EQUIVALENTS AND CONVERSIONS

While surfing around for recipes, I came across the following on Nigella's website. Thought that it'll be handy to have this guide so I'm sharing it here. :)

UK/US Equivalent guide

Double cream	Heavy cream
Single cream	Light cream
Cornflour	Corn starch
Shortcrust	Pie crust
Caster sugar	Superfine sugar
Icing sugar	Confectioners' sugar
Grill	Broil
Aubergine	Eggplant
Courgette	Zucchini
Mangetout	Snow peas
Coriander	Cilantro
Clingfilm	Saran wrap
Beef mince	Ground beef
Prawns	Shrimp
Digestive biscuits	Graham crackers (substitute)
Sultanas	Raisins
Trifle sponges	Ladyfingers
Spring onions	Scallions
Semi-skimmed milk	2% milk
Dark/plain chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids)	Bittersweet chocolate
Milk/plain chocolate (less than 70% cocoa solids)	Semi-sweet chocolate
Bicarbonate of soda	Baking soda
Horlicks	UK brand of malted milk powder
Maltesers	UK brand of malted milk balls

TEMPERATURES

Gas Mark 1	140C	275F	Very cool
Gas Mark 2	150C	300F	Cool
Gas Mark 3	160C	325F	Warm
Gas Mark 4	180C	350F	Moderate
Gas Mark 5	190C	375F	Fairly Hot
Gas Mark 6	200C	400F	Fairly Hot
Gas Mark 7	210C	425F	Hot
Gas Mark 8	220C	450F	Very Hot
Gas Mark 9	240C	475F	Very Hot

VOLUME AND LIQUID MEASUREMENTS

5 ml	one-sixth fl oz	1 teaspoon
15ml	half fl oz	1 tablespoon (NOTE: Australian tablespoon = 20ml)
30ml	1 fl oz	2 tablespoons
45ml	1 and half fl oz	3 tablespoons
60ml	2 fl oz	quarter cup
75ml	2 and half fl oz	one-third cup
125ml	4 fl oz	half cup
150ml	5 fl oz	two-thirds cup
175ml	6 fl oz	three-quarters cup
250ml	8 fl oz	1 cup
600ml	1 pint	2 and half cups
900ml	1 and half pints	3 and three-quarter cups
1 litre	1 and three-quarter pints	4 cups

SOME USEFUL CUP CONVERSIONS

Please note that these are approximations

1 cup sugar	200g
1 cup icing sugar	125g
1 cup flour	140g
1 cup rice	200g
1 cup frozen peas	125g
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs	70g
1 cup grated cheese	100g
1 cup chocolate chips	175g
1 cup sultanas	150g
1 cup honey/syrup	300g
1 stick of butter	110g 4oz

WEIGHT CONVERSIONS

15g	half oz
30g	1 oz
45g	1 and half oz
60g	2 oz
75g	2 and half oz
90g	3 oz
100g	3 and half oz
125g	4 oz
150g	5 oz
175g	6 oz
200g	7 oz
250g	8 oz
275g	9 oz
300g	10 oz
325g	11 oz
350g	12 oz
375g	13 oz
400g	14 oz
450g	15 oz
500g	1 lb

CAKE TINS SIZES

20cm	8 inch
23cm	9 inch
25cm	10 inch

LOAF TIN SIZES

450g	1lb
900g	2lb

Sweet Potato and Chorizo Soup

When it's cold outside, one of the best thing to enjoy inside is a bowl of piping hot soup in front the fireplace. A fireplace I don't have but a bowl of soup can be easily whipped up in no time at all. This one combines the sweetness of the sweet potatoes with the spiciness of the other ingredients to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside which in my opinion is a very nice feeling to have in winter. And of course,anything with chorizo is always delicious!!! ;)

Adapted from Jamie Oliver Food Revolution
Serves 3-4
Ingredients

2 carrots
1 large onion
3 cloves of garlic
450g sweet potatoes
100g chorizo sausage
1.5 heaped teaspoon curry powder
1 vege stock cube or 1 vege knorr stock pot
900ml of water
1 fresh red chilli, finely chopped


Method
Peel and roughly slice the carrots and onions.
Peel and slice the garlic.
Peel and chop the potatoes.
Slice the chorizo.


Put a large heavy based pot on medium heat and lightly fry the chorizo without any oil. Once the oil oozes out of the chorizo, remove the chorizo and set aside.
In the same pot, add onion and garlic. Saute until onions are translucent. 
Add carrots, sweet potato and curry powder and mix together
Cook for around 10 mins with the lid askew, until the carrots have softened but are still holding their shape.
Put the stock cubes/stock pot into a jug and pour in 900ml of boiling water
Stir until dissolved then add to the vegetables
Add back the chorizo into the pot, give the soup a good stir and bring to the boil
Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 mins until potato is softened


Season with salt and pepper
Using a hand blender or liquidiser, pulse the soup until smooth and scatter over a little finely chopped chilli
Divide between bowls and serve with bread!!