Culiverter - Culinary Unit Converter Widget
I’m sure this is a familiar scenario: you find an interesting recipe you’d like to try when you see that the quantities are expressed in a system you’re not familiar with. This happens to me quite often. Europeans think in metric units (grams, centimeters, liters and so on), while Americans (yes, the British too, but officially they are using the metric system nowadays) are used to units like: lb, oz etc.
Some recipes have their quantities are expressed in both systems but most don’t. So the fun begins with searching for a unit converter and after finding one I have to jump from the recipe page to the converter page so I can convert the quantities. And while it was fun in the beginning, this “sport” starts to get very annoying. I know it isn’t easy for foodies to also post quantities in other system than the one they’re accustomed to (trust me I know 
). Still something can be done: adding a unit converter on the recipe page.
And that’s exactly what I did: I’ve added a culinary unit converter (which contains the most common units) to my sidebar. I know it will be useful to my readers and it saves me the trouble of converting every new recipe I post about.
If you want to offer this time-saver to your readers too, just paste the entire code below anywhere in your sidebar.
If there are some units you use quite often but they’re not included in this widget, please let me know and I’ll do my best to include them (they will appear automatically in the widget).
Thanks for the widget, you crafty one…I added it to my blog.
07 July 2008 at 17:36Very cool. I’ve spent about 20 years of my life making sense out of ounces, pounds, cups, tablespoons, and more… and now there’s grams and milliliters. Thanks for helping out a mathematical lost boy
07 July 2008 at 18:32Thank you Lore. This is indeed very useful and I have already added it to my blog.
07 July 2008 at 20:48This is great, Lore.
There’s also cups, teaspoons and tablespoons that we use a lot here in the States.
07 July 2008 at 21:05You are awesome, I will no longer be visiting online conversion sites…Thank you.
07 July 2008 at 21:24This is such a cool little widget! I’m going to add it to my blog too!
07 July 2008 at 23:50Thank you. I’ve already added it to my site. You rock!
08 July 2008 at 01:38handy-dandy! and culiverter? i love it.
08 July 2008 at 11:33Peter - You’re welcome
Adam - Tell me about it! For me it’s the opposite since I’m used to the metric system, but the frustration is the same :D. Glad to help out.
Ivy - You’re welcome
It’s really useful isn’t it?
Joy - Thanks for your suggestions, they are now included. Every widget that has already been put into use was automatically updated :D. You gotta love technology!
Cathy - You’re welcome
Mari - I’m sure your readers will be glad
Dragon - Thanks
Grace - Well Culinary Converter would make two rows so Culiverter was born
08 July 2008 at 12:40Great widget, I’m going to add it too!
But… I’m even more confused now… I didn’t realise there were two types of cups!! Eeeek!!!
08 July 2008 at 14:17Hi! Thanks for visiting and I’m glad you did coz now I found your site!!
08 July 2008 at 14:51I never knew how much a stick of butter was and had to check on the web. We use 250g blocks over here. I grew up on lbs and oz but then switched to Metric in high school so I’m a real mixup when it comes to recipes. I even have some recipes with both imperial AND metric measurements!!
oh this is great lore!!
08 July 2008 at 17:10How did you become such a genius on the computer and in the kitchen? Where do I sign up?
08 July 2008 at 17:28Really cool Lore! I’ll have to add that to my blog!
08 July 2008 at 17:57This will definitely come in handy since I visit lots of European foodie sites. I had bought a Nigella book off ebay and they forgot to list it was all done in metrics!! This is really cool.
09 July 2008 at 00:05Wow wow! What a great idea, thanks for sharing!
09 July 2008 at 01:41Lori I find so good idea I will try to add to my blog.
09 July 2008 at 03:44Lori I want to participate at your event!Original recipe” I hope to make soon!!! xGloria
It’s a genius idea. I’m constantly in metric/imperial/quantity hell. Such a good idea.
09 July 2008 at 06:24This is a fab tool Lore - conversions are the bane of my life!
09 July 2008 at 13:45What a great idea!
09 July 2008 at 16:16Great little tool - thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by my site too
09 July 2008 at 16:53Very useful widget!
09 July 2008 at 17:21Lore,
thank you so much for your visit!
So lucky have found your website.
I am so glad to find out that someone came up with such a brilliant idea. Thanks for sharing, I am sure lots of people (especially in the U.S) will appreciate this! Thanks again Lore, great job!
09 July 2008 at 18:39What a great idea. Thanks for posting this. I’ve hit a few roadblocks with recipes before due to conversions. I can’t make too many of Nanny Ogg’s recipes without a converter.
09 July 2008 at 18:56You are awesome! Good at both cooking and IT.
09 July 2008 at 21:19I am so glad to know your blog. Thanks for stopping by.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. I’ll add it to my blog as well.
