Cornstarch will definitely work. But here are reasons why you should use a roux instead of cornstarch: 1. Who the heck would want a clear glossy gravy?! 2. If you add cornstarch directly instead of a slurry, you have a Read More …
Gravy Tips
Year: 2024
Mrs. Dash Salt-Free Seasoning Substitute
1/2 cup crushed dried minced onion flakes 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons crushed dried vegetable flakes 2 tablespoons garlic powder 2 tablespoons dried orange peel 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 teaspoons dried parsley 1 teaspoon Read More …
Buyer Guide: Shrimp Size Chart
How to Fix What’s Wrong with Your Coffee
First thing in the morning, it can be hard enough to find matching socks, much less troubleshoot what’s awry in a cup of coffee gone south. While some problems can’t be corrected with a simple re-brew, many can. Here’s our Read More …
Procedure for Longer Time Processing
These instructions are excerpted from The Complete Book of Year-Round Small-Batch Preserving, by Ellie Topp and Margaret Howard. Below is the step-by-step procedure for the processing of foods that require 10 minutes or more processing time. Use this procedure for Read More …
Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
If you catch yourself in the middle of preparing a recipe and find the can of sweetened condensed milk you thought you had–has vanished into thin air–don’t fret, you’ll find this is a very good substitute for the canned variety. Read More …
How to Make Your Own Pectin for Use in Making Homemade Jam and Jelly
If you’d like to make the most all-natural jam, jelly, marmalade or preserve that you possibly can, you’ll be interested in how to make your own pectin. Pectin is a naturally occurring substance (a polyscaccaride) found in berries, apples and Read More …
Homemade Gripe Water
3 cups of water 2 teaspoons of chamomile (appr. 2 tea bags) 1 teaspoon of crushed fennel or dill seeds 2 teaspoons of fresh grated ginger 1 teaspoon of agave nectar (you can use 2 teaspoons of sugar) Put all Read More …
Low Fat Sour Cream Substitute
Measuring Procedure
Weights are more accurate than measures and recipe ingredients should be weighed whenever possible. If scales for weighing are not available, follow the rules for measuring to ensure accurate measures. Flour, general purpose or bread – When specified, sift before Read More …
Powdered Sugar Replacement
2 cups nonfat dry milk powder 2 cups cornstarch 1 cup granulated sugar replacement Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender. Process until well blended and powdered. Yield: 4 cups or the equivalent of 1 pound of powdered sugar. Read More …
How to Make Homemade Dog Repellent
Man’s best friend may be great for companionship, but it wreaks havoc on gardens and upholstery. Whatever the reasons you want to keep a dog away, there are many dog repellents that are easy and cheap to make at home. Read More …
6 Air Purifing house plants
1. Bamboo Palm: According to NASA, it removes formaldahyde and is also said to act as a natural humidifier. 2. Snake Plant: Found by NASA to absorb nitrogen oxides and formaldahyde. 3. Areca Palm: One of the best air purifying Read More …
Tips on Buying Strawberries
Wherever you buy your berries, it helps to know what to look for. Shop with your nose. Look for the most fragrant berries. Strawberries don’t ripen after they’re picked, so choose firm, bright red berries. The green cap should be Read More …
How to Make Cayenne Pepper Spray
Cayenne pepper spray is a potent organic pesticide. The smell and heat of the capsaicin in cayenne will keep away critters of all sizes. The pepper spray is made from natural ingredients so it is ideal for organic gardening. Handled Read More …
How to Clarify Butter
You’ll find a few recipes still call for what’s known as clarified butter. Think crepes for example or sautéed fish like sole. Pure and simple, clarified butter is golden, melted butterfat with none of the milk solids that would cause Read More …
Bread Machine Tips
Known as the Bread Machine Maven, cookbook author Lora Brody has written a number of books on the subject including her most recent, Plugged In, The Definitive Guide to the 20 Best Kitchen Appliances (William Morrow, 1998). Below are a Read More …
Tips for Baking Better Biscuits
In days past, yeast wasn’t always easy to come by, nor was it consistent in quality. Before the arrival of commercial baking powder in the mid 1850’s, a mixture of cream of tartar or tartaric acid and baking soda, along Read More …
Alcohol Substitutes for Recipes
Here’s a helpful list that suggests substitutes for a variety of alcoholic beverages. Quantities and substitutes vary, depending on the recipe used. Amaretto: non-alcoholic almond extract; orgeat Italian soda syrup; or marzipan. Applejack or apple brandy: Unsweetened apple juice concentrate; Read More …
Tomato -The Apple of Paradise
Did you know the tomato was once called the “Apple of Paradise”? I fully understand the reason why since one of the most tempting treats in life is the taste of a ripe–just plucked from the vine and still warm Read More …
How many teaspoons in a tablespoon ?
You may use this cooking conversion chart if you are converting tablespoons (tbsp) to teaspoons (tsp) for the values listed in the table below. Tablespoon and teaspoon are units of measurement for volume, generally used in cooking to measure liquids Read More …
How many tablespoons in a quart ?
You may use this volume conversion table if you are converting from quarts (qt) to tablespoons (tbsp) for the values listed in the table below. Quart is an imperial volume unit. Tablespoon is widely used in cooking for measuring bulk Read More …
How many teaspoons in an ounce ?
You may use this cooking conversion table if you are converting from fluid ounce (fl oz) to teaspoon (tsp) for the values listed in the table below. Teaspoon is a unit of measurement for volume, generally used in cooking to Read More …
How many tablespoons in an ounce ?
You may use this cooking conversion table if you are converting from fluid ounces (fl oz) to tablespoons (tbsp) for the values listed in the table below. Tablespoon is a unit of measurement for volume, generally used in cooking to Read More …
How many teaspoons in a cup ?
