Making The Home: Substituting

Many times I've gone to bake or cook something and found that I am lacking in ingredients, but before I give up on my endeavour I check the substituting chart. There are many ingredients that you can substitute. You just have to know what they are. A lot of times we will substitute honey for sugar or shortening for canola oil, and the end results are just fine. Here is a list of basic baking ingredients and how, if you run out, you can substitute them.

1 teaspoon baking powder = ¼ teaspoon baking soda plus ½ cup buttermilk or ¼ teaspoon baking soda plus 5/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup sifted cake flour = 7/8 cup sifted all-purpose flour or 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 1-2 tablespoons

1 cup self-rising flour = 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour plus 1½ teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour = 1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup sugar = 1 honey

1 cup sugar (in baking bread) = 1 cup honey plus a pinch of baking soda

1 cup sugar (in baking) = 7/8 cup honey plus a pinch of baking soda

1 cup sugar (in main dishes) = ¾ cup honey

1 cup brown sugar = 1 cup white sugar plus 2 tablespoons molasses

1 cup molasses (in baking) = 1 cup sugar (omit baking soda; use baking powder)

2 large eggs = 3 small eggs

1 medium egg = 2 egg yolks plus 1 tablespoon water (for baking)

1 medium egg = 2 egg yolks (in custards or cream fillings)

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate = 1 square or 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder plus 1 tablespoon butter or margarine

6 squares or 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted = 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

1 tablespoon cornstarch (as thickening) = 2 tablespoons flour or 2 teaspoons quick tapioca or 2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon lemon juice = ½ teaspoon vinegar

1 tablespoon fresh herbs = ½ to 1 teaspoon dried herbs

1 cup whipping cream, whipped = 2 cups thawed whipped topping

Chunky peanut butter = creamy peanut butter (or grind roasted peanuts in a blender with a little peanut oil)

1 cup bread crumbs = ¾ cup cracker crumbs

1 cup butter = 1 cup margarine or 7/8 cup vegetable oil or 7/8 cup butter-flavored shortening

1 pound lard = 2 cups shortening or canola oil

¾ cup maple syrup = ¾ honey

1 cup granulated sugar = 1 cup honey

1 teaspoon lemon juice = ½ teaspoon vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract = 1 inch vanilla bean, split and simmered in liquid of recipe

1 cup dry bread crumbs = 3 to 4 slices bread, torn and blenderized

½ teaspoon cream of tartar = 1½ teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar

I'm interested in hearing what ingredients you've substituted and with what.

Also, if you would like to suggest a topic for the Making the Home column, please send me an email. I'd love to hear them. I am also looking for an image to make the Making the Home banner out of. If you have one that is yours personally and would like to grant me permission to use it, please send that too!