Tip of the Month: Substituting Ingredients when cooking

I am finally able to sit down and post my November tip, though it's a bit late when I usually post at the beginning of the month.  Since Thanksgiving is just days away, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about cooking and substituting ingredients.  The Fall and Winter are always times of year that I bake more, partly because I don't like to have the oven on when it's hot outside.  On cooler days, the oven can warm the house and I don't mind that.

There are many reasons why you might want to substitute ingredients in a recipe, here are the one's I find to be more common, but by-no-means all of them:
       1.  Cannot find the specific ingredient
       2.  Do not have the ingredient in your pantry (and do not want to go to the store)
       3.  Want to include a healthier ingredient
       4.  Do not like a specific ingredient
       5.  Allergic or food-sensitive to a specific ingredient


No matter what your reasoning is, let's figure out how to substitute and not drastically alter a recipe or the flavor.  For baking you can easily substitute ingredients like butter and oil and you do not need to change measurements.  If you have a cup of butter or oil, substitute 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce or cooked pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix).  I've used applesauce in place of butter and oil in many baking recipes, and just recently tried substituting pumpkin for butter in a whoopee pie recipe.  The pumpkin was a great substitute, especially since I was making the whoopee pie's for Halloween.   Applesauce and pumpkin make cookies, muffins, breads and the like moist and are great choices for vegans.  I haven't come up with a great alternative to eggs, if you are looking for a truly  vegan substitution.

Creamed Pumpkin and sugar

Whoopee pie with pumpkin substituted for butter

Now I wouldn't recommend substituting applesauce or pumpkin if you are making any pie crusts or pastry dough.  For those I still use butter and I might try coconut oil, but that will be for another day.

For cooking, I substitute or exclude ingredients depending on the what the recipe is.  For instance, I recently tried Giada's Orecchiette with Roasted Fennel recipe, but did not have any sun-dried tomatoes.  I could have substituted purely sun-dried tomatoes that were not in oil, however I did not have those either.  So to make sure I still had a tomato flavor in the dish, I simply added about a cup or so (to taste) of marinara sauce.  The result was fantastic and I think I might always make this recipe with the substitution.   In other cases you can substitute different cuts of meats or even types of meat.  I often substitute chicken breast for recipes that call for chicken thighs or drumsticks.  Other times, when I cannot find an ingredient, for instance harissa paste, I found a recipe to make my own and used that as a substitute.  Sometimes if can be a simple substitution baby bella mushrooms for button mushrooms or vegetable stock for chicken stock.

Substituting ingredients should not be difficult and remember it is possible to substitute, just make sure you like what you are replacing.  You can find some of my "experiments" with substituting Hemp Seed Here and Here.

Tip of the Month: Knitting Terms in German

Earlier this year, in the Spring, I came across a knitting magazine - Filati  (click here to read about it) and found I really love these patterns.  Maybe it's my European roots, that I love these German designs.  Either way, I was a bit disappointed that two of the company's Feltro pattern books were not reprinted in English.  After finding a supplier that had these in stock, I decided to go ahead and order them in German.   Well, now I get to practice my German translation skills and decipher German knitting terms.  First I decided to look up knitting terms in German, then put the whole pattern into an online translator program (such a great tool!).

Here are some German Knitting Terms:
Purl: linke Masche; links stricken
Knit: stricken
Knitted: gestrickt
Cast On: anschlagen, aufschlagen
Gauge: gage messgerat


Now I can knit these adorable dog mats (bottom left):

www.lanagrossa.com

Tip of the Month:Survive the Summer Cold or Allergies

The end of the summer seems to be marked by everyone around me contracting a summer cold virus or sneezing away because of allergies.  I try to avoid using over-the-counter medications for colds or allergies, and personally find that these do not help me.  Here are some of my tips for staying healthy, getting through your allergies and a cold.

1. Wash your hands!  Simple tip, but surprisingly something that is under-utilized.

2.  Don't touch your mouth, eyes or nose with your hands.  (unless you just washed your hands).  You can easily pick up a virus or spread germs by touching these parts of your face.

3.  Cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze.  Common knowledge, though the last time I was sick was because of someone walking down a hall and sneezed without covering their mouth.

4.  Wash your nose with a Neti-pot.  Until recently I didn't know about the Neti-pot.  After my physician recommending it, I use it frequently throughout the year, more often if I have a cold or have been around those you have.  I also find that if I am starting to get sinus pressure which causes a headache that washing my nose with the Neti-pot relieves the pressure. Caution:  Be sure to read the directions, and use distilled water.  Speak to a physician or pharmacist if you have questions.

