Substitutions for Commonly Called for Ingredients

What should you do if you are in the middle of a recipe and realize you are out of an ingredient? You could send your child to the local convenience store for cream cheese and end up having to serve your caviar with Velveeta because to a 13 year old they are both soft cheeses. This really happened when my Mother sent me for cream cheese.

Instead of sending off the kids, or launching into a panic attack and reaching for the Zoloft try substituting.

Here are a few quick and simple substitutions.

? When using fresh herbs instead of dried, use 1 Tablespoon fresh for 1 teaspoon dry.

? Vinegar for lemon juice. Use ½ teaspoon white vinegar for 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

? When your recipe calls for buttermilk add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar to your regular milk. Some old banana bread recipes even call for this substitution.

? 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted for 1 clove of fresh garlic.

? 1 pound of fresh mushrooms will be about the same as a 10 ounce can of mushrooms.

? Powdered sugar can substitute for granulated sugar in baking. If you are looking for a delightful taste alternative try a cup of honey with a pinch of baking soda in place of a cup of granulated sugar.

? 2 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes is equivalent to a 16 ounce can of crushed tomatoes. You may have to drain the can or adjust for moisture in the recipe.

? Adding about 2 Tablespoons of molasses to a cup of granulated sugar will substitute well for a single cup of brown sugar.

? Sherry or port wine can be used instead of red or white wine. Just lower the amount to 2 Tablespoons equals ½ cup.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet meal plans. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She is also the publisher of a no cost bi-monthly gourmet newsletter. Her newsletter is always fun and informational packed with tips and trivia you can use everyday.

http://www.gourmayeats.com

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Two for One Dinners: Pork

If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright "yuck," then... Read More

Secret of Light and Fluffy Biscuits and Pancakes

Would you like to lose some weight -- in your... Read More

What?s the Thick on Roux? Thickening Soups and Sauces

Soups and sauces can be thickened in a variety of... Read More

Old-Fashioned Taffy Pull Party--How to Host Your Own

Want a unique party idea for your child's birthday-or even... Read More

Don?t Poke the Chicken at Your Backyard Barbecue

You might be planning a home remodeling project and it... Read More

What is Gluten and Why does it Matter?

Gluten is a substance made up of the proteins found... Read More

7 Things to Consider when Buying a BBQ

BBQ as we all know is an abbreviated form of... Read More

Barbecue Success With The Rule Of Thirds

Ever been to a barbecue party where the 'chef' placed... Read More

6 Steps to Grill the Perfect Steak

There's nothing better than a nicely grilled juicy steak.But how... Read More

Grilling Vs. Barbecue

Grilling and Barbecuing, two of the most popular cooking methods... Read More

Troubleshooting Machine Bread

Bread machines-wonderful inventions that they are-don't think very well. You... Read More

Grilling Tips ? Safety Comes First at the Barbecue

You're standing at the gas grill in the hot sun,... Read More

ServSafe Food Program in Montana a Success

Montana has a great program for restaurant employees. Each preparer... Read More

Kitchen Canister Sets - How to Beautify Your Kitchen

Kitchen canister sets are a great way to accent your... Read More

Roasting Meat - Temperatures and Times

Despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, I still see... Read More

Kid Birthday Cake Idea Collection - Cake Decorating Without Fear

Our kid birthday cake idea collection makes cake decorating fun... Read More

Foods That Freeze Well

"Can I freeze it?" is a question often asked in... Read More

Wok this Way! (Part 4 of 5) Cleaning and Caring for Your Wok

Non-stick woks do not require seasoning, and come with simple... Read More

Cake Baking Tip Guide

Successful cake decorating is all about preparation. Baking and preparing... Read More

Family Meal Planning Made Easy

As moms, we have hectic lives. Whether we work out... Read More

How to Cook Rice Right

The easiest way to make rice well every time is... Read More

Using Bread Machine Mixes in Your Oven

You don't have to own a bread machine to enjoy... Read More

How to Grill Most Any Vegetable You Can Think Of!

Grilling vegetables is easy. The fact that more people don't... Read More

10 Wide Open Tips For Food Safety In The Great Outdoors

Hiking, camping, and boating are good activities for active people... Read More

How to Care for Your Cast Iron Skillet (includes recipes)

Some of the best meals I've ever eaten were made... Read More

10 Smart Shopping Tips To Protect Your Family From Getting Sick

Prevention of food poisoning starts with your trip to the... Read More

Picnic Checklist

In the previous article, we suggested that you start a... Read More

To Fry Or Not To Fry?

Here's a little known factoid - did you know that... Read More

Working with Eggs

Bad eggs are rare but they do occur. Crack eggs... Read More

Must Haves for Any At-Home Chef

With the holidays on their way soon, many people will... Read More

Moms Easy Cooking - Fast Meal Ideas For Busy Moms

Every busy mom worries about how to prepare fast, nutritious... Read More

Wok this Way! (Part 1 of 5)

IntroductionWoks have been synonymous with Chinese cooking since the emergence... Read More

Peppercorns & Ways To Use Them

New and exciting varieties of peppercorns are becoming available to... Read More