Substitutions for a Missing Ingredient

Has this ever happened to you? You find a terrific recipe that you cannot wait to try? But when you get all the ingredients together you discover you are missing a key ingredient!

Not to worry- just try some of these substitutions:

1 square of chocolate (1 ounce) = 3-4 Tablespoons cocoa plus ½ Tablespoon shortening

1 Tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening) = 2 Tablespoons flour

1 cup sifted all-purpose flour = 1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons sifted cake flour

1 teaspoon baking powder = ¼ teaspoon baking soda plus ½ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup sour milk = 1 cup sweet milk into which 1 Tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice has been stirred; or 1 cup buttermilk (let stand 5 minutes)

¾ cup cracker crumbs = 1 cup bread crumbs

1 cup heavy sour cream = 1/3 cup butter and 2/3 cup sour milk

1 cup whole milk = ½ cup evaporated milk and ½ cup water or 1 cup reconstituted nonfat dry milk and 1 Tablespoon of butter

1 package active dry yeast = 1 cake compressed yeast

1 Tablespoon instant minced onion, rehydrated = 1 small fresh onion

1 Tablespoon prepared mustard = 1 tsp dry mustard

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder = 1 small pressed clove of garlic

1 pound whole dates = 1 ½ cups pitted and cut dates

3 medium bananas = 1 cup mashed banana

3 cups dry cornflakes = 1 cup crushed corn flakes

10 miniature marshmallows = 1 large marshmallow

Another dilemma- you found a great recipe but it calls for wine or liquor! Sure everyone tells me that the alcohol cooks out, but don’t have alcohol on hand and don’t want to buy any.

Here is some suggestions for substituting alcohol in recipes:

Substitutions for Wine and Liquor :

In soup and entrees-

Dry (unsweet) red wine:
• Water
• Tomato juice (plain or diluted)
• Beef broth, bouillon or consommé
• Diluted cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
• Liquid drained from canned mushrooms

Dry (unsweet) white wine:
• Water
• Chicken broth, bouillon or consommé
• Ginger ail
• White grape juice
• Liquid drained from canned mushrooms
• Diluted cider vinegar or white wine vinegar

In cheese dishes (fondue or rarebit)
Beer or Ale:
• Chicken broth
• Ginger ale
• White grape juice

In Desserts-

Brandy:
• Apple cider, peach or apricot syrup
Rum:
• Pineapple juice or syrup flavored with almond extract
Sherry:
• Orange or pineapple juice
Kirsch:
• Syrup or juice from black cherries, raspberries, boysenberries, currents, grapes or cherry cider
Cognac:
• Juice from peaches, apricots or pears
Crème de Menthe:
• Spearmint extract or oil of spearmint diluted with water

Enjoy cooking! Make sure you have kitchen tools and implements that your trust and enjoy! I am particularly fond of red for my kitchen so try to see what is available in red. Collapsible Measuring Cups - 4pc Nesting Silicone Set By Good Cooking and Pourfect 12-Piece Plus Leveler Measuring Spoon Set (available to order in red) are my favorites - available on Amazon.
More about these measuring spoons:
-Available in about fourteen different colors - including hard to find colors like pink, orange, bay leaf, blue willow, lime green and others - check it out!
-Features sizes: 1/64, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 3/4, 1 teaspoon, 1 Tablespoon, 1-1/2 Tablespoon and 2 Tablespoon
-Calibrated measurements; bold text in English, Metric and Braille
-Matte finish; comfort grip with thumb depression; polished bowl for easy release; dripless spout with a fine edge for no drips
-Scrape ingredients for exact measurements and each one can snap off from the ring for easier use.
-BPA free; stain resistant; dishwasher and microwave safe; 1 year warranty