5. Try a cup of Nettle tea if you suffer from allergies.  After reading some research and trying Nettle tea, I find that it does help with my allergies.  If you are already feeling the effects of your allergies it may take a few days of having a cup of tea to see any benefit.  You can use packaged Nettle tea bags, but I prefer loose  Nettle leaves.

6.  Sooth your throat with some honey.  Try a small teaspoon or add it to your tea.  I recently tried this since my throat was feeling a bit scratchy and it helps!

7.  Have a cup of organic chicken broth or organic chicken noodle soup.  Researchers may not understand why this works if you are suffering from a cold, but it seems to help.

8.  Take a multi-vitamin with Vitamin C to boost your immunity.  Or try a Wellness Vitamin/Herb formula.  Caution:  Follow directions on the package and take the recommended dose.

Finally, if you are feeling sick, be sure to get enough rest.  The more you let your body rest, the faster the recovery. Stay Healthy!

Tip of the Month: Summer Entertaining Tips and Tricks

It's July and Independence Day celebrations are almost upon us.  That means it's time for July's tip of the month.  Many of us turn to the outdoors to cook and entertain, but don't fret if you don't have an outdoor grill.  You can still make all your favorite grilled foods on an indoor grill.  I love my indoor grill and I avoid the hassle of propane or charcoal as well as the carcinogenics of using lighter fluid.  Yes, cooking with lighter fluid is not healthy and that's why you should use a chimney starter if cooking with charcoal.  Have you read what's in lighter fluid?  Take a look next time, you may be surprised.  Though whatever your grilling preference is, some of my tips will help you create a great meal for your holiday.

Try these tips and tricks, whether you entertain for a crowd or a few people:

1.  Keep it simple - decor and food.  I love solid, checkered or similar red, white and blue tablecloths for the 4th of July.  Check out This table-setting.

2.  Entertaining is not the time to experiment with new recipes.  Test out new recipes before the big event.

3.  Have activities for the kids.  Here's a great one to make - Pinwheels.

4.  Never press down on burgers when grilling.  I've heard this tip a few times on Food Network.  You will lose all the juices from the meat.

5.  Oil the grill and let the fish cook then turn over once, otherwise your fish will stick to the grill.  Same for indoor grill pans.

6.  Try grilling sweet potatoes for a great alternative to fries or baked potatoes.  Just slice, season with salt and pepper (you can use other spices too).  Mist with oil (brushing will work, but you use more oil that way) and grill on both sides.  You can even toss in more spices after grilling before you serve.

7.  Remember that the loud popping sounds of fireworks can scare dogs or even make them upset.  Make sure they have ID tags and consider keeping them inside during the time fireworks are being set off.  If you are away, consider pet-sitters or boarding to make sure your dog is safe while you are away.

8.  Don't leave foods that can spoil or go bad at warm temperatures in the sun or heat.  Potato salad is one example, keep it chilled so you will avoid food poisoning.  I've heard horror stories about accidents like this at people's houses.

9.  Here's a great idea for keeping tablecloths in place and still look decorative.  Table weight from rocks.

10.  Finally have fun and don't stress over every detail.  If you plan your menu ahead of time you will be able to enjoy your day.

Tip of the Month: More cleaning tips and ideas

I blogged about using vinegar to clean HERE, discussed cleaning products HERE, checked out the tips from Jacqueline on using tea tree oil, and did some more reading.  Finally I found some other very handy tips for cleaning around the house.  Each of these tips are easy and you will probably have these items in your cupboards.

More uses of vinegar:

Windows and glass:

One ounce of white vinegar added to a quart of warm water.  Mix well and pour into a pump/spray bottle.  Lightly mist windows and rub to a shine with a clean cloth (not a paper towel).

Maintain stainless steel:

Apply white vinegar with a soft cloth and rub.  Dry thoroughly to prevent a film from forming and never soak stainless steel.

From In this Crazy Life blog:
Clean paint brushes:
Soak old paint brushes in HOT vinegar for 30 minutes and then wash. The old paint will come out and they will be as good as new.

From  Tales and Tips from A Real Life Housewife:
Clean hard water residue from shower heads:
Tie a baggy of vinegar around a shower head. Leave it there over night, and it will clean everything off with no work!


Other Tips:

Air Freshener: 

Add a dozen or so lemon slices with a small handful of cloves (it's not an exact amount) to a pan of water and simmer for at least 10 minutes.  This should rid the air in your house and kitchen of strong cooking odors and such.

Clean your Teapot:

(I wish I knew about this when I was living in the UK). Rinse the teapot with hot water, use a small amount of baking soda on a damp cloth and rub.  Rinse the teapot with hot water when finished and dry.