09 July 2008 at 21:49hello… your idea is just awesome… i’ll try adding it, but i hope i’ll be able to do it…ha ha… btw, the fried mantou bread was really good… thanks for letting me find your site…
10 July 2008 at 12:04Hi what a super idea!!! I am adding the widget right now on my blog! thank so much for sharing. you are a good girl
10 July 2008 at 14:33this is a great tool. and thank you for stopping by my blog! I’m glad to have found yours!
10 July 2008 at 15:44Thanks for this great idea, I’ll add it to my blog.:)
10 July 2008 at 17:10Wow! What a great little tool…! And so kind of you to share it, too!
10 July 2008 at 18:05Lore, you said: “Every widget that has already been put into use was automatically updated :D. You gotta love technology!”
WOW!! That is awesome!! This culiverter is awesome too. Thank you so much. It’s going on my sidebar!!
I also have some awards for you on my blog! Enjoy!
11 July 2008 at 09:57Good idea!!
14 July 2008 at 22:58It’s going on my sidebar!!
Lore, you have outdone yourself with this little widget! Thank you, I am adding it to my blog.
15 July 2008 at 04:20Kittie - LOL, yeap…they’re even more than two but I included only the ones that get to be used more often.
Dharm - I’m glad I’ve discovered your blog and recipes, in fact it was already my second visit :). I know how confusing it can get. Haha
so do I.
Dhanggit - Thanks
Erin - LOL, actually the “computer” part is quite recent.
Jenny - Thanks!
Bridgett - Sorry to hear about the Nigella book but I’m glad Culiverter came to the rescue
Clumbsy Cookie - You’re welcome!
Gloria - Thanks for your entry! I literally drooled over your artichoke pie pic even if it was almost bed time
Giz - The frustration is over haha
Thanks.
Cakelaw - Glad you find it useful!
Vegeyum Ganga - Thanks.
The Cake Crusader - You’re welcome and I’m really glad I found your blog.
Maryann - Yeap, I coudn’t agree more
Elra - I’m blushing at so many thank yous
You’re very welcome Elra and I’ll be dropping by your site more often.
Rachel - Glad you like it!
Van - Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you more often
Suzana - Cool! You’re welcome
Mikky - It’s good to see you here! Now that you reminded me of the mantou bread I’m hungry again
Rajani - LOL, I try to :D. I’m glad you liked Culiverter’s concept and you’re very welcome.
Bonbon Oiseau - Thanks for dropping by! I’ll make sure to check your blog as often as I can
Oggi - You’re welcome
Ann - Who knew something good can come up of a frustration? I sure am glad it did.
Joy - I know, I know … technology can be pretty awesome sometimes. Thank you so much for the awards Joy! You made my day with this comment! I really appreciate the gesture
Ivana - Cool!
Sam - Glad you found my “conversion frustration cure” useful
15 July 2008 at 21:21Thanks for the widget-very cool for all of those European recipes that throw me! Now all I have to do is figure out how to add it to my sidebar.
19 July 2008 at 17:50Thanks so much for this, I put it on right away!
19 July 2008 at 21:07hello there,thank you so much,I added to mine too.
21 July 2008 at 16:03Thanks for the widget. Have added it to my blog too!
21 July 2008 at 17:20Thanks for making a converter widget that actually fits in a sidebar! Going on my blog now…
23 July 2008 at 21:02Absolutely love the recipe converter! Just added it to my sidebar and planning to feature it on BlogHer.com soon.
24 July 2008 at 17:35Dawnielle - You’re welcome! You just need to copy the code and then paste it in your sidebar exactly the way you added other stuff to your sidebar before
Natashya, Mak Teh and Oinksy - Glad you guys like it
Andrea - I tried to give it a width that will fit in most of those different sidebars out there. Glad it fits yours
Kalyn - I’m glad you find it handy! That’s wonderful news
25 July 2008 at 13:52I am definitely adding this to my site. Thank you very much for this widget!
10 August 2008 at 23:32Hi, this is my first visit to your blog. It is very interesting. I hope you don’t mind, I have added you to my blogroll. I have also added the convertor. Please feel free to visit my blog.
12 August 2008 at 10:42Happy Cooking!!
Thanks Lore for the widgets. I have just added them.
18 August 2008 at 21:10Really useful widget. Thanks!
26 August 2008 at 15:04I am impressed you made this and so useful. I have it on my blog. So handy and as you say makes life a lot easier in the converting. Thank you for sharing this
28 August 2008 at 11:51xxx
This is so cool !!! I will add it to my blog and will give the code to friends too
Thank You !!!
31 August 2008 at 21:21Thanks so much for the widget! It’s a brilliant and fantastic help!
+Jessie
02 September 2008 at 06:24a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse
http://www.thehungrymouse.com