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40 years & Canada is still stuck in limbo between the USA & the rest of the world. Most things have switched, e.g. km, litres, Celsius. Recipes have not, though occasionally some are given with metric equivalents. A good cook just goes with his instincts.

A major problem is the power of business interests which like to scam consumers, like the dairy industry. A quart of milk went down to a litre (smaller), but a pound of butter did not become 1/2 a kilo. Still 454 gm (metric, eh?). Cheese ? Don't get me started.
Canned (tinned) & packaged goods are in all manner of crazy sizes (US containers). Ostensibly because it would cost too much to change. Bull. The real reason is, again, to confuse consumers.
When I was in Europe, it was easy - 100, 200, 500 gm; 1, 2, 5 kg.

Here, grocers display prices per pound but sales slips show it per kilo, or 100 gm if the $ amount looks too high. Therefore, salami is not $29.90 / kg !, but $2.99 / 100 gm. Much better, right?
This $X.99 nonsense is everywhere, from the price of a car to the smallest item. A penny less makes it seem way cheaper. Ironic, as Canada finally got rid of the 1¢ coin, sort of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_%28Canadian_coin%29

Sorry, enough rant.

Aristo, that recipe would produce a rather poor biscuit, or scone, though after 2 cups of rum one might not care. Parsimonious Scots would make stuff like that but use water. Buttermilk & baking powder would go far.
Here are some better ones, though I'm sure you're probably well versed in the art:
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/11_simple_scones_recipes.php

Ixion, you have to eat, & cooking doesn't have to be complicated. Go to your local library. I'm sure they have plenty of easy books to get you started. Ask at the reference desk.
Make it a group effort. Get friends to help you with a dinner. It will be fun,

Cheers, guys.

It has long been the policy of our Monster Raving Looney Party to issue a 99p coin to save on change. (Marks and Spencer now thankfully price their clothes in whole pounds rather than 1p less).
The MRLP also approves of compulsory asparagus on Fridays.
Sorry to bring in "politics"!
Direction posts in the UK are still in miles although OS maps are in cm to the km. Recipes are in metric but I still use Delia's cookbooks from way back. Also have a set of American cups, though measuring butter in them is a messy (and not very accurate) business.
If you became a politician, syzzie, you could try to change things ;-)

I suppose the cup as a measurement came about because at one time not everyone would have a set of scales but would have a cup. Seriously annoying though if you don't have a set of American cups. I did once write out (before I had a printer) a list of weight equivalents for different dry and wet ingredients, very complicated. So yes syzygy, please get it fixed.

Bump

The last time I was in Ireland, the speed limits were in mph, but the distances were all given in km (or was it the other way round?)

Hi Syzygy...Canadian Cheddar is my favourite, I get it in 400g packs.

Although I don't book-cook I am reasonably competent in the kitchen and not likely to waste away any time soon!

Bump

Thanks, Rosalind, for the chuckles.

The Loonie is our $1 coin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loonie
Never considered the implication, but then it refers to the bird. Nowadays the latter term has other possibilities. (-;
When the $2 coin was proposed, there was a contest to name it. My entry: doubloon.
Seemed like a natural but they chose a lame name: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toonie#Naming

Politics ? Not my forte, obviously. Remember this?
An attempt to encourage Times solvers to stick to one thread.
http://www.crosswordsolver.org/forum/359060/poetry-corner
That didn't work. Considering the target audience, ...

We also have had some ... unusual parties, though I see they are everywhere:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_frivolous_political_parties

What !? No mention of the Natural Law Party:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIS788uf0cA


Marks and Spencer - oh, I miss them. They left some years ago.

Ixion - good to hear that.
re cheese. This sums it up:
http://kottke.org/13/07/in-america-the-cheese-is-dead

What? You mean my favorite, wonderfully sharp Vermont cheddar is embalmed? There must be exceptions to the rule.

I've been buying theater tickets, etc. for our trip to Vancouver, and though I haven't really got a handle on the money thing I must say it's pleasantly surprising to see how things ring up on my credit card statement. The exchange rate can change quickly, of course. I'm not that cheap, really; when there's a dollar advantage I make up for it with more generous tipping. :)

Love the loonie.

Your Vermont cheese has no bugs , aristo. Pasteurized, shrink wrapped. germless. Or isn't it?
Very good article about the alternative political parties, Syzzie. I note Belarus has a Beer Drinker's Party that is defunct but Russia's is still going. I believe my younger son voted for the Loonies a while back because I told him he must vote and, being an electronics student, he had no time to read or think about which party to vote for. He now lives in the Speaker's constituency so is effectively disenfranchised........sorry, again.
Good to be reminded of your poetry thread too. Enjoyed revisiting it.