Saturday 7 July 2012

Crystal

Crystal is a mother of four living in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Her husband just finished medical school, so you can imagine how crazy the past 7 years have been for their family!  But somehow she still manages to serve others and keep smiling.  I love reading her blog because she has a good way of keeping things in perspective.  When I asked her to share her tricks, she knew exactly the thing that makes her life less stressful:  food substitutions!  Here is what she has to say:


I'm the substitution girl.  It seems like I always forget to buy something but running to the store with four kids when you are in the middle of making dinner is just not an option.  Thanks to my handy friend the internet I can easily find a substitution.  Here are my favorite substitutions:

  • I never have buttermilk on hand. 1 tablespoon lemon juice or 1 tablespoon vinegar works added to one cup of milk works in a pinch. (used this morning in a banana bread recipe).
  • Ran out of cream of tartar.  Add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar.  (used this one this weekend while making an angle food cake).
  • Forgot to buy heavy cream.  3/4 milk plus 1/3 butter.
  • Can't use eggs in a cake because my vegan sister is going to be there.  1 tablespoon powdered flax seed.  I buy the seeds whole and grind them in my blender but you can buy a giant bag of the ground stuff at Costco of Sam's club.  We like to add it to our cereal in the morning, yogurt, or baked goods to keep everything moving nicely :)
  • Don't have enough sour cream, Greek yogurt works in a pinch.   I make my own almost every week in the crock pot.  We love this stuff.  It has a nice clean, creamy taste and is really easy. Tutorial here.

I found this list of common ingredient substitutions and I printed it off and put it on my refrigerator.  (allrecipes.com)

