Americans: why don't you use kettles?

[kittyP]

Really? I haven't tried that yet. I still have a George foreman grill. I just assumed the cheese would run out.

You need to put the cheese only in the middle really.
It takes practice to get it in a place that seals shut without running out but also has enough of a cheese filling iyswim?
You also need to close the lid when the whole things is really hot too, so it seals.

 

[Miss Caphat]

You need to put the cheese only in the middle really.
It takes practice to get it in a place that seals shut without running out but also has enough of a cheese filling iyswim?
You also need to close the lid when the whole things is really hot too, so it seals.

I find George Foreman grills a little tricky in general. there tends to be a thin line between perfectly grilled and burnt with them , or good on the outside but cold or raw in the middle

 

[Miss Caphat]

anybody use waffle irons in the UK?

 

[kittyP]

I find George Foreman grills a little tricky in general. there tends to be a thin line between perfectly grilled and burnt with them , or good on the outside but cold or raw in the middle

I only ever perfected toasted cheese sarnies in them tbh.
Never meat

 

[xenon]

You need to put the cheese only in the middle really.
It takes practice to get it in a place that seals shut without running out but also has enough of a cheese filling iyswim?
You also need to close the lid when the whole things is really hot too, so it seals.

I am going to try this. Not now. I've just been back from the pub and had noodles. Plus the bread is not looking good. It won't have that nice uniform crimped edge that a sandwich toaster creates Nevertheless in the name of science I must move on. And also kitchen space. I hope your toasty needs are met soon.

 

[Vintage Paw]

Our grill is utterly useless so a toaster is necessary,

My grill works quite adequately, so I've never felt the need. I grew up in a house with no toaster, so I've never felt I'm missing anything. Someone did buy me one a long time ago, and I think I used it two or three times before it got consigned to the cupboard of history and eventually disposed of in some way or another.

 

[kittyP]

It won't have that nice uniform crimped edge that a sandwich toaster creates

Not exactly but with practice you can seal it pretty well.

 

[Vintage Paw]

anybody use waffle irons in the UK?

I don't think so. Being a big fan of Parks & Rec the one thing (out of many, tbh) that I regret not trying when I was in America is waffles. We have Birdseye Potato Waffles (they're waffley versatile), which are glorious, but not in the least bit the same as what your waffles are.

I also cannot, for love nor money, find buttermilk locally, nor even buttermilk pancake mix. So I can't make American buttermilk pancakes. I mean, our normal kind of pancakes (and/or crepes) are fine and tasty, but I really like buttermilk pancakes.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

My grill works quite adequately, so I've never felt the need. I grew up in a house with no toaster, so I've never felt I'm missing anything. Someone did buy me one a long time ago, and I think I used it two or three times before it got consigned to the cupboard of history and eventually disposed of in some way or another.

"The Cupboard of History" sounds very sonorous.

 

[Vintage Paw]

Do other people in the UK have 'eggs' for breakfast? Actually, American people, do you just have 'eggs' - like, on their own? When people on the tellybox or in films say "I'm having eggs for breakfast" sometimes it will be accompanied by an image of someone sitting eating a plate of... well, just eggs. Nothing else. Just eggs. I mean, yay protein. And eggs are lovely. But I'm not sure I'd like them very much on their own.

So is it a misunderstanding on my part, and when people say "I'll have eggs for breakfast" they actually mean some kind of breakfast meal that includes eggs? Or do they mean just eggs. On their own. Being all eggy on the plate, alone. And egg-like.

I had buttermilk pancakes and eggs for breakfast in America. With orange and cranberry juice, and a cup of coffee (with creamer ). Very nice. When I stayed in a hotel over there I ordered breakfast in the room one morning, just for the heck of it, and I had pancakes, eggs (poached), that thing you call bacon, and fried potatoes (which was a bit weird). With maple syrup, butter, and some kind of strange not-quite-butter-not-quite-whipped-cream thing too. It was absolutely delicious and probably constituted my entire daily calorie allotment.

 

[kittyP]

Do other people in the UK have 'eggs' for breakfast? Actually, American people, do you just have 'eggs' - like, on their own? When people on the tellybox or in films say "I'm having eggs for breakfast" sometimes it will be accompanied by an image of someone sitting eating a plate of... well, just eggs. Nothing else. Just eggs. I mean, yay protein. And eggs are lovely. But I'm not sure I'd like them very much on their own.

So is it a misunderstanding on my part, and when people say "I'll have eggs for breakfast" they actually mean some kind of breakfast meal that includes eggs? Or do they mean just eggs. On their own. Being all eggy on the plate, alone. And egg-like..

