Just noticed that there are many people on this site who originate from the US and now live in the UK.

Just a question to you, what made you leave your country to come and live over here?
What was it about the US that made you want to leave and embark on a life over here?

I love and adore the US and can't see any way to get into the country and live there without:
a) Becoming an illegal immigrant
b) Having pots and pots of money
c) Finding a local man and marrying him
d) Being sponsored to work out there.

None of these are coming easy to me, and i'd just love to do the opposite of what you guys have done.

Just interested in your stories really and if you can think of any other way i get out there to live and work.

I followed a fella...
My hubby is from NI and I came here with him. It made more sense money wise for me to come here. He had a long standing job and I was used to working in nursing homes so could easily find work anywhere. If he moved to the US it would have been much harder for him to find work and it would have taken longer as he would have needed a green card. That on top of having to pay extremely high medical bills,insurance and housing costs it made more sense for me to come here.
My family is still in the US and sends me the things I really miss and for the things they can't send I can usually get on a fantastic website for almost anything American food wise.

I really like it here however I do miss the hot and long summers....I like to grow veg and fruit....but because the weather is so unpredictable here makes things difficult.

And now with job losses and high cost of living the only way I would be able to go back and live would be to win the lottery. Love to go visit tho...

What sort of foods do you miss??

I have cravings for butter pecan icecream, not seen that sold over here. Trailmix, strawberry philidelphia, oh the list goes on for me. Peanut butter in everything.. Yummy.

Oooooooooh Strawberry Phillidelphia!! yes!
~And whipped philadelphia!
~Pepperidge farm cinammon loaf (and pepperidge farm soft cookies)
~Mountain Dew
~ Tatter tots
~Mike 'n Ikes (Berry mix)
~ Goober grape and or Grape jelly on its own (Smuckers in the squeezy bottle)
~ And the limited edition blue pepsi that was around for a while.
~ IHOP :)
~ Eggs benedict
~ Maccaroni cheese in a box.

(Lived in Boston for 3 years)

> ~ Maccaroni cheese in a box.
>

I can do you that.  Shoe box do? Where do you want me to send it?

> Maccaroni cheese

Sorry to correct you Liv, isn't it Maccaroni and Cheese that they say.. Lol..

Eggs Benedict i have over here in my cafe's and have just started making it myself, BUT never tasted as good as over there.

Love American bacon

In and Out Burger

Their love of Cocktails(Mojito, yummy).. They produce amazing wine

LIV my mouth is salivating now going through your list and adding more of my own.

Hmmm.

> IHOP :-)

I don;t think i have been to the States without going to IHOP each and every time for a gorge on the pancakes. Had the pumpkin ones last year, very tasty.

Starbucks always tastes better over there as well.

The only thing i don't really like is their own chocolate(Hersheys is one to name)

Kool-Aid
Rice a Roni
Cheetos
Apple Jacks
Stove Top Stuffing
Bologna and cheese sandwiches
Velveeta Cheese
Goldfish Crackers
Dunkin Doughnuts
Cornbread
Grits..........just to name a few....
Oh and one more....
ANYTHING GRAPE.....not black currant....jam.....juice......nothing is better than a jar of grape jelly (or jam to UK peeps)
Oh another JELL-O  pudding mix (or in a cup....frozen or not)  and JELL-O in all the flavors.
Any one who want to know were to get a fix of Mountain Dew or anything pm me and let me know....(if you don't already know) ..Nothing to do with me but love the service and selection...

Cheers

>> The only thing i don't really like is their own chocolate(Hersheys is one to name)

Oh yes! Im with you on that...bleeeuuugh!!
which is a shame because I always love the idea of the little individually wrapped Hershey 'kisses' :)
   When I first arrived in Boston I went to my BF's house for evening meal and was asked if I would like a 'pop over' I asked what it was and was told it was like a dinner roll and you broke it open and put butter on it...... turns out it was a yorkshire pudding!!! they were horrified I put it on my plate and poured gravy all over it!! :-D

Ooooh I miss Vannilla and Wintergreen lifesavers too.
Land o' lakes butter
And Neosporin (which I don't eat..hasten to add!)
And anything from Bath and body works.

> Grits.

