Glossary of Food/Utensils/Measurements, etc.

[DingBat]

As we refer to different types of foods, cooking utensils, etc., by different names but they are often the same thing, I thought I'd start a thread for food translations!

I'll start it off with a few which come to mind immediately, but if anyone would like to add some, we could start our own 'glossary of food terms' here if you like?!

capsicum (Aust) = peppers or sweet peppers (UK)
courgette (Fr/UK) = zucchini (Aust/Ital)
Jacob's Cream Crackers (UK) = SAO (Aust) - made by  Arnott's
jello (US) = jelly (UK/Aust)
jelly (UK/Aust) = jello (US) - a compound of gelatine, sugar and fruit flavouring.  In UK this is sold in concentrated jelly cubes, similar to a bar of chocolate in shape, which are then melted in hot water.  In Australia jelly is sold in a crystal form, like fruit flavoured sugar, which is also melted in hot water.  The end result is the same.
Lamingtons - an Australian speciality cake consisting of a square of sponge cake coated in a thin/light chocolate sauce and desiccated coconut.  Frequently served with afternoon tea, it is supposedly named for Lord Lamington, the governor of Queensland from 1895 to 1901.  Lamingtons recipe and photos
mange tout (Fr/UK) = snow peas (Aust)
peppers or sweet peppers (UK) = capsicum (Aust)
SAO (Aust) (made by Arnott's) = Jacob's Cream Crackers (UK)
snow peas (Aust) = mange tout (Fr/UK)
Tim Tams (Aust) = no known exact equivalent elsewhere!  UK's 'Penguin' biscuits are close but 'heavier'.  Consists of two 'light' chocolate biscuits with chocolate cream filling, all covered in chocolate.  Many other flavours are also available - Arnott's
yabby (Aust) - A small, freshwater crayfish from Australia. In the wild some varieties can reach 10 pounds, but the farm raised ones found in markets are usually two to five ounces. They are bluish green, their meat is very sweet and there is a fair amount of claw meat in addition to the tail meat.  There is even a special dry white wine that was created to be served with yabbies, St. Hallett's Poacher's Blend.
zucchini (Aust/Ital) = courgette (Fr/UK)

[Pootsie]

And then there is metric vs um... non metric too!
liquids:   well... most liquids that you would use in cooking, anyway
1 teaspoon = 5 ml (milliliters)
1 tablespoon = 15 ml 
1 cup = 240 ml (actually 237)
1 quart = 950 ml
33.8 ounces = 1 litre 
1 ounce = 30 grams (actually it's 28.4ml) but most people use 30, because it's easier to work with 
8 ounces = 1 cup = 240 ml  (actual = 237)
16 ounces = 1 pint = 2 cups = 480 ml (actual = 473ml)

This is a beginning anyway, might help in the conversion of recipes

and here is a conversion table you can use:  http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/conversions.html   

[Souly]

And then there is metric vs um... non metric too!

  = imperial, woman!...imperial! 

[Pootsie]

I didn't remember WHAT it was called, obviously.  And then British have their own set of liquid measurements too, don't they?

[Souly]

  Yeah, apparently they do, Poots...very confusing indeed

[smiliekiwi]

Interesting thread.

Peanutbutter and jelly sandwichs (US) = Peanutbutter and Jam
Hamburger meat (US) = Mince
Geezer (South African) = Hot water cylinder      (Like we'd keep a geezer in our cupboard!)
Now now (south African) = Soon

[Souly]

I love some of the old measurements... (especially the peck)


Table of Weights and Measures
Measurement    Equivalent to
2 gills    1 cup
2 cups    1 pint
2 pints    1 quart
4 quarts    1 gallon
16 ounces    1 pound
8 quarts    1 peck
4 pecks    1 bushel
60 drops    1 teaspoon
4 saltspoons                        1 teaspoon
3 teaspoons                        1 tablespoon
4 tablespoons                        1/4 cup
4 tablespoons                        1 wine-glass
2 tablespoons of butter, sugar, salt    1 ounce
4 tablespoons of flour                1 ounce
16 tablespoons                        1 cup
4 cups of flour                        1 pound
2 cups of solid butter                1 pound
2 cups of granulated sugar        1 pound
3 cups of corn meal                1 pound
2-2/3 cups of powdered sugar    1 pound
2-2/3 cups of brown sugar        1 pound
2 cups of solid meat                1 pound
1 cup of shelled almonds        1/4 pound
1 cup of raisins or currants        6 ounces
1 cup of cornstarch                1/4 pound