No matter how long you’ve been in Spain, there are always things from the states that you crave – or at least that’s the case for me. Mac and cheese, Stovetop, pancakes…the list goes on. I love living in the land of fresh fruits and veggies, jamón and paella, but that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally have desires for US goods. Amazon offers many American brands at premium price, but there are substitutes and/or recipes that I’ve found to satisfy those cravings.
Here is a list of some of my favorites with links.
Ever since I moved to Spain, I’ve been on the search for a good peanut butter that I can source locally as I always brought back as many Trader Joe’s peanut butter jars as would fit in my luggage every trip to the states. Some of the supermarkets in Spain now sell a version of peanut butter, but the flavor is definitely not the same. A friend of mine from the gym had this “protein peanut cream,” AKA peanut butter, and as soon as I tried it, I knew I had finally found my Spanish substitute! This is 100% peanuts – no other ingredients. It hits the spot and for 5.49€ for a 1000g jar, it’s very well priced as well! They offer both smooth and crunchy options as well as an organic version. For those who like to get a little crazy – they have peanut butter mixed with all sorts of things from cinnamon and caramel to white chocolate and raisins as well as cashew, pecan, and almond butter options.
Recipes
Beyond products that I’ve found, there are certain foods that are hard to find here that I’ve discovered on my quest for American food in Spain. There are thousands of recipes for these simple foods, but these are the ones that I have found to stand out against the rest.
Old Fashioned Pancakes – Recipe
These are so easy to make and are the best way to start a Sunday morning. My friends always ask that I make these for merienda. Mix with blueberries, banana slices, pecans, chocolate or whatever your heart desires! I have been able to find good maple syrup at Aldi and Lidl, but the Spaniards love to cover them in Nutella and treat them like crepes.
Who knew that stuffing was so easy to make?! Don’t get me wrong, Stovetop will always have a place in my Thanksgiving heart, but once I figured out how to make this on my own, I felt like I had really stepped up my game. This was a huge hit at Christmas when I made it. Everyone went back for a second or third helping – me included!
Love from Andalucía 