Thursday May 5th (aka 5 Of Mayonnaise)

Pagan · 2016-05-06, 08:46 AM

Finland is a whole different world. We do get some things here, but what we do get is very very limited and very very expensive. The small 2 piece package of Reese's peanut butter cups is over $2 here - *if* you can find it. Kellogg's corn flakes - $6 for the mid-size box. Similar story for a small non-brand poor quality peanut butter. Many of our goods do come to us from the UK. But I miss silly things like the red enchilada sauce (gotta make my own), or buffalo meat or even turkey. I have never seen whole chicken here in the store, or even cut up pieces but we do get the tender cuts. And don't even think about finding most of the steaks you are used to in the store. No skirt steak for making fajitas! Funny, but I miss the cottage cheese! Ours here is just dry curds, and no nice creamy texture. I'm also out in the country in a small town of about 10,000 instead of living in a big city. I really would not have it any other way either.

It isn't a poor place at all. We are just rich in other things like fresh fish, mushrooms and incredible berries. The berries and mushrooms are also things you can go pick anywhere - even private property. I don't think my mother-in-law has ever bought blueberries in the store! She picks and freezes them.

It's also a place that has very strict laws on what can be added to the foods. Many of the preservatives and additives that are so common in the US foods are banned here. I am not complaining about that at all. That yellow-orange color common in cheese based foods is not allowed here.

Just differences. I think everyone longs for the foods of back home at some point or another. Some things can be found, others not. Some things you can make from scratch, others you can't even get the base ingredients.

ecchi · 2016-05-06, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pagan

The small 2 piece package of Reese's peanut butter cups is over $2 here.

Before they were available over her I used to buy Reese's Cups from a guy who sold military collectibles. He had deals with guys in American army and air force bases over here to supply him with stuff to sell (i.e. steal it for him). He used to get the Reese's Cups (and Butterfingers, and Baby Ruths, and Hersey chocolate, none of which were available in Britain then) from an army base canteen, and they cost me a fortune.

Last time I had Reese's Cups, I got the big five cup pack from a pound shop (a pound is just under one and a half US dollars). The shop had loads of different US candies at that price. So if things can change that much here, they may one day change in Finland too.

P.S. Junk food is one of the things America does brilliantly. Reese's Cups and Corn Dogs are the food of the Gods, and "spray on cheese" is a brilliant Nobel Prize worthy invention. And don't get me started on Crackerjack. Popcorn and peanuts together is a brilliant idea as it stands, but to go one step further and add a toy - pure genius.

(Although Twinkies are the food of the devil, and should be kicked into the nearest black hole.)

2016-05-06, 08:46 AM	#1
Pagan Perverted Empress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 5,119	Finland is a whole different world. We do get some things here, but what we do get is very very limited and very very expensive. The small 2 piece package of Reese's peanut butter cups is over $2 here - if you can find it. Kellogg's corn flakes - $6 for the mid-size box. Similar story for a small non-brand poor quality peanut butter. Many of our goods do come to us from the UK. But I miss silly things like the red enchilada sauce (gotta make my own), or buffalo meat or even turkey. I have never seen whole chicken here in the store, or even cut up pieces but we do get the tender cuts. And don't even think about finding most of the steaks you are used to in the store. No skirt steak for making fajitas! Funny, but I miss the cottage cheese! Ours here is just dry curds, and no nice creamy texture. I'm also out in the country in a small town of about 10,000 instead of living in a big city. I really would not have it any other way either. It isn't a poor place at all. We are just rich in other things like fresh fish, mushrooms and incredible berries. The berries and mushrooms are also things you can go pick anywhere - even private property. I don't think my mother-in-law has ever bought blueberries in the store! She picks and freezes them. It's also a place that has very strict laws on what can be added to the foods. Many of the preservatives and additives that are so common in the US foods are banned here. I am not complaining about that at all. That yellow-orange color common in cheese based foods is not allowed here. Just differences. I think everyone longs for the foods of back home at some point or another. Some things can be found, others not. Some things you can make from scratch, others you can't even get the base ingredients. __________________ Is it naptime yet?