In a message dated 9/12/03 1:30:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I measured/weighed the most common ingredients. I found that the American tablespoon is about the same as a dessert spoon in England, and the teaspoon doesn't veer far from the teaspoon (as with a cup o') Here they are: Cake flour - 1 cup = 3 oz Plain flour - 1 cup = 4 oz Unbleached flour - 1 cup = 5 oz Sugar - 1 cup = 8 oz. Icing sugar - 1 cup = 4 oz (this is the same as confectioners sugar) Brown sugar, packed - � cup = 4 oz 1 cup = 8 oz Solid vegetable shortening - � cup = 4 oz Dry, uncooked regular oatmeal - 2 cups = 5 oz Raisins - 1 cup = 5 oz Chocolate chips - 1 cup = 6 oz >> ---- Dear Lacemakers, Betty Ann's conversions do not cover all measures, but it occurred to me that keeping a copy of what she has converted would be helpful to Americans if printed and placed in "Cattern Cakes and Lace - A Calendar of Feasts", by Julia Jones & Barbara Deer, published by Dorling Kindersley of London in 1987, ISBN 0-86318-252-6. The above book is in full color, with lovely pictures of laces and lace tools sprinkled on the pages of recipes. If you see it for sale on eBay, it is a book you might enjoy. Cattern Cakes, the first recipe in the book, is the only one I ever tried from this book. "Jeri does NOT cook", is my mantra. Not surprisingly, my "cakes" were not a success. This was probably because I did not get the measurements correct, but considering lack of experience...it was culinary stupidity. The book explains that Cattern Cakes were traditionally served on November 25th (easy to remember - one month before Christmas). St. Catherine's Day was named after St. Catherine of Alexandria, martyred in 310 AD. (The instruments of her death are reported to have been a spiked wheel and a sword.) She became known as the patron of unmarried girls. Eventually, the wheel became the emblem of spinners and lacemakers, for whom she became a patron saint. Later - in England's history - this day was chosen to honor Queen Katherine of Aragon, who was patron of local lacemakers during her imprisonment at Ampthill. The poor lacemakers set aside small amounts of money so they could serve cakes and tea on this day. So this will not take off as a topic of discussion, let me add that the stories of St. Catherine of Alexandria and Queen Katherine of Aragon were very fully debated on Arachne a couple years ago. This memo is about the beliefs in England. There are conflicting beliefs in other countries. Rather than write on and on and on, I recommend you do a variety of on-line searches for further information. You will soon see that there are a variety of interpretations of the origins of St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Catherine's Day, etc. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