I may be wrong but I think when someone (IRL or on the tellybox) says they are "having eggs for breakfast" they at least mean that they are having toast or something with them.

 

[Miss Caphat]

I don't think so. Being a big fan of Parks & Rec the one thing (out of many, tbh) that I regret not trying when I was in America is waffles. We have Birdseye Potato Waffles (they're waffley versatile), which are glorious, but not in the least bit the same as what your waffles are.

I also cannot, for love nor money, find buttermilk locally, nor even buttermilk pancake mix. So I can't make American buttermilk pancakes. I mean, our normal kind of pancakes (and/or crepes) are fine and tasty, but I really like buttermilk pancakes.

aw

the good news is you can make your own buttermilk substitute http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/homemade-buttermilk-recipe.html

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-mak...titute-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-185757

http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodc...ke-Buttermilk-5-Simple-Buttermilk-Recipes.htm

or you can buy it in powder form (this is a really good all natural brand ) http://www.amazon.com/One-Sweet-Cre...=1428625472&sr=1-2&keywords=buttermilk+powder

or you can even buy buttermilk pancake mix* http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill...625532&sr=1-7&keywords=buttermilk+pancake+mix

I also have made buttermilk as the by-product of making butter, which is fun. but it's not creamy like the buttermilk you buy at the grocery store, yet has the same flavor.


* I know you said you couldn't find any near you, but just wanted to show you it's available on amazon etc

 

[Miss Caphat]

I may be wrong but I think when someone (IRL or on the tellybox) says they are "having eggs for breakfast" they at least mean that they are having toast or something with them.

yes, this is what I think too...eggs and toast. maybe bacon or something too. never seen anyone eat just eggs. unless they were low-carbing or something

 

[Miss Caphat]

Do other people in the UK have 'eggs' for breakfast? Actually, American people, do you just have 'eggs' - like, on their own? When people on the tellybox or in films say "I'm having eggs for breakfast" sometimes it will be accompanied by an image of someone sitting eating a plate of... well, just eggs. Nothing else. Just eggs. I mean, yay protein. And eggs are lovely. But I'm not sure I'd like them very much on their own.

So is it a misunderstanding on my part, and when people say "I'll have eggs for breakfast" they actually mean some kind of breakfast meal that includes eggs? Or do they mean just eggs. On their own. Being all eggy on the plate, alone. And egg-like.

I had buttermilk pancakes and eggs for breakfast in America. With orange and cranberry juice, and a cup of coffee (with creamer ). Very nice. When I stayed in a hotel over there I ordered breakfast in the room one morning, just for the heck of it, and I had pancakes, eggs (poached), that thing you call bacon, and fried potatoes (which was a bit weird). With maple syrup, butter, and some kind of strange not-quite-butter-not-quite-whipped-cream thing too. It was absolutely delicious and probably constituted my entire daily calorie allotment.

fried breakfast potatoes are home fries. they have to be done right, and are really good if so. I make some mean home fries. really crispy, loads of paprika and garlic, and some finely chopped onions. mm.

I love American breakfast so much. The hard part is just deciding what to get...omelettes, eggs, pancakes, waffles, crepes: maple syrup or fruit and whipped cream? home fries, hash browns, egg sandwiches, bacon, sausage, etc, etc.

 

[Miss Caphat]

home fries & poached eggs

 

[Vintage Paw]

home fries & poached eggs

Yes, that's pretty much exactly what they were like, just a little bigger/chunkier. Incredibly tasty. Good to have the proper name for them, thanks.

I'm going to investigate buying some buttermilk pancake mix online. I'm one of those heathens who is perfectly happy with dried pancake mix, so if I can get some easily in the UK I shall.

And you're right, American breakfast foods are just, in general, lovely. As much as I like to rib you 'orrible lot for your terrible cultural choices ( ) I prefer American cooked breakfasts (what I've experienced of them, at least) to the great British fry-up. Heresy, I know.

 

[Miss Caphat]

I like both

 

[Miss Caphat]

oh, and home fries are simple if you or anyone wants to try.

I usually microwave my potatoes first, but you can use baked or par-boiled too, maybe 4 or 5 spuds
cut into chunks
couple spoonfuls of oil in a big skillet
chop some onions & garlic (or use garlic powder in your spice blend)
make a generous blend of paprika, salt, black pepper, maybe some dried Italian herbs
throw your potatoes & onions into your hot oil, stir, coat with spice blend, and cook 18-20 minutes until really crispy and brown

 

[Vintage Paw]

oh, and home fries are simple if you or anyone wants to try.

