Hi all,
i wasn't sure where to post this, but i wanted to introduce myself (I can't see an introductions forum) and ask if it's ok for me to post here, as I am British & living in Britain?
I am only just starting out with cakes- it's become an overwhelming urge since I embarked on a serious weight loss programme (A touch of the Monica Gellers I think!), and I think Americans make the best cakes, so I have been lurking here for a while!
There are obviously some differences between American and British baking- you use cups, we use metric/Imperial measures (I use Imperial usually but have a set of American cups), so I already have some rookie questions!
How much is a 'stick' of butter? We buy it here in one pound 'pats', and measure by weight.
And also, is fondant the same as what we call sugarpaste?
Hope to chat to you all more, and I have loved looking through the galleries at the amazing and beautiful designs! So much inspiration!
WELCOME!! We have members from ALL over the world.
A stick is a quarter pound.
Fondant = Sugarpaste
In the recipe section you will see plenty of recipes with metric measurements. Don't ever be afraid to ask a question here 
Welcome! Actually, many of us love the British style of decorating! I think there are other converting sites that have been posted, but a quick google search turned up this:
http://www.pantsblazing.com/convert/vol_weight.php
I typed in butter, and it gave me the answer you needed. 225 g = 8 oz = 2 sticks of butter = 1 cup.
Hope this helps.
Welcome!
I have to say I love the cake decorating styles that come from many different nations. My favorite magazine is Wedding Cakes, put out by Squires there in England. I wait very impatiently for the next quarterly publication to hit the stores!
Feel free to ask anything you want. We are all here to share and advise when we can!
Gayle
SE Michigan
Hi Electrica! You'll find people from all over the world here, so you won't be alone in being non-US! I use a lot of American recipes for my cakes, so if you ever need a British translation/equivalent, please feel free to pm me. Welcome to Cake Central!
Welcome electrica! Where are you in the UK? My mother-in-law lives in the north.
A STICK OF BUTTER, COULD ALSO BE 8 TABLESPOONS..I WELCOME YOU TO CC HOPE WE ALL CAN HELP..THERE ARE SO MANY NICE FOLKS HERE, ANY HELP YOU NEED JUST ASK SOME WILL KNOW THE ANSWERS...AGAIN WELCOME
Welcme to cc, hope you have fun browsing and learning.
thank you all for being so welcoming, and explaining the fondant mystery and a stick of butter! Good to know I'm not the only non-US citizen here, I expect I'll become more familiar with different styles of cake as I progress. I didn't know there were cake magazines! (I really am a novice, eh?!) I'll have to look out for them!
A little about me: I live in Brighton on the South Coast of England (I think this is like a British equivalent of San Francisco, big gay community, lots of alternative lifestyles, lots of funky little shops and coastal life). I live with my fiancee/partner Jason and our 18 month old son Blake. I started getting interested in cakes around his first birthday, and was disappointed that I didn't have the time or the skills to make his birthday cake, but i hope to rectify that in coming years! I work full time in the defence industry after spending a year as a homemaker/mum, so this is a total break from what I do, and I would like to be able to sell a few cakes when I am good enough.
Hi electrica, a big welcome to CC. I'm from Briton too. I live in surrey. I'm sure you are going to love every minute you spend in this site.
All the members are really helpful. I always turn to my second family here in CC for inspiration, help and support.
Again, Welocme.
Just wanted to add a Welcome
I'm American, but my folks are English - originally from Sheffield - they came over in 1963. I jokingly refer to myself as bilingual - I speak English English as well as American English.
I grew up on "English" baking - scones, shortbread, all those great things
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%