Powdered sugar? Vanilla extract? Baking soda? Sour cream (a mix of yogurt and creme fraiche worked). Sage, which I believe is salvia? And I´m craving a dry martini, but don´t know where to get the little bottles of DRY vermouth.

Also, do I have to go to a farmacia to get a multivitamin with calcium? Those places always intimidate me.

I´ve tried Leidl, Dia, the Corte Ingles in
Sol, Al Campo and Carrefour.

Thank you!

Coco--

Powdered sugar is azúcar glacé. You can get it at any decent grocery store.

Baking soda--I import it... they don't use it for baking here. I've heard you can get it at a pharmacy if you take them the chemical make up, but I haven't tried.

Sour cream--I use the danone or total brand greek yogurt. I think it's creamier and better tasting than garden-variety American sour cream.

Sage--at an herbolario... but I'm not convinced that the salvia here is exactly the same as the sage in the US. It looks the same, but the smell and flavor is somewhat different. I go to the herbolario on c/Duque de Alba (between La Latina and Tirso de Molina). They have almost any dried spice or herb you could think of.

Dry vermouth... no idea about that one... A real liquor store would probably have it. Do you live in the center? For stuff like this, I go to the liquor store on c/Humilladero (one block down from the Mercado de la Cebada on the right).

For the multivitamins... you could probably get them at the "parafarmacia" at the El Corte Inglés at Preciados (1st or second floor), but I think you'll pay more for them there than you would at a regular pharmacy.

mariposita RULES!!!

saludos,
jer...

If I am not mistaken, baking soda is the "bicarbonato" that you can find in most grocery stores (but probably not Dia and perhaps doubtfully Lidl). At least, that is what I use and my recipes have been turning out ok.

What is a bit more challenging is baking powder. I have been using the "sobres de Royal" (ask for it by that name) and it seems to do fine. Otherwise, I have found a recipe online to make substitute baking powder using baking soda and cream of tartar (but I would be inclined to believe that you don't have that on hand ).

Vanilla extract... I see "essence of vanilla" a lot rather than pure vanilla extract which makes for an OK substitute if you aren't a purist. I think I recall reading that mm'er "Nanny" actually makes, bottles and sells vanilla extract. You might want to check with her about that...

The farmacias used to intimidate me too. But if you know what you are looking for, just go right on in and ask for it. I think I have seen Centrum at some pharmacies.

Centrum can be found at farmacias. I used to get it all the time. Becky has given good advice. I am not a purist when it comes to Vanilla. I can use whatever they have in Madrid and whatI can find. If you want the pure stuff, try The American Store or Taste of America.

Shawn

quote:

mariposita RULES!!!

saludos,
jer...

No, Jer. She ROCKS TO THE MAX.

Shawn

I can't find watercress (berro)

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Chica is right, baking soda can be found at any big supermarket.

Markinmadrid--I've seen berro at the market and certain fruterías... do you live in the centro? If so, I can look today or tomorrow and let you know for sure which stall has it. Some tend to have more green stuff than others.

Vanilla extract: I'd go to a latin american grocery for this.

Baking soda--the Nanny is also a big time cookie-baker. I'll bet she knows where to get it (maybe Taste of America?)

Rebecca--have you seen just straight bicarbonato at the grocery store? I've seen levadura química with bicarbonato and a bunch of other ingredients, but not just plain bicarbonato.

Check out this explanation of baking soda--very interesting:

http://chemistry.about.com/cs/foodchemistry/f/blbaking.htm

P.S. Trust me, I do not rule, I just like to make sure that we have all the ingredients necessary so that he-who-does-rule can cook for us!!

I bought straight bicarbonato in the parafarmacia at ECI. I also saw it in Sabeco and I think Ahorra Mas.
I buy the ¨vanilla essence¨ (along with other types of extracts) in the Polish grocery store (c/Valderribas 7).

Any decent bodega (liquor store) should have bottles of Martini Extra Dry or Noilly Prat, in order for you to make your Martini's

I go to a great one on Calle Echegeray, 19, they speak English in there and have a great selection of wines and imported spirits. Click the link below for a map.

Map

quote:

P.S. Trust me, I do not rule, I just like to make sure that we have all the ingredients necessary so that he-who-does-rule can cook for us!!

You are so humble. That's what I like about you.

Shawn

quote:

Originally posted by mariposita:
Markinmadrid--I've seen berro at the market and certain fruterías... do you live in the centro? If so, I can look today or tomorrow and let you know for sure which stall has it. Some tend to have more green stuff than others.

Yes please! I live in La Latina so any market thats central will be welcome. I would travel all over Madrid to buy some watercress since I haven't found it in el mercado de la latina or at any supermarket.

Ah, I didn't realize that we live in the same 'hood. I'll definitely keep an eye out for it and let you know. I've bought it here a few times (and had it in salads at restaurants), so I know it's out there.

Went to the herbolario and found sage, as well as vanilla beans, which I intend to use to make my own extract. Yeah! Oatmeal too. What an interesting shop.

Markinmadrid - Found berros (watercress) at the Mercado Cebada in La Latina down the stairs and straight ahead to the last aisle, a fruit and veggie place on the right. They´ve got fancy stuff like alfalfa sprouts and fresh herbs and something called ¨Lambs Lettuce¨ that sounds very English. It was somewhere around 2 euros for the package of cress.

Anyone seen ricotta or buttermilk?

Thanks for all the help!

Hey Coco--
That's the spot in the market that I was going to recommend to Mark. They have a lot of herbs and green. The spot right across the aisle does, too, though they keep them in the back where you can't see them.

I also asked at another frutería that I like and they said they usually have berros but were sold out. It's on Mesón de Paredes just a few blocks down (on the right) from Plaza Tirso de Molina.

I love canónigos (mache, lamb's lettuce)!

Haven't seen buttermilk, but I did recently see ricotta... maybe at the little store La Exquisita that is on carrera de San Francisco just a block from the market (toward San Francisco).