When I came across american recipes with measurements in cups I was completely confused - how big is a cup? Is it a mug or a tea cup? How can everyone possibly have the same sized cup? What about how tightly to pack the ingredient? Should it be chopped small? None of the cookbooks seemed to explain this issue and, of course, there was no internet to consult. It was baffling.
I have had a set of plastic measuring cups for years and they have served me well. My inner perfectionist still prefers to weigh ingredients, particularly for baking, but the time-short Mum in me loves to throw something together quickly with cup measurements and no faffing about. Cups are also easier to double or half a recipe without needing to strain your brain with the maths.
The Russian Doll Measuring Cups are cute but also practical because of the way they stack. Each half of a Russian doll is a measurement (1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and a full 1 cup) and they're labelled on the inside so they can be easily identified. I thought I'd have an issue because they don't have handles like my old set but actually, I prefer them without and because they're pretty I keep them on my work surface ready to use instead of hiding them away in a drawer or on a shelf.
To enter, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling me which way you prefer to measure (it wont affect your entry if you choose metric!) before midnight on Friday 27th July. I'll announce the winner on the following Monday - good luck!
ETA: The winner, picked at random, is Nikki Wall - congratulations! Send me an email and I will arrange for your prize to be delivered.
I think the first time I saw measuring cups was when Nigella Lawson first appeared on the telly. As I watched her levelling off cups of flour with a knife it all began to make sense. Measuring cups - of course, how clever!
I have had a set of plastic measuring cups for years and they have served me well. My inner perfectionist still prefers to weigh ingredients, particularly for baking, but the time-short Mum in me loves to throw something together quickly with cup measurements and no faffing about. Cups are also easier to double or half a recipe without needing to strain your brain with the maths.
A couple of months ago I accidentally broke one of my measuring cups and, as if the universe had known just how much of an inconvenience it was for me, an email offering me the chance to review a set of measuring cups landed in my inbox the very same week.
The Russian Doll Measuring Cups are cute but also practical because of the way they stack. Each half of a Russian doll is a measurement (1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and a full 1 cup) and they're labelled on the inside so they can be easily identified. I thought I'd have an issue because they don't have handles like my old set but actually, I prefer them without and because they're pretty I keep them on my work surface ready to use instead of hiding them away in a drawer or on a shelf.
The Russian Doll Measuring Cups are available to buy for £9.99 at find-me-a-gift.co.uk but I have a set to giveaway to one of you!
ETA: The winner, picked at random, is Nikki Wall - congratulations! Send me an email and I will arrange for your prize to be delivered.
I seem to measure using all formats...lol, pastry I always use imperial but most other recipes I use metric. I also have an old set of 'cup' measures for American recipes.
ReplyDeleteAs to which I prefer...I am not really sure but eating the end product is probably the best ;)
I like it in old money, ie, pounds and ounces, as I find it easier to remember recipes that way. I also measure in spoons, ie, tea, dessert and tablespoons.
ReplyDeleteTotally prefer cups! I was brought up weighing ingredients too, but once I started finding recipes online in cups it struck me as so much simpler! The only thing I still weigh is bread ingredients, and that's only because it's the same recipe I've used forever and I know it off by heart :)
ReplyDeleteTotally prefer cups! I was brought up weighing ingredients too, but once I started finding recipes online in cups it struck me as so much simpler! The only thing I still weigh is bread ingredients, and that's only because it's the same recipe I've used forever and I know it off by heart :)
ReplyDeleteMy experience is very similar to yours. I still prefer to weigh but when using American recipes I have a lovely set of stainless steel cups that look like little saucepans. However, they do tend to stay hidden away in a cupboard. These are really cute and I love how they stack inside each other.
ReplyDeleteI still like to weight out ingredients, but find the cup method a lot simpler when working with children. I love those. They would be a great addition to my kitchen!
ReplyDeleteLike to weight ingredients but cups are easy sometimes :) These russian doll cups are too cute.
ReplyDeleteI have been using cup and spoon measurements for ages now and find them excellent.BUT when I make sponge I weigh my eggs and match all other ingredients to them.
ReplyDeleteMeasuring cups I had no idea! I did read an explanation a few years ago that said a cup was so many ounces of flour, and so many ounces of sugar. Seemed far too complicated. I switch between metric and imperial, but cups would be so much easier, especially as you say when adjusting a recipe up or down. If I'm not lucky enough to be picked to win these, I will buy some ... now that I know!
