import re
a = [
"5 pounds cauliflower,",
"cut into 1-inch florets (about 18 cups)",
"2 large leeks,",
"1 teaspoons salt",
"3 cups of milk"
]
r = r"\d+(?= +cups?\b)"
def repl(m):
return str(int(m.group(0)) + 1)
for s in a:
print re.sub(r, repl, s)
aW1wb3J0IHJlCgphID0gWwoJIjUgcG91bmRzIGNhdWxpZmxvd2VyLCIsCgkiY3V0IGludG8gMS1pbmNoIGZsb3JldHMgKGFib3V0IDE4IGN1cHMpIiwKCSIyIGxhcmdlIGxlZWtzLCIsCgkiMSB0ZWFzcG9vbnMgc2FsdCIsCgkiMyBjdXBzIG9mIG1pbGsiCl0KCQpyID0gciJcZCsoPz0gK2N1cHM/XGIpIgoKZGVmIHJlcGwobSk6CglyZXR1cm4gc3RyKGludChtLmdyb3VwKDApKSArIDEpCgpmb3IgcyBpbiBhOgoJcHJpbnQgcmUuc3ViKHIsIHJlcGwsIHMp