You may use this cooking conversion chart if you are converting from us cups to teaspoons (tsp) for the values listed in the table below. Cup and teaspoon are units of measurement for volume, generally used in cooking to measure Read More …
How many tablespoons in a cup ?
You may use this cooking conversion chart if you are converting from us cup to tablespoon (tbsp) for the values listed in the table below. Cup and tablespoon are units of measurement for volume, generally used in cooking to measure Read More …
How many cups in a quart ?
You may use this volume conversion chart if you are converting quarts (qt) to cups for the values listed in the table below. Quart is an imperial volume unit. Cup is a units of measurement for volume, generally used in Read More …
Which Red Wine Should I Serve?
Barbera (Bar-ber-uh) Barbera is often used as a blending grape. As a varietal it can exhibit aromas of berries, plums, or cherries with hints of vanilla, toasty, or smoky flavors. Barbera is best served with tomato based pasta dishes. Cabernet Read More …
What wine to serve with dinner?
Chardonnay This popular dry white wine is more full bodied than other white wines. Chardonnay has aromas of fruits and acidity. The aroma typically has flavors of lemon or grapefruit. Fermentation in new oak barrels results in a rich, buttery Read More …
How To Cook Pasta
How Much Pasta Per Person If you will be serving pasta as a main course with, say, a salad and some crusty bread, count on 4 ounces of pasta per diner. In other words, a one-pound box of dried pasta Read More …
How To Sweat Vegetables
Sweating is supposed to be something we do when we play sports. What in the world does it have to do with cooking? Actually, there is somewhat of a parallel. When a person begins to exert themselves and their body Read More …
How To Caramelize Onions
Caramelizing Onions – (Or Is It)? When I think of raw onion, I think of a punch of concentrated, peppery flavor. I think of watering eyes and harsh sulfur compounds. I think cold, crisp, crunchy and pungent. Caramelized onions are Read More …
How to Make Clarified Butter and Ghee
What is Clarified Butter? Clarified butter is another one of the many culinary terms that can be intimidating for home cooks to tackle. Let’s take a step back, though, and find out what clarified butter is and how to make Read More …
Rules for Koshering
In the religious and dietary laws of the Jewish people, the term”kasher” is applied to the preparation of meat and poultry, and means”to render fit” or “proper” for eating. To render meat “fit” for food, the animal must be killed Read More …
Fruit Pies
* Save the drained juice from frozen or canned fruit and use fruit juice instead of water in your recipe. This is only a good idea if the juice does not have a lot of sugar in it. * Add Read More …
Low Fat Cooking
* Get into the habit of measuring the oil you use while you cook, rather than just pouring it out of the bottle. It will be much easier to moderate the amount you use. * Use non-stick cookware so that Read More …
How to Choose a Pot Rack
In many kitchens, cabinet space is at a premium, and much of that valuable space is taken up by an unwieldy assortment of pots and pans. Even worse, cabinets are far from the ideal place to store your cookware. Stacking Read More …
Absorb Grease From The Top Of The Soup
To Peel a Mango
Stand the mango on end and slice down along the sides of the large flat pit with a boning knife or other long, flexible knife, curving around the pit as you slice. You will end up with three sections: two Read More …
Substitutes – Low Fat
Whenever we lighten recipes, our primary goal is to reduce fat, cholesterol, and calories. Not all substitutions work for all recipes, so experiment to find what works best. Following are replacements for common ingredients, and well as alcohol substitutions. Baking Read More …
Substitutes – Vegetable Products
Product Measure Substitute Beans, cooked dried 1 cup 1 cup canned beans, rinsed well Bell Pepper, chopped 3 tablespoons 1 tablespoon dried red or green red or green pepper flakes Garlic, fresh 1 clove 1 teaspoon garlic salt OR 1/8 Read More …
Substitutes – Seasoning Products and Herbs
Product Measure Substitute Allspice, ground 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves Apple Pie Spice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom Chives, chopped 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon Read More …
Substitutes – Spices
Product Measure Substitute Allspice, ground 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves Apple Pie Spice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, plus 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom Chives, chopped 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon Read More …
Substitutes – Miscellaneous Products
Product Measure Substitute Balsamic Vinegar 1/2 cup 1/2 cup red wine vinegar (slight flavor difference) Brandy 1 tablespoon 1/4 teaspoon brandy extract plus 1 tablespoon water Catsup 1 cup 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1/4 cup honey Read More …
Substitutes – Baking Products
Product Measure Substitute Arrowroot 1 tablespoon 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour Baking Powder 1 teaspoon 1 tablespoon 1/3 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda plus 1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar Brown Sugar, Light Read More …
Substitutes – Dairy Products
Product Measure Substitute Butter (for sauteing) 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon olive oil Buttermilk 1 cup 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice plus sweet milk to equal 1 cup. Mix 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup lukewarm water Read More …
Powdered Sugar Substitute
Makes 20 servings 1/2 cup fat free powdered milk 1/2 cup cornstarch 1/4 cup granulated sugar substitute Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process on high speed until powdered. This will measure equal to actual powdered sugar. (example: 1/4 cup Read More …
Honey Substitution Formula
1 cup honey = 1 cup sugar but decrease the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey added. Add 1 tablespoon honey to your favorite cake mix recipe for added flavor. Lower the oven temperature Read More …
Healthy Substitutions
Source: The American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food & Nutrition Guide by Roberta Larson Duyff, MS, RD, CFCS Ingredient Substitute Bacon Canadian bacon Lean ham Butter, lard, and other saturated fat (coconut oil, palm oil) Soft tub margarine (first ingredient on Read More …
Emergency Substitutions
At one time or another, nearly every cook has been in the middle of a recipe and found they did not have an ingredient on hand to complete the task. Has happened to me on more than one occasion!! So, Read More …