I usually microwave my potatoes first, but you can use baked or par-boiled too, maybe 4 or 5 spuds
cut into chunks
couple spoonfuls of oil in a big skillet
chop some onions & garlic (or use garlic powder in your spice blend)
make a generous blend of paprika, salt, black pepper, maybe some dried Italian herbs
throw your potatoes & onions into your hot oil, stir, coat with spice blend, and cook 18-20 minutes until really crispy and brown

I'll par-boil them in water I've boiled in my kettle

 

[Miss Caphat]

I'll par-boil them in water I've boiled in my kettle

 

[Miss Caphat]

and we all lived happily ever after

 

[Vintage Paw]

My mum used to make something similar, and I think I've made similar way back when too. Didn't ever call them home fries (not least because we don't have 'fries' over here), but probably just 'sauteed potatoes'. Very tasty they were too. But of course, while my mum did like to experiment with the odd herb and spice here and there, we were a very typical English family, and exciting things like paprika would have been far too exotic for something like that

Well, I've just spent 15 minutes reading all about buttermilk, and why it's used at all (thanks for those links). I might actually, in that case, just try making my own using white vinegar and milk. American pancakes are within reach!!!!

I'm really hungry now.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

And you're right, American breakfast foods are just, in general, lovely. As much as I like to rib you 'orrible lot for your terrible cultural choices ( ) I prefer American cooked breakfasts (what I've experienced of them, at least) to the great British fry-up. Heresy, I know.

You'll be OK, the FEB brigade are asleep so they won't know you're a dirty heretic.

 

[Miss Caphat]

oh shit, yeah. you'll be in big trouble tomorrow VP

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Do other people in the UK have 'eggs' for breakfast? Actually, American people, do you just have 'eggs' - like, on their own? When people on the tellybox or in films say "I'm having eggs for breakfast" sometimes it will be accompanied by an image of someone sitting eating a plate of... well, just eggs. Nothing else. Just eggs. I mean, yay protein. And eggs are lovely. But I'm not sure I'd like them very much on their own.

So is it a misunderstanding on my part, and when people say "I'll have eggs for breakfast" they actually mean some kind of breakfast meal that includes eggs? Or do they mean just eggs. On their own. Being all eggy on the plate, alone. And egg-like.

I do sometimes - usually something like four scrambled eggs (with added butter/oil/pepper obviously, so not strictly by themselves), as they are so easy to do when you really can't be arsed and using the toaster is classed as too demanding. I often boil eggs too, and have a couple at home with my brew, and take a couple with me to eat on the train on the way in. Hardboiled obviously - none of this egg-snot for me.

 

[Miss Caphat]

My mum used to make something similar, and I think I've made similar way back when too. Didn't ever call them home fries (not least because we don't have 'fries' over here), but probably just 'sauteed potatoes'. Very tasty they were too. But of course, while my mum did like to experiment with the odd herb and spice here and there, we were a very typical English family, and exciting things like paprika would have been far too exotic for something like that

Well, I've just spent 15 minutes reading all about buttermilk, and why it's used at all (thanks for those links). I might actually, in that case, just try making my own using white vinegar and milk. American pancakes are within reach!!!!

I'm really hungry now.

they don't really need paprika but I prefer them that way, a little spicy

 

[farmerbarleymow]

oh shit, yeah. you'll be in big trouble tomorrow VP

A very courageous step to take, and I fear for her future in the morning.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I've just had cheddar and pickled onions for my breakfast by the way. Couldn't sleep so got up.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

home fries & poached eggs

Potatoes for breakfast can only ever be a good thing. They look lovely (although not the egg-snot obviously). I've occassionally had parmentier potatoes for breakfast, or when I'm feeling especially classy, potato waffles.

 

[Vintage Paw]

A very courageous step to take, and I fear for her future in the morning.

I'm not afraid to buck trends and go against the crowd. Unlike some SHEEPLE.

I don't like tea. Cheese then beans (I use cold beans - WHAT OF IT?). Breakfast, dinner, tea, supper. I like coffee creamer, sugar in my coffee, I like instant coffee (some of them, anyway). Cold custard is nicer than warm/hot custard. I pronounce Lieutenant the way it's spelled, which is one of the few things I'm completely in agreement with you right-thinking Americans about when it comes to language (where the fuck is the F supposed to come from?). And it's 'spag bog' not 'spag bol' because that's how my dad used to say it so them's the rules

Pickled onions are horrible though