jumping doris

You can get frozen puff/filo pastry but the sheets of puff pastry are smaller than UK sheets and they don't join together easily.
I haven't seen fresh pastry anywhere.

I make my own shortcrust because those pie shells have a slight sweet taste.

Tracym

No, they'd be intended for desserts - fruit pies, etc. They're not exceptionally sweet, but...

We don't really make a lot of savory pies here - I doubt you will find a pre-made crust like a suet crust, if that's what you're looking for. There might be something, but I'm not aware of it. I have seen puff pastry used for savory dishes - but agin you might find it too sweet.

mellybrown

no worries - i shall make my own!

cheers

MsElui

hmmm - i could so eat a suet crusted steak pie right now!

Ash UK/US

American chocolate melts fine in the microwave Cadbury does better over the hot water.

penguinsix

Welcome to the Washington DC area.

There are some interesting groceries around here if you do a bit of hunting. Up in your neck of the woods there are a couple of Chinese and Korean places, along with a few Hispanic / International markets as well. There's a very nice Japanese place in Bethesda.

For more Western food, you should also check out Whole Foods (all over that part) or a chain called Wegmans. The nearest Wegmans to you is over the river in Virginia, with one in Fairfax and one in Sterling (Dulles Airport). A Maryland store in the Largo area (about 25 minutes from you with no traffic) will be opening soon. Wegmans has a very small section of UK food (and German and French and Russian, etc). Only a couple of shelves but a few staples you may be missing.

Anyway, definitely get some driving time. The back roads up there are a good place to start before working your way up to 270 and the Beltway. Stay off of the Rockville Pike/355 at all costs. Most locals can't stand that stetch of sprawl but have to go on it from time to time.

penguinsix

By the way, I baked my first loaf of bread the other day. I feel quite accomplished.

Of course I did it in a bread maker which was kind of cheating, but hey, I'm learning.

ri_mischief

Pastry - I make my own - including shortcrust, really not that difficult....

Chocolate - Ghiradelli for cooking - their semi sweet is pretty good and Lindt is the same as we get at home, actually I tend to mix semi sweet Ghiradelli and 70% Lindt for my now regionally famous brownies....(lost count of the number of times I've been asked for the recipe / to make them for various occassions) No-one can believe they're made by a Brit - always get "they're the best I've ever had" even from my non-dessert eating OH.

Happy to post the recipe if anyone's interested....

Wholefoods is a good call for international stuff - although V expensive, don't know about the other chain as they're not in this area. Shaws and Stop and Shop have English stuff here (New England - at a premium.

Suet I finally managed to get from the local "English" store - again expensive - won't make that mistake again, last trip to England bought a tonne of the veggie stuff back ditto dried fruit.

Oh and marzipan tastes nasty here too - I made my own, although I couldn't get ground almonds so I ground my own in the food processor (and again bought some over last time I was home)

Sh1t I sound like Delia Smith or someone!

ri_mischief

Looks great - how did it taste????

penguinsix

Actually it was too salty. The recipe called for 2 tblsp of salt for a 2 lb loaf, and you could definitely taste it too much. I'm going to make another one in just a bit actually, but with probably half the salt or less.

ri_mischief

Oh shame - keep experimenting!

Gotta be better than "Wonderc**p" either way!

cindyabs

2 TBSP?? You sure it wasn't 2 TSP?

penguinsix

Actually I think it was 2 tsp on recollection, but even that was too much. Will give it another go in a bit. Was looking to do another recipe but figure I should stick with this basic one until I get it right.

cindyabs

Well in any event, it looked good,

lisag8070

ohhh yes please....or might I find it in the receipe thread?

and your bread looks lovely..*drool*