or is prejudice against America considered OK by most of mumsnet?

[VajazzHands]

Comments about America on mumsnet, really ridiculous comments (basically that all Americans, are fat, stupid, god botherers bent on taking over the world) seem to be largely ignored and accepted as fact in a way that comments about any other country never would.

Blatant sexism, racism, xenophobia, disablism would never be tolerated on MN in any other circumstance. Why do people let it go about Americans?

Well, of course it would, thumb. It's still amusing to watch her, the only silent one (although it looks like Camilla doesn't like her own voice and seemed to be sort of humming along during hymns).

thumbwitch, the 'Americans can't cook' thread was the one that had me throwing up my hands and vowing to ignore all subsequent anti-American threads. IIRC, the OP was something like 'all American recipes just seem to be dumping ingredients together' which made a lot of people because isn't that generally how it's done?

Her point was that in her not so humble opinion, American recipes were much more simple and involved less faff, which = 'Americans can't cook'

Bet she had a sneaky look to see if charles was singing though!

She's lived and worked all over the world. She can't take the flag waving. It's not that she thinks other places are better. She just doesn't like the fact that, probably during Bush's time the most, criticism of the government/war was viewed as 'unpatriotic'.

Hazel, great post! I can just picture it now. Really funny! A Brummy sounds like the Queen! Love it! I can just hear the Queen talking with that accent and asking Philip if he wants any more tea

Good grief, Yank - that's ridiculous! Of course that's what all recipes are about, isn't it?
ALthough, I have to say (sorry) that I find the use of cups instead of absolute weights a PITA. Aussies do it too, and of course their cup is slightly different to the US cup and I totally understand why recipes were written using cups instead of weights... but it's still bloody irritating when I have to go and look everything up to convert it into weights! Especially now the Aussie jug I bought specially because it had cup measures on the side has lost its measure marks! - they washed off!

There was a documentary not so long ago (about 3 years ago) covering the Queen's last state visit to the US. Phillip had been invited to visit Bethesda Naval Base and committed to the engagement, yet he still had to ask leave of Elizabeth before he could go! And he did! :o

I also liked the official presenting of gifts. He was given a very valuable antique pistol to take home. Think he had problems from UKBA? :o

Champers, possibly her proudest moment, other than childbirth. She talks about it A LOT.
"Do youse naaw, whin oi whas in Kintockoy..."

The main difference I've found with some American recipes is that they contain more branded ingredients eg Dave's Crusty Pie Base or Eric's Lovely Frosting. But that's what Delia did with her how to cheat at cooking.

There was a certain British, put you in your place, moment when William and Kate bowed to the Queen but blanked her family. Obviously it's protocol but the poor Middletons must be constantly be being reminded of their "place".

by some actual cup measures thumbwitch- they are easier and wont rub off since they only measure exactly what you need. like theses ones

I liked the fact that Prince Phillip had to sing sitting next to the Queen. I'm thinking of picking a song that DH has to sing to me on demand.

I have audibly chortled at 'Dave's Crusty Pie Base' and 'Eric's Lovely Frosting'.

A 'cup' = 8oz :)

I LOVE my measuring cups!!

But I don't want to!
I like my scales, so much that I actually have two sets (well, they're pan balances, not scales) - one from each grandmother. I also have 3 sets of weights, 2 imperial and 1 metric. Anyway, like with spoons and that, I don't know if they're supposed to be level cups, heaped cups, rounded cups - that's why weights are much easier.

Don't worry, I don't have enough American or Australian recipes that I use to make the cup set necessary - the only real problem I've had so far is with spelt pizza dough, and I just add more flour until it gets to the right consistency!

As you're here Vajazz, can you explain the one thing I really don't understand about American food. Salads with marshmallows in them. Are they real? Do most Americans really make them? That's up there with the election of Bush for me.

Just buy a scale that does ounces as well as grams. No more measuring cups to wash up.

I don't think I'd actually buy frosting from a guy called Eric. They do research on those brand names don't they, to figure out what makes it seem all grandmotherly eg Betty Crocker, Aunt Bessie

Now all I want to do is make a list of products doomed to fail!

Roger's sausages would really put me off..

no no no NO valium - that's not right at all! A cup of what = 8oz? flour? sugar? they're different weights! A cup of sugar will be way heavier than a cup of flour!

Anyway. To give you some idea of why this upsets me - when I worked in a food analysis lab, my favourite job was making up some of the more obscure reagents, that required weighing ingredients to 4 decimal places on the electronic pan balances. I loved doing this. I am strange.

Puffin, I think those Jello salads with marshmallows were a big thing in the 70s-80s. I seem to remember them at Thanksgiving. Not sure about now, I've been here 9 years.

I have a fondness for Ina Garten - Barefoot Contessa - for her cheery, positive American attitude.

Have you never heard Eddie Izzard on that YankNCock? He talks about Miss Smith being turned away by the Apple marketing board until her daughter had children and how Mr. Hitler's exceedingly good cakes wouldn't be as popular.

Tyelperion - I have never heard of a company health insurance policy that doesn't cover pregnancy. In my case I paid my co-pay on my first visit and have not paid a dime since.

When we visit England and Denmark many people make negative comments when they hear we live in the US. I always just nod politely and smile. America has been very kind to me and I don't forget that. All England gave me was taxes, student debt and a huge medical bill once I arrived in the US.

The care I received under the NHS was shoddy at best. It took 3 years of treatment to sort out my back (it was so bad that it was marginal if I should have further surgery to correct mistakes made) and I needed 9 fillings, my wisdom teeth extracted (sorted out the migranes I was suffering from) and a tooth extracted and replaced with a fake one. Amazing that I needed all of this dental work within one year of leaving England considering I had been to the dentist the week before I left for the US!

I mock Ina Garten. I am jealous. No one is that happy, lives in a massive house, is so happily married and gets to swan about all day.

Well they do. She does, but I don't. So I mock. I'm sure she's lovely. And her food looks lush.

I used to get really wound up about all the anti American threads on Mumsnet. Now I don't care and just go on the May ante natal thread and children's asthma threads.