UK Cooking conversions from US to UK measurements

UK is known as Imperial
1 US teaspoon = .83 UK teaspoon
1 US tablespon = .83 UK tablespoon
1 US fluid ounce = 1.04 UK fluid ounce
1 US cup = .845 UK cup

Google has AWESOME converters. UK is shown as imperial typically in the drop down list. To access it just do a search for something like: "1 us tsp in uk tsp"

Green Bean Casserole

I found the recipe at: http://www.campbellskitchen.com/recipes/classic-green-bean-casserole-24099, but I'm pretty sure it is very similar to what we use. I don't think we use the soy sauce, but it would probably be a good addition. Kim recommends using fresh cooked or canned green beans with a preference towards canned. She likes to jazz it up with fresh sauteed mushrooms.

Ingredients

• 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup 
  or (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
  or (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Healthy Request® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup  
• 1/2 cup milk  
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce  
• 1 dash black pepper  
• 4 cups cooked cut green beans 
  or use 1 bag (16 to 20 ounces) frozen green beans, thawed
  or 2 packages (9 ounces each) frozen green beans, thawed,
  or 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) green beans, drained 
  or about 1 1/2 pounds fresh green beans for this recipe.
• 1 1/3 cups French's® French Fried Onions 

Directions

1. Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in a 1 1/2-quart casserole.
   
2. Bake at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until the bean mixture is hot and bubbling.  Stir the bean mixture.  Sprinkle with the remaining onions.
   
3. Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

Corn Casserole Recipe

 

Old-time Hartwell Farm Corn Pudding

aka Corn Casserole Recipe
-Boasts a checkerboard top of crisp bacon, melty cheese squares

As New England-y as red-flannel hash. Good old-fasioned cooking!

Ingredients

1 1-pound can (2 cups) cream-style corn
1 cup medium-fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon pepper
4 ounces sliced Cheddar cheese, cut in 1 1/2-inch squares
3 slices bacon, cut in 1 1/2-inch lengths

Directions

1. Combine corn, bread crumbs, milk, green pepper, salt, and pepper.
2. Pour into a 10 x 6 x 2 baking disk. 
3. Arrange alternate pieces of cheese and bacon across top in checkerboard fashion. 
4. Bake in slow oven (325 degrees) 1 to 1 3/4 hours. 

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Rates of Decomposition for various forms of litter

Paper 2-5 months
Orange Peels 6 months
Milk Cartons - 5 years
Filter Tip Cigarettes 10-12 years
Plastic Bags 10-20 years
Leather Shoes 25-40 years
Plastic Containers 50-80 years
Tin Cans 100 years
Aluminum Cans 200-500 years
Styrofoam NEVER

US citizen living in the UK (on a spouse visa) for a US company

Below are some links and information on how a US citizen can live in the UK on a spouse visa AND work for a US company.

US Tax Guide for Americans Living in the UK
Foreign Earned Income and Housing: Exclusion – Deduction (IRS Document)
US citizen living in UK, working for US company - forum discussion on the issue that seems to conclude that a US citizen can live in the UK on a spousal visa and work for a US company. It appears the best choice is to have a US company to UK company (customer/vendor) relationship, but it is not clear if this is required. The setting up of a UK company is roughly the same process (and similar structures) as setting up a company in the US. The US / UK tax treaty says that you would need to opt out of US Social Security in the US, even if you are already paying NI – this is not automatic. To opt out you would need to visit the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov. It is not clear if it is acceptable to be in a relationship (1099) that is between you (in the UK) and US company though. This would be easier. It doesn't appear that a W2 relationship is allowed, but it may be.
Tax Advisor for Information Technology Consultants
Immigration Rules

How to find a Safe Sunscreen

Like anything that is considered unsafe, there is someone that will say that it is safe.

Issues to consider:

• Will the chemical penetrate skin and reach living tissues?
• Will it disrupt the hormone system?
• Can it affect the reproductive and thyroid systems and, in the case of fetal or childhood exposure, permanently alter reproductive development or behavior?
• Can it cause a skin allergy?
• What if it is inhaled?
• Other toxicity concerns?

If you want to error on the side of it is safe until considered safe by all, then try to avoid the ingredients below when buying sunscreen.

• Retinyl Palmitate - not required; it just is thought to reduce signs of aging and has been linked to skin cancer.
• Oxybenzone - a common UV filter that has been shown to interact with hormones when fed to animals in large amounts (much greater than sun screen contains). Avoid this because it readily pentrates the skin.
• Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate) - Hormone-like activity; reproductive system, thyroid and behavioral alterations in animal studies.
• Nano-particles - Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are mineral based sunscreens that provide broad-spectrum protection. If the particles have been shrunk to micro or nano-particles so that they no longer leave a white color then they may not be safe anymore. They are thought to possibly enter the body an cause cancer, but more information is needed. To keep it safe, it is best to buy sunscreen that says "non-nano-particles". If it stays on as white then it should be safer as it is not likely using nano-particles. Labelling is not required.
• Titanium Dioxide - concerns if inhaled, so buy choose topical application, not a spray.
• Zinc Oxide - concerns if inhaled, so buy choose topical application, not a spray. Skin penetration, but in very small number amount (.01%).
• SPF 15 - It doesn't provide protection against skin cancer, but does from sunburn. It is recommended to use SPF 30. SPF 50 may be used as well, but some believe it is not necessary. Also, beware the higher the SPF may also mean higher concentration of harmful chemicals.
• Homosalate - Disrupts estrogen, androgen and progesterone
• 4-methylbenzidyl camphor - used in Europe and under petition for use in the U.S. is a hormone disruptor.
• methylisothiazolinone, or MI - a preservative and inactive ingredient. It is a major allergen.

More ingredients to understand

• Avobenzone -best chemical filter for UVA. Relatively high rates of allergies
• Mexoryl SX - skin penetration. Currently not fda approved
• Octisalate - skin penetration
• Octocrylene - skin penetration

Summary
"Zinc oxide is EWG’s first choice for sun protection. It is stable in sunlight and can provide greater protection from UVA rays than titanium oxide or any other sunscreen chemical approved in the U.S."

To find the product you want use the advance search on http://www.ewg.org. They have rated by ingredients tons of sunscreens. I found this site so valuable when deciding on sunscreens.

I found Badger products such as Badger Sunscreen Cream, Unscented, SPF 30 to be a good product that can be found on Amazon for the US and UK. There is also a sport version called Badger Sport Sunscreen Cream, Unscented, SPF 35. It can be found on Amazon for UK and US.

References:
Sunscreen Safety: What to Know
The Trouble With Sunscreen Chemicals

Finding Properties to purchase or rent (let) in England

The most popular sites are:

Right Move

Zoopla

This may also be of  use

Prime Location