ReplyDeleteI weigh and use metric. I just don't find weighing a faff at all. I think measuring in cups is fine if your flour and everything comes in big wide-mouthed containers so you can level without making a mess. And we don't get sticks of butter here so it still needs to be weighed.
ReplyDeleteA year or two ago, I would have said scales all the way...but I am kind of warming to cups these days, especially as a lot of my fave cookery books are American. These russian doll cups are super cute, much nicer than my boring plastic cups!
ReplyDeleteohhh those are really cute, Id love to enter your giveaway :-) I always used to weigh everything out, but now more and more recipes I have give a cup measurement which I think makes it a bit quicker, and for me less mess! so I do prefer cup measurements
ReplyDeleteThose Russian Dolls are SO cute! I must confess I prefer cup measurements as I am normally in a hurry and want to whip up something quickly. I also have loads of recipes in my head that use cups. If I am making something slightly more complicated or faffy that needs accuracy then I will weigh the ingredients. My electronic scales that I bought over with me from NZ recently died after almost 12 yrs of use so I bought a new electronic baking scale. I miss my old one, saddo that I am lol
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit like how I was drawn into the hype of Cupcakes until I was informed there only called as so because they're measured in cups - oh, dissapointed. It's basically just poshly decorated buns. Definitly a weighing scales (grams) girl myself.
ReplyDeletefunny enough i have an Australian baking book which i have just purchased which measures in cups and not sure if these cups are different measurements to the American cups SO CONFUSED NOW .Any way they look super cute and would love to be the winner.I have to say i use scales but think the cups are far easier!!
ReplyDeletejoanne
I like to measure with cups! I tend towards the more slap-dash when cooking and baking, a lot of stuff is guessed at and 'oh about that much', you know what I mean, so I far prefer using measuring cups when something absolutely has to be measured. I don't quite trust scales - no idea why though lol. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh I so love those Russian dolls, have three wooden ornament/toy sets, and to be useful as measuring cups is perfect! I seem to manage all formats as first cakes as a child I did in tablespoons also used to make a yogurt cake that used the yogurt pot as the measure. Digital scales make switching between grams or ounces so easy too and of course pastry/cookie/crumble etc is half fat to flour which even I can remember.
ReplyDeleteThese are so beautiful. I can see why you love them. We measure with the US method of cups.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Becca
It depends upon what I am cooking, baking I tend to weigh, savoury dishes I eyeball it and other times I use measuring cups.
ReplyDeleteThey are lovely measuring cups. I tend to weigh things - and am happy to use imperial or metric, but have a faithful measuring cup from Ikea which I use in any recipes requiring cups.
ReplyDeleteUntil I discovered cups, I was all about the lbs. :) . Since using cups I find it much easier .
ReplyDeleteAngie :)
Until I discovered cups, I was all about the lbs. :) . Since using cups I find it much easier .
ReplyDeleteAngie :)
i prefer to use pounds and ounces
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic and useful, I alaways wonder just how big a cup is when looking at american recipes. I mostly use pounds ounces, although have been known to use grams occasionally.
ReplyDeleteI Love using scales in pounds and ounces, it reminds me of being a little girl and baking with my grandma. Although these days i find myself using cups more for the ease of use you mentioned!
ReplyDeletethey are SO cute ♥ I love matroshka dolls (I went to Russia in 1999) and have been making cards: www.etsy.com/shop/homemadegoodness
ReplyDeleteWow, they look so good,I'd love them on my kitchen top.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Europe so metric is my thing but same as you love to use cups when in a hurry.
It's odd because I prefer to measure in cm & metres and yet weigh in pounds and ounces, although every so often I do metric to make sure Nin and Ted get experience of both.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I also spent years being confused by cups until I found out they are standard measuring cups.
Bizarrely enough, whilst I had a set of cups, I only seem to have the full cup left now *sigh*. I do use it because I use a few American recipes, but it's a bit of a nightmare with just the one cup, because I have to rinse inbetween wet/sticky ingredients (which is rather frustrating). I recently made an orange marmalade and yoghurt drizzle cake (which I have yet to post a pic of) and that required a bit of washing between measurements. I actually need to get another set!
I tend to use whatever measures the recipe uses unless I already know it by heart.I have quite a collection of jugs with different measures on them. I can't say I have a preference as long as I know which one we are running with today :)
ReplyDeleteI use my trusty scales and read off in metric. However, I see lots of recipes using cups and always hit google to convert so this set would be fantastic. They're cute too!
ReplyDeleteSam x