1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
Food Ingredient Substitutions
February 5, 2009 By
This is so handy! If you’re like me, you don’t have the average June Cleaver stocked cupboards of baking necessities! Here’s a list of ingredients which can be used to substitute for a missing one.
Allspice(1 tsp): 1 tsp. cinnamon plus 1/8 tsp. ground cloves.
Apple Pie Spice: 4 parts cinnamon, 1 part nutmeg and 1 part ginger.
Baking Powder (1 tsp): 1 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tartar.
Balsamic Vinegar (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp cider vinegar.
Bread Crumbs (1/4 cup): 1/4 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs, corn flakes or quick-cooking oats.
Butter (1 lb): 7/8 Cup solid shortening plus 1/2 tsp. salt
Buttermilk/Sour Milk (1 cup): 1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup. Let stand 5 mins before using. Or use 1 cup plain yogurt.
Apple Pie Spice: 4 parts cinnamon, 1 part nutmeg and 1 part ginger.
Baking Powder (1 tsp): 1 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tartar.
Balsamic Vinegar (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp cider vinegar.
Bread Crumbs (1/4 cup): 1/4 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs, corn flakes or quick-cooking oats.
Butter (1 lb): 7/8 Cup solid shortening plus 1/2 tsp. salt
Buttermilk/Sour Milk (1 cup): 1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup. Let stand 5 mins before using. Or use 1 cup plain yogurt.
Capers (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp chopped green olives.
Chili Seasoning: 2 parts chili powder & 1 part paprika.
Chocolate Semisweet (1 square): 1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate plus 1 Tbsp sugar.
Chocolate Unsweetened (1 square): 3 Tbsp baking cocoa plus 1 Tbsp shortening or margarine.
Cornstarch (1 tbsp): 2 Tbsp flour or 4 tsp quick-cooking tapioca.
Corn Syrup Light (1 cup): 1 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup water.
Corn Syrup Dark (1 cup): 1 cup light corn syrup; 3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup molasses; or 1 cup maple-flavored syrup.
Cream, heavy (1 cup): 2/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter.
Curry Powder: Combine equal parts coriander, cumin, pepper, turmeric, and ginger; 4 parts coriander, 2 parts tumeric, 2 parts cumin & 1 part ginger.
Chili Seasoning: 2 parts chili powder & 1 part paprika.
Chocolate Semisweet (1 square): 1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate plus 1 Tbsp sugar.
Chocolate Unsweetened (1 square): 3 Tbsp baking cocoa plus 1 Tbsp shortening or margarine.
Cornstarch (1 tbsp): 2 Tbsp flour or 4 tsp quick-cooking tapioca.
Corn Syrup Light (1 cup): 1 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup water.
Corn Syrup Dark (1 cup): 1 cup light corn syrup; 3/4 cup light corn syrup plus 1/4 cup molasses; or 1 cup maple-flavored syrup.
Cream, heavy (1 cup): 2/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter.
Curry Powder: Combine equal parts coriander, cumin, pepper, turmeric, and ginger; 4 parts coriander, 2 parts tumeric, 2 parts cumin & 1 part ginger.
Eggs (1 large): 2 egg whites; 1/4 cup store-bought egg whites; 2 egg yolks (for custard or puddings); or 2 egg yolks plus 1 Tbsp water (for cookies or bars); 1 tsp. cornstarch;. or 4 extra tbs. of whatever liquid was used in the recipe.
Flour
- All-purpose (1 cup): 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp cake flour.
- Cake (1 cup): 1 cup minus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour.
- Self-rising (1 cup): 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.
Garlic, finely chopped (1 medium clove): 1/8 tsp garlic powder or 1/4 tsp instant minced garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic salt.
Ginger Root, grated or finely chopped (1 tsp): 3/4 tsp ground ginger.
Herbs, chopped, fresh (1 tbsp): 3/4 to 1 tsp dried herbs.
Herbes de Provence: 4 parts thyme, 4 parts savory, 2 parts lavender & 1 part rosemary.
Honey (1 cup): 1- 1/4 cups sugar plus 1/4 cup water or liquid used in recipe.
Ketchup: 1 cup of tomato sauce, 1 -1/4 cups brown sugar, 2 tbs. vinegar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves and allspice.
Leeks, sliced (1/2 cup): 1/2 cup sliced shallots or green onions.
Lemon, 1 medium: 1 tsp. grated rind plus 2 tbs. lemon juice.
Lemon Juice, fresh (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp bottled lemon juice or white vinegar.
Lemon Peel, grated (1 tsp): 1 tsp dried lemon peel.