Urrrrrggggggh noooooo that's just plain wrong! ;)

ooh nothing better...on a cold morn....hot grits...a little bit of real butter...sprinkle of sugar and a fresh Buttermilk biscuit (or scone) some bacon would go far wrong either...:-)

I think I should do some illegal importing, I can get my fix of all your fav goodies from the Aafes and the American PX ;)

> IHOP

Ohh yummm, T bone steak, eggs and pancakes.... :-)

I miss the big jars of fluff you can get over there. They sold them for a while in Asda here but they disappeared again, how can you make a fluffernutter sandwich without it...and yes I've tried scooping the fluff out of tunnocks teacakes :-)

> I miss the big jars of fluff you can get over there

Try Selfridges food dept, I'm sure I've seen it in there!

> And anything from Bath and body works.

We are now truly going shopping.. Just love the Japenese Cherry Blossom line from here.

Victorias Secret(No other bra's actually fit)

Lucky Jeans(Again no other jeans fit like them)

The Urban Outfitters is awesome out there.

Anthripologie - Amazing items in there.

Oh my list will never end as i love too much about this country.

I love they sell Churro's with dip.. Never seen a Churro(hot) sold over here.

> fluffernutter sandwich

Genius!!
Why have I never thought of that!!??
(I know a little sweet shop that imports it over here....shall I send a wee parcel up your way Hen??)

I would die if I couldnt have Kraft Dinner!  (Mac and Cheese)  I live on the stuff! 

So how big of box do you want me to send over???  lol.  A lot of the stuff on people's lists I wouldnt be able to live without.  These are the staples of life.  LOL

> Kraft Dinner!

*Kisses Kory!!*

That'it!!! thats the stuff!! I couldnt for the life of me remember..and Isabel's been trying to force feed me shoeboxes!!!!
Yes!!! send help quick Kory!!!

I got good recipes for Homemade Rice a Roni and Kraft Dinner, they taste basically the same as the stuff in the box! 

I got a case of KD here, should I just send it "Attention HuskyGal UK"?  LOL

I've not lived in America but I have been a frequent visitor.  I can't say there is any particular food that I crave but I love The Cheesecake Factory.  The variety of cheesecake is amazing and the slices absolutely enourmous! 

I'm with you Sue on Victoria's Secret lingerie - although I did spot that Marks' were selling the same knickers once just after I returned to UK.  I also love Banana Republic who now have a Regent Street store but it is so expensive compared to America. 

No need to post.... Im swimming across the pond as you read this!!!!!! (I'll do anything for KD! :-D)
ooooooh recipes??? Hand 'em over!! (I'll have to persude Gembo to cook 'em for me she's the forums betty crocker ;))
I will swap you for Fishn'chips in newspaper or 'bangers and mash' ;O) (I refuse to get involved in that Black pudding malarky..bleeeuuugh!!!)
Or I could send you some good old Cockney Jellied eel a London town delicacy (...what?? not tempted??? LOL)

Send her some deep fried mars bars :-D

> I'll have to persude Gembo to cook 'em for me she's the forums betty crocker ;-)

ROFL!!! ;) You certainly have never tasted by of my dishes!!

Try these

http://www.americansweets.co.uk/macaroni--cheese-197-c.asp

http://www.americansweets.co.uk/marshmallow-fluffmarshmallowsdessert-saucestoppings-39-c.asp

> I will swap you for Fishn'chips in newspaper or 'bangers and mash' ;O) (I refuse to get involved in that Black pudding malarky..bleeeuuugh!!!)
> Or I could send you some good old Cockney Jellied eel a London town delicacy (...what?? not tempted??? LOL)

Or what about Toad in the Hole????

FreeWayz,

My god you are soooo good. Those websites are fantastic, i was very excited at work last night when i saw this and started showing all my colleagues who were interested, yet not as excited about me.. Was jumping about the place..
You hero

Kraft Dinner Homemade Style! 

You need:  Brick Cheese, Cheese Whiz, Pasta, Milk, and pans (2)

Put the following in a medium saucepan:

- Take some old brick cheese (has to be the old kind, not the mild).  And grate it. 

- Add about a half cup of Cheese whiz to your grated cheese.

- Melt on the stove.

- Add a splash of milk. 

Cook your pasta, and then add the melted cheese mix to your pasta and there you go.  Kraft dinner!  The more cheesier you want your pasta, the more brick cheese you use. 

> (...what?? not tempted??? LOL)

Tempted..........

> Tempted..........

Crespin
Are you sure...!!??

>Vomit smiley<

Suejaw
Glad you like...I go there always. The even do sodas ...Root Beer and Grape soda..yum yum yum...Root Beer float...my kids loved those a few months ago. And the cereal is soooo good. Every now and again you can even get twinkies.....cost a  fortune but I guess as a now and again thing it can be justified.