Stains on Marble:

Cover the spill with table salt and wipe clean. Or pour milk on set stains then add salt and leave for a few days.  Then wipe clean with a damp cloth.  Should restore the glossy surface of marble.

Hope these cleaning tips help you.   I know that I do not have to shop for a bunch of cleaning products and I am not using harsh/toxic chemicals in my house.

Tip of the Month: Dog Safety in the Heat

Heat stroke is devastating to pets and humans alike.  But it can be harder to know if your pet is showing symptoms of heat stroke.  I am always concerned about heat stroke for my dogs, especially when we have a heat wave early in the spring and summer season.

This week the heat wave continues so I have taken steps to prevent heat stroke for my dogs.  In the spring, I step up the brushing of their coats since neither of my dogs "blow out" their coats.  What I mean by "blow out" their coats is the tuffs of fur that many breeds of dogs (and other animals) develop after winter when they are shedding or molting their winter fur coats.  My dogs constantly shed, but I brush more fur off in the spring than any other time of year.

When my dogs stay outside I make sure there are cool, shady spots and plenty of water available to them.  I prefer the large stainless steel dog bowls for water bowls outside instead of plastic or ceramic.  This way I don't have to worry about BPA or other chemicals of painted ceramic contaminating their water.  I would note that if the water sits too long in the bowls or the outside temperature is high (not necessarily that the water was in the sun) that the stainless steel bowl will develop a little algae growth.  Just be sure to clean the bowl and add fresh water.  I make sure to add fresh water several times a week, anyways.  And those that conserve water, just dump the water in the bowl in your plants (as long as you are not using soft water from the house - that can kill many plants).

At other times, I allow my dogs inside where they find cool spots on the floor in front of the fans I usually have running.  If you normally run the A/C in your house, give floor fans and ceiling fans a try.  Most of the time I can circulate air in the house and keep it cool with fans and avoid the A/C and high electricity bill.

My other tips to keep my dogs cool are:
- avoid walking during the hottest hours of the day (high heat on the ground can also burn dogs paw pads)
- take water for your pet when you walk or travel
- do not leave your pet in the car in any warm or hot temperatures (there are gadgets you can hang in the car  
   that tell you the temperature inside your vehicle).
- always provide fresh water for your pet, whether they are inside or outside
- always provide shade and shelter for your pet if they are outside
- try frozen treats (like Honest Kitchens Icy Pups) as an alternative treat
- give your dog a bath in cool (not cold) water or go swimming!

And finally check out this article for symptoms of heat stroke and other tips to prevent heat stroke.

Pool surfing as a pup

March's Tip of the Month: Vinegar

In my effort to remove harsh chemicals and pesticides from my life I have read many different articles on alternatives products.  My favorite alternative, which is also inexpensive is Vinegar.  You can replace Bleach, other cleaning products and your weed spray with Vinegar.

Here are just a few uses of Vinegar:

- Spray weeds with Vinegar
- Add baking soda to vinegar in your toilet.  Let set for 20 minutes and then scrub.
- Add vinegar to toilet water and let stand overnight
- Replace bleach with vinegar and run a clean cycle on your washing machine
- Wash your dog blankets, beds or plush toys with vinegar

These are just a few of the uses I have found work well by using Vinegar.  Try them out and see what your results are.  I was very impressed with the baking soda and vinegar for cleaning toilets.  So many uses and works better than all those harsh chemicals, plus I'm not polluting our water system or my environment. 

Tip of the Month: Make your clothes last

Wow, it's Monday again.    Have you even noticed there's an extra day on the calendar?  Can you believe it's Leap Year?

On to this month's tip on making your clothes last.  Hopefully this will be helpful.

1.  Buy clothes that are good quality and will last.  This does not mean they have to be name brand or expensive. 

2.  Consider buying clothes that are fashionable (not trendy fashion) that you can pair with other clothes to make many outfits.  "Classic" does not mean boring or old.

3.  Jeans and sweaters can be worn more than once before washing.  Some clothes can be worn more than once before you need (or should) throw them in the laundry.  The less washing of your clothes the longer lasting, especially good quality ones.

4.  Read the label and follow the directions for washing clothes.  This will help you avoid shrinkage and other problems that take life away from your clothes. 

5.  Considering washing your clothes in cold water.  Many clothes recommend cold water and this helps the life of your clothes and cut your energy cost.

6.  Line Dry your clothes instead of using the dryer.  Again this cuts down on electricity and helps the life of your clothes.

7.  Mend small tears and rips.  Or re-purpose ripped clothes into a new item.

8.  Make your own socks.  I read this in a magazine recently that said knitting or crocheting your own socks is better than store bought socks.  Supposedly, hand-knit socks last longer than store bought.  Haven't tried this but I have patterns and may have to consider making socks.