Milk (1 cup): 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water; or nonfat dry milk prepared as directed on pkg with 2-1/2 tsp melted butter added.
Molasses (1 cup): 1/2 cup honey (flavor will be milder).
Mushrooms, fresh (1 cup cooked): 1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces, drained.
Mushrooms (1/2 pound): 4 oz. canned mushroom caps or 1 – 1/2 oz dried mushrooms.
Mustard (1 Tbsp): 1 tsp ground mustard (dry).
Onion, 1 small: 1 tbsp. instant minced or 1 tsp. onion powder.
Orange Peel, grated (1 tsp): 1 tsp dried orange peel.
Oregano (1 tsp): 1 tsp. marjoram.
Poultry Seasoning: Equal parts sage, thyme, oregano and marjoram.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: 4 parts cinnamon, 2 parts ginger, 1 part nutmeg, 1 part allspice and dash of cloves.
Red Pepper Sauce (3 or 4 drops): 1/8 tsp ground red pepper (cayenne).
Seasoning Salt: 1 cup salt, 2-1/4 tsp paprika, 2 tsp dry mustard, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp onion powder.
Sesame Seeds (1 tbsp): 1 Tbsp finely chopped blanched almonds.
Shortening, melted (1 cup): 1 cup salad oil (cannot be substituted for 1 cup solid shortening)
Sour Cream (1 cup): 1 cup plain yogurt.
Sugar, brown, packed (1 cup): 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp molasses or dark corn syrup.
Sugar, granulated (1 cup): 1 cup light brown sugar (packed) or 2 cups powdered sugar.
Sugar, superfine: Blend regular granulated sugar in the blender.
Tomato Paste (1/2 cup): 1 cup tomato sauce cooked uncovered till reduced to 1/2 cup.
Tomato Sauce (2 cups): 3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water.
Tomatoes, canned (1 cup): About 1- 1/3 cups cut-up fresh tomatoes, simmered 10 min.
Vanilla Extract: Grated lemon rind, orange rind, cinnamon or nutmeg combined with a small amount of the liquid called for in the recipe to make up the amount of vanilla extract specified in the recipe.
Whipping Cream (1 cup): 1 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping or 1 cup prepared whipped topping mix.
Wine, Red (1 cup): 1 cup apple cider or beef broth.
Wine, White (1 cup): 1 cup apple juice, apple cider or chicken broth.
Yeast, regular or quick active dry (1 pkg or 1/4 oz): 2 1/4 tsp regular or quick active dry or 1 package (6 oz) compressed cake yeast.
Awesome Uses for Fabric Softener Sheets
January 29, 2009 By
This list comes in pretty handy around my house!
Caked On Food
If you are having trouble getting baked on food out of a casserole dish, fill it with hot water. Add a fabric softener sheet. Let it soak for a couple of hours and then rinse. Most of the caked on food will slide right out, and the rest will come out with a swipe of the sponge.
Pots
Food that is burned onto a pot or skillet works the same way. Just fill with warm water and throw in a few dryer sheets. Let it soak for at least a half hour, but a couple of hours works best.
Sticking Clothes
During the dry months, put a used fabric softener sheet in your pocket. This helps prevent static cling. You can also rub it over your hair to get those flyaway strands.
Repel Bugs
It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loopwhen outdoors during mosquito season.
Used sheets are great for:
- Dusting the washer and dryer, tv and computer screens.
- Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
- Eliminate odors in wastebaskets.
- Stick one in your pillow case for a fresh scent while you are sleeping!
- Put a sheet in your vacuum cleaner (bag).
- Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet in your shoes or sneakers overnight.
- Remove Soap Scum Use to wipe soap scum off your tub, tile and shower doors. No chemicals, no messy sprays or soaps, just wipe down your glass and tile walls with a dryer sheet and the soap scum is gone.
- Clean those Blinds – Just clean each slat with a sheet. You’ll probably need more than one, but it will clean, shine and deter future buildup.
- Freshen Drawers and Closets
- Handyman’s Helper – Keep a box of dryer sheets on the workbench for quick cleanup after messy woodworking projects. A dryer sheet will pick up sawdust like metal to a magnet.
- Tangle Free Sewing – If you sew or do needlepoint, you’ll appreciate dryer sheets as a detangler. Just run your thread across a dryer sheet and you won’t have to worry about those frustrating knots and tangles. Always keep a dryer sheet or two in a zip lock in your sewing basket.
Ways To Find Cheaper Gas
January 3, 2009 By
I was thumbing through Military Spouse magazine this morning and came across these tips and links to finding cheaper gas in the local area. [Read more...]
