So you’re out of a recipe item… Now what?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s happened to all of us at one point or another.  You’re smack dab in the middle of making something, you go to your fridge or pantry only to find that you’re out of what you need.  Crap!  So now what?  Do you send your spouse out to the store, do you pitch what you’re making (while cursing like a trucker) and then storm off to the store to start all over OR…. just maybe, maybe you have stuff already to make up the one ingredient.  These are somethings that have helped me through out the years.  And with the holiday season upon us, time is limited!

• Allspice: Mix 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Apple Pie Spice: Mix ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon plus ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg plus ⅛ teaspoon allspice
• Baking powder (1 teaspoon): Mix  1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Brown sugar (1 cup packed): Mix 1 cup sugar + 2 tablespoons molasses
• Buttermilk (1 cup): 1 cup milk, less 1 tablespoon + 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• Cake flour (1 cup):  1 cup minus 2 tablespoons of sifted all-purpose flour
• Chinese Five Spice:     1 teaspoon ground Szechwan pepper + 1 teaspoon ground star anise + 1-1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seeds + 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves + 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon salt + 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• Cornstarch (1 tablespoon for thickening):  2 tablespoons flour
• Corn Syrup  (1 cup):  1 cup sugar + 1/4 cup of  additional liquid used in recipe
• Cream (1 cup): Blend 1/3 cup butter and 2/3 cup milk
• Ground Cloves: Place whole cloves in Coffee Bean Grinder
• Milk (1 cup): 1/2 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 cup water, or 1 cup reconstituted nonfat dry milk with 1 tablespoon butter
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: 1/4 cup ground cinnamon, 2 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon allspice, 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• Sour milk – (1 cup): 1 cup milk mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 large marshmallow: 10 miniature marshmallows
• Unsweetened baking chocolate (1 square): 1 tablespoon shortening + 3 tablespoons cocoa