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Food

Recipe entirely of packaged items!

(66 Posts)
Witzend Tue 16-Sept-25 10:57:58

I dare say it’s not uncommon across the pond, but while wasting too much time on FB I came across a recipe for a ‘quick lunch’.

It consisted of a can of condensed chicken soup first, in each of 4 aluminium trays.
Followed by frozen green beans, frozen carrots, frozen peas, frozen sweetcorn, packaged pieces of (I think cooked) chicken, all topped with (packaged) grated cheese, and packaged ‘biscuits’ - we don’t have a U.K. equivalent - I’m never quite sure what they are, but roughly crumpet sized things.

If anyone knows exactly what American ‘biscuits’ are, I’d be interested to know!

Daddima Tue 16-Sept-25 11:06:12

I think that what the Americans call biscuits would be called scones in Britain, with maybe more salt?

Cressida Tue 16-Sept-25 11:07:03

I think plain scones (unsweetened) are the nearest UK thing to US biscuits.

ViceVersa Tue 16-Sept-25 11:10:06

A lot of those American 'recipes' on social media are the same - their 'casseroles' in particular often consist of tins of condensed soup and other similar items. Very few that I've seen actually seem to be cooked from scratch.
And yes, their 'biscuits' are similar to our scones, but are more flaky and are usually savoury rather than sweet. They are often served with 'gravy', which again bears absolutely no resemblance to our gravy, but is more of a white sauce often with sausage or other meat in it.

Aldom Tue 16-Sept-25 11:10:13

Ooo, I've always wondered what American biscuits are. Now I know.
Thank you. smile

Beechnut Tue 16-Sept-25 11:20:27

I’m a fan of biscuits and gravy. I made it once and was impressed with how it turned out.

Georgesgran Tue 16-Sept-25 11:28:11

Like a cobbler topping, but not sweet.

Grandmabatty Tue 16-Sept-25 11:36:09

I used to make a chicken and mushroom casserole that used a tin of Campbell's condensed mushroom soup as the basis of the sauce (with added cream). It tasted really nice. And that was a very long time ago

PamelaJ1 Tue 16-Sept-25 13:28:25

Grandmabatty

I used to make a chicken and mushroom casserole that used a tin of Campbell's condensed mushroom soup as the basis of the sauce (with added cream). It tasted really nice. And that was a very long time ago

So did I. Maybe I’ll try it again, I haven’t thought about it for years.
We had a trip round the Campbells factory before it shut down in our town and I was incredibly impressed by the way the soup was made.

Witzend Tue 16-Sept-25 15:34:57

Grandmabatty

I used to make a chicken and mushroom casserole that used a tin of Campbell's condensed mushroom soup as the basis of the sauce (with added cream). It tasted really nice. And that was a very long time ago

I still do a tuna/pasta thing, with condensed mushroom soup. Only it’s Crosse and Blackwell now, after Campbell apparently discontinued theirs. Tastes just the same.
It’s my occasional go-to when I just cannot be bothered to do ‘proper’ cooking. Pasta, soup, tuna, all mixed together, served with frozen peas.
It’s actually very tasty.

ViceVersa Tue 16-Sept-25 15:52:21

I've made something similar myself from time to time, I admit - but almost every American recipe I see on social media is full of stuff like that. Even their cake recipes invariably start with a box of cake mix.

Aldom Tue 16-Sept-25 16:33:59

I used to have the Campbell's cookery book. All the recipes used their condensed soups. Mostly the recipes were it used for family camping holidays. Very useful, quick and easy one pot meals.

ferry23 Tue 16-Sept-25 16:42:06

There was a bit of a glitch with Campbells but they are very much still alive and kicking. It seems a "thing" in the US to use condensed soups in slow cooker recipes which always seems a bit odd to me, but each to their own.

I still do the chicken and soup , we love it, onions, diced celery, portobello mushrooms, and I use a knorr chicken stock pot a good splash of sherry or some brandy, a little tarragon, garlic and some cream. Delish.

SueDonim Tue 16-Sept-25 19:51:14

We call that kind of food a construction kit recipe. You just put all the things together like a Lego kit.

We recently stayed in a very nice hotel with a huge breakfast menu to choose from. A party of Americans were seated at the next table and one of them asked for biscuits with his cooked breakfast items. There followed a rather amusing (to us!) conversation with the waitstaff as to what the guest actually wanted.
‘Biscuits?’
‘Yes, biscuits.’
‘Aaaah…we have shortbread.’
‘What’s shortbread?’
‘A type of biscuit, made with butter flour and sugar.’
‘No, that doesn’t sound right.’
‘We may have some other packet biscuits. Chocolate chip, ginger snap.’
‘NO! BISCUITS! For my breakfast!’

At this point dh and I decided discretion was the better part of valour and we scurried back to our room. For all I know, they are still there, arguing. 😂

Mt61 Tue 16-Sept-25 23:42:03

They are horrible those American biscuits, taste like farleys rusks.
I thought I was getting a fancy biscuit, like here. They are cookies over there.

SueDonim Wed 17-Sept-25 00:35:58

We’ve been to the US loads of times but never had biscuits. Perhaps they were on menus but eating a biscuit with your meat course just seems wrong! 😂

Maremia Wed 17-Sept-25 08:23:34

Is it a bit like having roast beef and yorkshire puddings?

Gingster Wed 17-Sept-25 08:49:01

I saw this video , Witzend and thought it looks revolting!

Witzend Wed 17-Sept-25 08:57:33

Mt61

They are horrible those American biscuits, taste like farleys rusks.
I thought I was getting a fancy biscuit, like here. They are cookies over there.

I love Farley’s rusks! Always have to resist temptation in the supermarket. But American ‘biscuits’ are AFAIK savoury, not sweet.

aonk Wed 17-Sept-25 11:50:04

I know they’re packaged but frozen vegetables are very healthy. No additives and often less wasteful than fresh. An excellent standby.

Summerlove Wed 17-Sept-25 12:36:54

Frozen veg in a lot of cases is actually incredibly healthy. It tends to retain more vitamins from the freezing process, then fresh at times.

Summerlove Wed 17-Sept-25 12:37:12

*than

Babs03 Wed 17-Sept-25 13:52:51

I could be wrong but I think the US ‘biscuits’ with gravy are more a thing in southern states, where they also have ‘grits’, whatever that is. And cornbread is usually served with a roast dinner, but I think that is common throughout the US.
Am sure the reason they call biscuits ‘cookies’ is so they don’t mix them up.

NannaFirework Wed 17-Sept-25 13:56:25

I was watching (I think the same recipe) video on Facebook: I think all the ingredients you described were mixed on a bed of tortillas but it went on too long and I didn’t watch the end🫣 I don’t recall any ‘biscuits’ though I may have missed that bit!

mabon2 Wed 17-Sept-25 13:59:59

Nowt wrong with frozen vegetables.