Expat Luggage Treasure Trove

Each year, when I visit my family in the States, I inevitably return with my luggage carefully stuffed from wheels to zipper with American treasures. Every visit home yields a different haul and each year two or three friends benefit from a little luggage space with my bringing them back something they’ve ordered online or requested from a local shop. My Dad has even been part of this. Our luggage has carried over knitting yarns, yarn winder gadgets, winter coats, fabric, baby clothes, diapers, baby gifts, cornbread mix, ranch salad dressing mix, Old Bay seasoning, parenting books, baby toys, underwear, and much more. This spring, my luggage was mostly filled with baby clothes, books, and toys with a few other favorites added to treat myself. Who benefitted from a little luggage space this year? Blogger and voiceover artist Arlene and boutique cookery school owner Margaret. Here are a few photos of the non-baby items that came back to Cork with me. There will be a separate post about the yarn and children’s toys/books!

Pie Contest in a Box: Everything You Need to Host a Pie Contest

Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree

Aunt Dimity Down Under (Paranormal Detective)

iPad magnetic cover from Apple Store

The Muppets Band-Aids

Q-Tips Cotton Swabs, 500 Count (The real ones with cotton/paper only NO plastic elements)

Aussie Catch The Wave Mousse+ Leave-In Conditioner 201 ml (I love how this acts as a de-tangler and style assist)

Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment 415 ml (This stuff does wonders for baby’s cheeks and chin when drool irritates the skin, keeping them soft and reducing redness and discomfort. One tub lasts FOREVER!)

Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm Tube

Girl Scout cookies

Matzo Meal

Pepperidge Farm cookies

Swedish Fish (Pack of 24)

Milk Duds 52 g (Pack of 6)

American Old Bay Seasoning: 170g Tub (I’m a Marylander, this is a must!)

Betty Crocker Super Moist Rainbow Chip Cake Mix

Assorted sprinkles and cupcake liners

What I Miss, What I Love

It has been over a year since I made Ireland my home and in that time I have changed as have my tastes while some things remain the same. Last year, I predicted all the things I would miss and some of those missed their mark. To celebrate being an expat for over a year, I am creating a new list of things I miss from the States (Wish It Were Here!) and a list of all the things I would miss if/when we move back (Where Have You Been All My Life?) – I also added a list of things I thought I wouldn’t find in Ireland that are, in fact, available in some form (Old Friends).

Wish It Were Here! *If you’ve found any of these in Cork, please share where in the comments

• Root beer for floats (I know it’s out there… somewhere)

• Yuengling Lager (though Abbot’s Ale House has an amazing selection of other lovely beers)

• Knit Picks yarn

• Hanes, Ann Taylor LOFT, Lands’ End and J.Crew

• Trader Joe’s (specifically their mochi, green salsa, sesame sticks and snap pea crisps)

• Soy bacon

• Green tomatillo salsa or even green tomatillos

• Being able to spend a weekend with family

• Kraft Mac & Cheese (in the blue box)

• Elbow macaroni

• Old Bay Seasoning

• Dark chocolate M&Ms

• Cornbread mix

• UTZ crab chips

• Ranch dip

• Netflix and Red Box rentals

• Pepperidge Farm Goldfish

• Being able to watch my favorite shows on TV instead of buying them on iTunes

• Sunnyvale Public Library

• Picnics in the Napa Valley

• Two buck Chuck

• My friends and family

Where Have You Been All My Life?

• Driving on the left

• Bulmer’s Cider

• Ballymaloe House Relish

• Aldi stores

• Tanora (works well for floats)

• Marks & Spencer convenience food

• Coriander in a tube

• Banoffee pie

• My new friends

• ‘Father Ted’

• Useful bus system that thinks outside the city

• Crumble mix, scone mix, brown bread mix,…

• Being able to hop in your kayak to go to to the grocery store or match (not that we do, but we could)

Old Friends

• Cranberries or cranberry spread for sandwiches (Tesco, SuperValu,…)

• REAL guacamolé (IF I make it from scratch)

• Black beans for homemade burritos (Tesco)

• Mochi (Wagamama)

• Ranch salad dressing (it’s not quite the same, but it’s better than nothing)

• Being able to order things from Amazon and Overstock (it’s still not the same though)

• IKEA being local (almost, it’s in Dublin)

• Pretzels (nothing like Snyder’s though)

• Maple syrup

• Maker’s Mark (it’s here, but it’s very expensive)

• Warm, sunny days with no humidity (occasionally)

Photo by Stephen Orsillo

Maple Syrup and Other Tastes From Home

If you read this blog with any regularity, you know I am a foodie. Luckily, according to Saveur Magazine Cork is known as the gastronomic capital of Ireland.

Being a food away from home means I miss my favorite foods just almost as much as my favorite people. I have been able to stockpile and have family bring some of the foods I miss most and some are even available here, if you look hard enough. 

Here is a list of my favorite foods or typically American items as well as where you can find them in Cork City. If I’ve not found them here yet, I’d love comments from anyone who has found them locally so we can all find a taste of home in our new home-sweet-home of Cork.

Peanut Butter Spread
This is rather available at most stores.

Ranch Dressing
Found it once at Aldi/Lidl in Skibbereen, but maybe I was dreaming. No luck finding it since.

Cranberry
Fresh cranberries can be found in autumn, but for sandwiches and year-round enjoyment Marks & Spencer, Tesco, and Dunnes all carry some form of jarred cranberry that resembles jam or preserves. 

Cornbread Mix
Have not found it yet. 

Pure Maple Syrup  (Canadian)
Available from Mr. Bell’s Oriental Foods at The English Market for about 5 Euros

Macaroni & Cheese
I thought I found macaroni once, but no boxed Kraft mac & cheese found here yet. 

Pop Tarts
Centra has Strawberry and Chocolate flavors made with beef gelatin.

Tortilla Chips & Salsa
The best we’ve found is Tesco-brand tortilla chips (the small plain clear/white bag) with Tesco-brand “Cool” salsa. They also have decent guacamole in the back corner of their produce section and canned black beans at the end of their soup aisle. Excellent tortillas (round/flat for quesadillas) in the bread aisle on the top rack.

Betty Crocker Brownie Mix
Dunnes has this.

More soon, but in the meantime we’d love to hear from you. What do you miss and where have you found it?