For some reason, I've always struggled to decide what "American" food really is, beyond burgers and fries. I didn't really feel like there was a specific meal that represents the USA. India has its curry, China is known for fried rice and wonton soup, Japan has sushi, Zimbabwe has sudsa...but what is American food? Helping to teach English in a foreign country complicated this even more, because basic conversation lessons include lots of comparisons and food is always a good topic.
It's been really fun to be living with two English girls and realize that there is a lot of food that is "American!" I learn as we struggle to see if we just have a different name for something or if we actually have no idea what the other is talking about!
In the instance of different names, here are some that I've encountered: courgette (zucchini), aubergine (eggplant), mangetout (snow peas), swede (rutabaga), chips (french fries), crisps (potato chips), bangers (sausage), streaky bacon (bacon that is smoked), green bacon (unsmoked bacon), cornflower (cornstarch), tea (can be either the drink or a light evening meal. Being invited over for tea often means you are eating a meal with someone, not just drinking a cuppa), cuppa (cup of tea), mash (as a noun, not a verb: this is generally potatoes, but I'm a little unclear on this one because I've also had swede and carrot mash), nosh (food), posh nosh (very nice food such as at an expensive restaurant), pancake (this is made from a thin batter, more like a crepe), rasher (generally, I've heard this used in terms of bacon, similar to asking for a
slice of bacon), runner beans (string beans), jacket potato (baked potato), jelly (jell-O), fairy cake (cupcakes), coriander (cilantro)....I could go on, but you are getting the idea. And we all joked I wouldn't have to learn a new language here!
Last Monday, my housemate Laura was at Tesco (think Giant/Weis grocery stores) and texted me to see if I needed anything. I responded asking if she could get me some veggies, perhaps a cucumber, snow peas, and some carrots. She came home and apologized to me, saying she looked all throughout the vegetable section and couldn't find any snow peas but perhaps she missed them because she didn't quite know what they looked like. I had a thought and realized "Oh, wait, you call them something else..." We asked Mr. Google and had a good laugh to realize that Laura had gotten mangetout for herself, which is the very thing I call snow peas! Stories such as that are how I've figured out most of the above terms!
But then there are always the things that just don't translate and aren't known by any other name. It works both ways, especially with British things such as brown sauce and blood pudding (neither of which I eat). When it's something I know, I'm starting to realize that it might very well be that elusive "American" food. Here are some that I've made and felt right at home as a result:
- Snickerdoodle cookies
- Banana bread
- Zucchini bread
- Sloppy Joes
- Cherry Cobbler
- baked Macaroni and Cheese
- No Bake cookies
- Green Bean Casserole :)
- Cheesy potatoes
- Puppy chow
- Anything that puts peanut butter and chocolate together!
- Chili and cornbread
I'm so thankful for the many meals I've shared with my family. When I make many of these things, I have such special memories of family dinners around the table at home. And of course, I'm always thankful for the women in my family who are always willing to help me with a recipe over the phone or email!