:-) :-)

I adore Root Beer float.
Found that Sainsbury's sold root beer and i made my own, still not the same unless made with the real thing from the States..

no never mind HG!!!  EWWWW

>> Kraft Dinner!
> *Kisses Kory!!*
>
> That'it!!! thats the stuff!! I couldnt for the life of me remember..and Isabel's been trying to force feed me shoeboxes!!!! <IMG alt=eek src="/images/eek.gif">
> Yes!!! send help quick Kory!!!

Its called Kraft Cheesy Pasta in Blighty HG, you can get it in most supermarkets. One of my pregnant friends in obsessed with it.

and american chocolate (as far as i recall) tastes a bit like sick (bleugh!)

i am full of joy because tesco have started selling reeses pieces which are my favorite sweety in the whole world and you couldn't get them in scotland before.

> http://www.americansweets.co.uk/marshmallow-fluffmarshmallowsdessert-saucestoppings-39-c.asp

Woooohoooooooo, Freewayz you're the best!

HG, are you coming up for a fluffernutter sandwich? :-)

I've just bought 3 of the big tubs of fluff....now trying to decide if standard delivery will do or should I opt for next day....

I have bought some Hersheys Reese's nutrageous candy bars from our local Booths supermarket.  I think they are American aren't they?  Haven't tried them yet though.  I hope the choccy is not too odd.

I haven't tried them either Isabel, I love the peanut butter part of most Reeces treats but the chocolate is often a bit 'plastic'. But then I am a chocolate fanatic, just eating some green & blacks at the moment and nothing can compare to that :-)

> I hope the choccy is not too odd.

it might be a bit funny isabel but generally the gorgeousness of reeses peanut butter overpowers that :)

Well I shall definately have to try them in the interest of further research then :-)

Long shot...but does anyone know if you can buy Milk Bones in the UK?  My friend bought a huge box over for the dogs last time she visited and my Newfie goes nuts for them.  Wonderful friend has since posted another box to us but it's fairly expensive to get them that way. 

hey, try www.petsathome.co.uk and type in milk bones in search box, a box comes up, says they are for puppies, not sure if this is what you mean?

American so called milk chocolate hersheys stuff foes taste foul *or like sick*..
I'm a chocoholic and I can't eat it yuk. It was very amusing as some one at work
brought back a multi pack of hersheys....
The rice krispie and the peanut ones are passable but ewwwwww I can still remember the taste
now of that milk chocolate one...the FD's face was a picture when he tried one :)

First, to answer the orignal question I came to the U.K. to be with a man, who is now my husband.

Apart from a couple of years in Buffalo I always lived withing commuting distance of NYC, so many of my cravings are "regional".  For example, real NY pastrami (very flavourful and very fatty); a real piece of corned beef that you cook yourself in a big pot with cabbage, carrots and potato; Hebrew National all-beef franks (saw them once in Selfridge's in London at an outlandish price); Gulden's mustard and NY rye bread with caraway seeds. 

Mentioning root beer always brings me back to very fond memories of my grandmother.  She used to take me to Woolworth's and we would have lunch at the food counter.  Lunch was always a root beer with a frothy head of foam and a grilled frank with sauerkraut.  Sadly, Woolie's went out of business in the U.S several years ago too.   Amazing how many of us have such fond memories of it.

It's here!!!!!

My fluff has arrived :-)  I don;t have any bread in the house so had to make a Fluffernutter wrap It was very yummmy :-)

:-D

Oh oh i'm coming round for tea Tigger.. Save me some... (salivating from the mouth)

> Oh oh i'm coming round for tea Tigger.

Great, could you pick up a nice loaf on the way :-)

>My fluff has arrived :-)  I don;t have any bread in the house so had to make a Fluffernutter wrap It was very yummmy :-)

That's the sign of a desperate woman :-D  Almost as bad as the time that I has to use Wotsits and pancakes to make a crisp sandwich (needs must when you've had one too many mineral waters the night before ;-) )

> HG, are you coming up for a fluffernutter sandwich?

I'm on my way Jayne!!! :-D :-D

Fan~bloomin~tastic website Freewayz! J is this were you ordered your Fluff from? (that was quick delivery huh?)
I'm off to do some shopping!!
(After Ive jetted up to Scotland! wonder if I can stuff a Borzoi down me Leotard with out Jayne noticing??)

> Wotsits and pancakes to make a crisp sandwich

Fabulous! I'd prefer to think of us as resourceful rather than desperate :-D

> Its called Kraft Cheesy Pasta in Blighty HG

Ooooh! Well spotted, I'll have a lookout for that and do the taste test. Thanks! :-D