Ingredient

Amount

Substitution

Allspice1 teaspoon1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves
Arrowroot starch1 teaspoon1 tablespoon flour, OR 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Baking mix1 cup1 cup pancake mix OR 1 cup Easy Biscuit Mixture
Baking powder1 teaspoon1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup)
Beer1 cup1 cup nonalcoholic beer OR 1 cup chicken broth
Brandy1/4 cup1 teaspoon imitation brandy extract plus enough water to make 1/4 cup
Bread crumbs1 cup1 cup cracker crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats
Broth: beef or chicken1 cup1 bouillon cube plus 1 cup boiling water OR1 tablespoon soy sauce plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1 cup vegetable broth
Brown sugar1 cup, packed1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cupOR 1 cup white sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
Butter (salted)1 cup1 cup margarine OR 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
Butter (unsalted)1 cup1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 7/8 cup lard
Buttermilk1 cup1 cup yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup
Cheddar cheese1 cup shredded1 cup shredded Colby cheddar OR 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Chervil1 tablespoon chopped fresh1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Chicken base1 tablespoon1 cup canned or homemade chicken broth or stock. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1 cup
Chocolate(semisweet)1 ounce1 (1-ounce) square of unsweetened chocolate plus 4 teaspoons sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon shortening
Chocolate (unsweetened)1 ounce3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening or vegetable oil
Cocoa1/4 cup1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
Condensed cream of mushroom soup1 (10.75-ounce) can1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of celery, cream of chicken, OR golden mushroom soup
Corn syrup1 cup1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup waterOR 1 cup honey OR 1 cup light treacle syrup
Cottage cheese1 cup1 cup farmer's cheese OR 1 cup ricotta cheese
Cracker crumbs1 cup
1 cup bread crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats
Cream (half and half)1 cup7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter
Cream (heavy)1 cup1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter
Cream (light)1 cup1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter
Cream (whipped)1 cup1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Cream cheese1 cup1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR 1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth
Cream of tartar1 teaspoon2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar
Crème fraiche1 cupCombine 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Let stand for 6 hours at room temperature
Egg1 whole (3 tablespoons or 1.7 oz)2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water OR1/4 cup liquid egg substitute OR 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder OR 1 tablespoon powdered flax seed soaked in 3 tablespoons water
Evaporated milk1 cup1 cup light cream
Farmer's cheese8 ounces8 ounces dry cottage cheese OR 8 ounces creamed cottage cheese, drained
Fats for baking1 cup1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree
Flour--Bread1 cup1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten (available at health food stores & some supermarkets)
Flour--Cake1 cup1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons
Flour--Self-Rising1 cup7/8 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt
Garlic1 clove1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic OR 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt--reduce salt in recipe
Gelatin1 tablespoon, granulated2 teaspoons agar agar
Ginger--dry1 teaspoon2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger
Ginger--fresh1 teaspoon, minced1/2 teaspoon ground dried ginger
Green onion1/2 cup , chopped1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped shallots
Hazelnuts1 cup whole1 cup macadamia nuts OR 1 cup almonds
Herbs--fresh1 tablespoon chopped fresh1 teaspoon (chopped or whole leaf) dried herbs
Herring8 ounces8 ounces of sardines
Honey1 cup1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup waterOR 1 cup corn syrup OR 1 cup light treacle syrup
Hot pepper sauce1 teaspoon3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar
Ketchup1 cup1 cup tomato sauce plus 1 teaspoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar
Lard1 cup1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oilOR 1 cup butter
Lemon grass2 fresh stalks1 tablespoon lemon zest
Lemon juice1 teaspoon1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice
Lemon zest1 teaspoon1/2 teaspoon lemon extract OR 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Lime juice1 teaspoon1 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Lime zest1 teaspoon1 teaspoon lemon zest
Macadamia nuts1 cup1 cup almonds OR 1 cup hazelnuts
Mace1 teaspoon1 teaspoon nutmeg
Margarine1 cup1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR1 cup butter OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mayonnaise1 cup1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt
Milk--whole1 cup1 cup soy milk OR 1 cup rice milk OR 1 cup water or juice OR 1/4 cup dry milk powder plus 1 cup water OR 2/3 cup evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup water
Mint--fresh1/4 cup chopped1 tablespoon dried mint leaves
Molasses1 cupMix 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Mustard--prepared1 tablespoonMix together 1 tablespoon dried mustard, 1 teaspoon water, 1 teaspoon vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar
Onion1 cup, chopped1 cup chopped green onions OR 1 cup chopped shallots OR 1 cup chopped leeksOR 1/4 cup dried minced onion OR 1/4 cup onion powder
Orange juice1 tablespoon1 tablespoon other citrus juice
Orange zest1 tablespoon1/2 teaspoon orange extract OR 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Parmesan cheese1/2 cup, grated1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese OR 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
Parsley1 tablespoon chopped fresh1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil OR 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Pepperoni1 ounce1 ounce salami
Raisin1 cup1 cup dried currants OR 1 cup dried cranberries OR 1 cup chopped pitted prunes
Rice--white1 cup, cooked1 cup cooked barley OR 1 cup cooked bulgur OR 1 cup cooked brown or wild rice
Ricotta1 cup1 cup dry cottage cheese OR 1 cup silken tofu
Rum1 tablespoon1/2 teaspoon rum extract, plus enough water to make 1 tablespoon
Saffron1/4 teaspoon1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Salami1 ounce1 ounce pepperoni
Semisweet chocolate chips1 cup1 cup chocolate candies OR 1 cup peanut butter or other flavored chips OR 1 cup chopped nuts OR 1 cup chopped dried fruit
Shallots, chopped1/2 cup1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped green onion
Shortening1 cup1 cup butter OR 1 cup margarine minus 1/2 teaspoon salt from recipe
Sour cream1 cup1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough cream to make 1 cup OR 3/4 cup buttermilk mixed with 1/3 cup butter
Sour milk1 cup1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice mixed with enough milk to make 1 cup: Let stand 5 minutes to thicken
Soy sauce1/2 cup4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon water
Stock--beef or chicken1 cup1 cube beef or chicken bouillon dissolved in 1 cup water
Sweetened condensed milk1 (14-ounce) can3/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1/2 cup water and 1 1/8 cups dry powdered milk: Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes
Vegetable oil--for baking1 cup1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree
Vegetable oil--for frying1 cup1 cup lard OR 1 cup vegetable shortening
Vinegar1 teaspoon1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice OR 2 teaspoons white wine
White sugar1 cup1 cup brown sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar OR 3/4 cup honey OR3/4 cup corn syrup
Wine1 cup1 cup chicken or beef broth OR 1 cup fruit juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar OR 1 cup water
Yeast-active dry1 (.25-ounce) package1 cake compressed yeast OR 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast OR 2 1/2 teaspoonsrapid rise yeast
Yogurt1 cup1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup sour milk


2 comments:

  1. G-Mere said.....Very cool blog! I learned things I wish I had used, or known, when I had lots of little kids around. Being a mom of little ones is a difficult business, but it does get better--especially when a great foundation of love and fun has been established early on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. love this! Thanks for the tips, Crys. :)

    ReplyDelete