The food situation 2.0

This is NOT a post about my weird oven or the hob, but for some strange reason, we are really missing a taste of home. Last night I said to DA, "you know some times I just really want the food I want." He just laughed and said he had been thinking the exact same thing lately!! Maybe it has something to do with the weather, or maybe it's just part of that "18months of living abroad" dip in the acclimation cycle. I want certain things to eat and they just arent available!!!! -or "similar" versions are available, but that's almost worse because then your taste buds KNOW it's not the right taste. It's very difficult to describe the feeling, but I really want to go eat on Friday night at Mi Cocina. And I really want familiar things to eat for lunch, and I really want double stuffed oreos, not the single stuff, made in Europe kind. And B really wants American A1 sauce and Jif or Skippy brand creamy peanut butter, and normal bread. there is only one type of sandwich bread she likes and they are often out of it. L really wants Kraft Mac and cheese and this certain flavor of Pop Tarts. They are about to eat through the remaining stock of Saltine crackers and I know they will be missing them too. B already had to give up her main stay of Campbell's Goldfish style chicken noodle soup (cant import the chicken), so not having the right PB &J on the right bread is a real killer.
I know all that sounds unhealthy, but I think it's why those things are apropriately called Comfort foods! There is something about the taste, smell, texture or memory that really is comforting.
DA made an out of the blue comment to me yesterday that I really "seemed settled" here now. I think that's true in a sense, but maybe my problem is that my taste buds just don't want to let go and settle completely.
I was walking through the market yesterday looking for steaks, no problem you might think, except we dont like British beef, we do like Aberdeen/Scotish beef exept Tesco didnt have any, so my choices were Irish beef and Uraguan beef. I went for Uraguan thinking it might taste like Argentine (no real logic, just thought), but it didn't. First bite of steak was met with dead silence. B decided she would only be able to eat it if we had A1, L inhaled the potatoes instead and DA and I just wanted to go to Mi Cocina!

In England's defense, there are several American products you can get here, even more readily available than previous years. I know we have it easier than Expats living abroad in other areas. We even have US Costco that has several US items, but just like at home, you drive 1 hour to get there and never know if they'll have in stock the one item you really want. When you want x flavor of Pop Tarts, after so long, the not-so-good y flavor just doesnt cut it anymore.

Now please, this is absolutely NOT a call for a goodie package. Please dont. It costs way, way too much to ship things here, I'm just saying.... We still miss home.

PS. we have eaten some fabulous English strawberries, rhubarb and artichokes. All is not lost!