These sell for prices ranging from $4.99 - $6.99 per pound.
These steaks are taken home, beaten with device such as a rolling pin
(to tenderise), then cubed for conch salad or conch fritters.
CONFECTIONER'S SUGAR - UK icing sugar
CORDIAL - in the US, a synonym for liqueur. Similarly in France and
Belgium (e.g. Cognac, Grand Marnier). In UK, NZ, Australia, a thick
syrup (which may or may not contain real fruit) which is diluted to give
a non-alcoholic fruit drink.
CORN FLOUR (US) - Finely ground cornmeal, seen in Southern recipes.
CORNFLOUR (UK and commonwealth) - A starch usu. made from wheat. Used
to thicken sauces etc. Also called cornstarch.
CORNMEAL - ground corn (maize).
COURGETTE - see Zucchini
COUSCOUS - Semolina pellets, which are rolled in flour to form tiny
balls. It makes a terrific rice substitute that has the advantage of
being more flavourful (nutty with an interesting texture as long as it
is not over cooked) as well as about five times quicker to make than
rice. Best known for its use in the traditional North African dish of
the same name.
CREAM OF TARTAR - A potassium salt of tartaric acid. It is a substance
found in the juice of grapes after they have been fermented in wine
making. It is used in baking powder, as well as in self-raising flour,
in combination with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), with which it
reacts to produce carbon dioxide to leaven batter.
CREAM OF WHEAT - Also called farina.
CRÈME FRAÎCHE - Pasteurised cream to which a lactic bacteria culture has
been added. Used in French cooking, it is thick and slightly acidic
without actually being sour. Often used on ice cream in France in
Belgium after beating with sugar.
CREMINI (KRAY-MEE-NEE) - Also called crimini or portabellini. A darker
brown, slightly firmer variation of the everyday cultivated white
mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). They have a fuller flavour than white
mushrooms and are used raw or cooked in recipes. The portobello (also
portabella) is the fully matured form of this mushroom.
DAIKON (DI-KUHN) - From the Japanese words dai (large) and kon (root),
this vegetable is a large Asian radish with a sweet, fresh flavour. It
is used raw in salads, shredded as a garnish or cooked in a variety of
ways, such as in a stir-fry.
DESICCATED COCONUT - dried coconut shreds, similar to US coconut
shreds. In the US, coconut is usually sold sweetened, this is not so
common in other countries.
DIGESTIVE BISCUITS - A wholemeal biscuit (cookie) with a honey taste.
Can be substituted for graham crackers, but are not exactly the same
thing.
DONAX - clams.
DOUBLE CREAM - see section 1.3
EDAMAME (eh-dah-MAH-meh). The Japanese name for fresh soybeans that
usually are bright to dark green. They can be found frozen and should
be steamed in salted water. When the beans are removed from the pod
they have a mild, crunchy soy flavour. Discard the pod. The beans can
be eaten as a snack or added to other Asian dishes, like stir-frys.
EGGPLANT - A purple, vaguely egg-shaped vegetable. Called brinjal in
parts of India and aubergine in various other places.
ESCARGOT - Snails. They can be terrestrial, freshwater or marine.
Escargot is the common name for the land gastropod mollusc. The edible
snails of France have a single shell that is tan and white, and 1 to 2
inches diameter.
ESSENCE/EXTRACT - While the words may be used interchangeably US-UK all
essences are extracts, but extracts are not all essences. A stock is a
water extract of food. Other solvents (edible) may be oil, ethyl
alcohol, as in wine or whiskey, or water. Wine and beer are vegetable
or fruit stocks. A common oil extract is of cayenne pepper, used in
Asian cooking (yulada). Oils and water essences are becoming popular as
sauce substitutes. A common water essence is vegetable stock. A broth
is more concentrated, as in beef broth, or bouillon. Beef tea is shin
beef cubes and water sealed in a jar and cooked in a water bath for
12-24 hours. Most common are alcohol extracts, like vanilla. Not
possible to have a water extract of vanilla(natural bean) but
vanillin(chemical synth) is water sol. There are also emulsions lemon
pulp and lemon oil and purees (often made with sugar). Oils, such as
orange or lemon rind (zest) oil, may be extracted by storing in sugar in
sealed container. Distilled oils are not extracts or essences. Attar of
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