A Quick Guide to Ingredient Substitutions

Cooking for someone with a food allergy? If you're committed to a particular dish, but need to replace a problematic ingredient then check out "A Quick Guide to Ingredient Substitutions" so that everyone can enjoy your delicious dish!

EGGS

• Substitute flax seed for eggs in baking.
• All about vegan egg substitutes.

FLOUR:

• The best gluten-free flour substitute.
• On substituting white whole wheat flour for white flour.
• Substitute a bit of corn starch and flour for cake flour.
• How to make a cake flour substitute.
• Substitute gluten-free teff for rye flour.

SUGAR

• Tips for substituting agave nectar for sugar in baking.
• Quick and easy sugar substitutes.
• On substituting regular sugar for superfine.
• How to make a substitute for cane syrup.

MILK + DAIRY:

• On substitutes for for buttermilk in baking. (And for more see here and here.)
• Vegan substitutions for 8 common baking ingredients.
• On substitutes for dairy and coconut milk.
• Substitute macadamia nut butter and cream for dairy in baking.

SAVORY SUBSTITUTIONS

• Substitute toasted bread crumbs for parmesan.
• Substitute yogurt for sour cream.
• Substitute yogurt or sour cream for crème fraîche.
• Substitute fish sauce for anchovies.
• Substitute jicama for water chestnuts.
• Substitute avocado for mayonnaise.
• Substitute spaghetti squash for pasta.
• On substituting tubed tomato paste for canned.
• On substitutes for lemon and vinegar.
• On substitutes for bananas in smoothies.
• On substitutes for espresso powder.
• A soy-free substitute for soy sauce.
• What to substitute for nuts in pesto.

Do you have any go-to ingredient substitutes you rely on for convenience (when you're out of the called-for ingredient) or health issues (vegan, dairy- or- gluten-free)?

Related: Substitutions: A Handy Kitchen App for iPhones and iPads

(Image: Faith Durand)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/try-this-for-that-20-quick-ingredient-substitutions-175015

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Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Cherries & Walnuts

Holiday food is usually sweet and delicious, and this recipe is no exception! Walnuts and cherries will be sure to light up your tastebuds, so check out "Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Cherries & Walnuts"!

Chocolate Truffle Cookies with Cherries & Walnuts

Makes about 5 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups walnuts
6 large eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
20 ounces 60% bittersweet chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup dried tart cherries

Heat the oven to 350°F with 2 racks positioned in the top third and bottom third of the oven.

Spread the walnuts out on a baking sheet and toast them while the oven is pre-heating. They are ready when starting to turn golden and very fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board, roughly chop, and set aside.

Place the eggs in a bowl and cover with hot tap water to warm them up. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.

Melt the chocolate in a double broiler or in a heat-proof metal bowl placed over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted, then set aside.

Beat the butter and sugar on in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the warmed eggs one at a time until fully combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes. The mixture will gain some volume during this time and become very creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix in the melted chocolate and vanilla.

With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture. Mix just until the flour is barely incorporated. Stop the mixer and add the chopped walnuts and cherries. Using a spatula, fold and stir in the walnuts and cherries until evenly distributed. The batter at this point should be glossy and thick.

Line two baking sheets with parchment (do not use Silpats or other baking mats for this recipe; the cookies will stick). Drop slightly rounded tablespoons of batter onto the baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart. If you don't use up all the batter in one round, leave it out at room temperature while the first batch bakes — refrigerating makes the batter stiffer and less easy to work with.

Bake the cookies until crackled on top, set around the edges, but still soft in the middle, 14 to 16 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer them to wire racks to finish cooling using a thin spatula.

Cookies can be kept in an airtight container for about 2 weeks.

(Image credits: Emma Christensen)



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chocolate-truffle-cookies-with-cherries-amp-walnuts-recipes-from-the-kitchn-198345

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Bob Vila’s 5 December ‘Must Do’ Projects

The winter months can take a toll on your house and stress levels! Take a look at these "Bob Vila’s 5 December ‘Must Do’ Projects" to help you navigate through the rest of 2013 without pulling your hair out!

No. 1: Countdown to Christmas

The holiday clock is ticking and there’s so much to do, right? Pick up a fresh tree (or unpack that artificial one), untangle and test the strings of mini-LED lights that you hastily put away last year, and start looking for places to hide the gifts you’ve already started to purchase at stores and online. No! Stop! With a little smart planning, you can get all of your holiday activities done in record time — and still enjoy the season.

For starters, begin to clear away everyday decor from shelves, mantels and tabletops. If you are going to decorate for the holidays, it will be much easier to work with a blank canvas. Likewise, make sure you have sufficient room for the tree. A tree that looked to be a perfectly appropriate size at the lot may actually appear quite different once it’s made it through the front door into the living room. Consider rearranging the furniture — or even removing some — to give the tree the space it deserves. And, if it’s a fresh-cut tree, be sure to locate it away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and water regularly to prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Next, before the holiday cards begin to arrive, plan a spot to display them, whether on the mantel or in a decorative holder. Check the return addresses on the incoming envelopes against those in your address book to be certain you’re up to date, then recycle the envelopes. Before you start wrapping gifts, create a wrapping station where everything you need is in one place — scissors, wrap, ribbon, tape, tags and a pen. Once the gifts have been wrapped and tagged, be sure to designate an out-of-the-way spot to hide them, like in a guest room, under a bed or at the back of a closet shelf. You’ll probably want to find a different hiding spot from last year, just in case the kids are on to you!

Because food and entertaining are an important part of the holidays, be sure to create some order in the kitchen as well. Clean out the pantry and refrigerator before you start shopping for food and ingredients for your holiday meals and treats. If you bake, make sure countertops and work surfaces are clear and uncluttered. You’ll want to have space not only to roll out the cookie dough, but also to hold the cut-out cookies prior to and after baking. Take inventory of your containers to make sure you have enough on hand for storing cookies as well as keeping leftovers fresh and available.

No. 2: Firewood prep

Nothing celebrates the colder weather like the distinct scent and sound of a crackling log in the fireplace. A steady supply of firewood can help offset your heating costs, and unlike oil and coal, wood is a resource that can be replanted for future fire-burning pleasure. Before you start using your fireplace, make sure that your wood is properly seasoned and the right type for your heating requirements. Hardwoods, like oak and maple, burn slowly and steadily. They must be seasoned for at least a year, or you’ll be making more smoke than heat. Softwoods, like pine and fir, season faster and grow faster. They’re easy to split and easy to start but watch out for sparking and creosote buildup in your chimney. Because most firewood is seasoned outdoors, it will contain insects, so you don’t want to store more than a day’s worth inside your home at a time. You also don’t want to stack great piles of it against the outside of your house. To store a year’s supply, you’ll need a woodshed or some other covered storage area set away from buildings.

No. 3: DIY decorations

While there is an infinite supply of ready-made holiday decorations to purchase, there’s something about the season that heightens the appeal of handmade decor. A wreath form purchased at a craft or hobby shop can be transformed easily into a festive wreath to hang above a mantel or on the front door. Pinecones and evergreen branches can be woven into garlands to decorate the house inside and out. And if you are looking for a way to personalize your tree, there are an endless number of creative ornaments you can make. Here are 58 outstanding DIY ornaments to get you inspired. Make one for yourself — or as a gift to give.

No. 4: Snow & ice removal

The best solution to preventing ice buildup is to keep the snow off your drive or walkway so that it won’t compact and freeze. Shovel or snow blow early and often. If you’re tackling the job manually, choosing a shovel with an ergonomically curved or adjustable handle will keep you from injuring yourself. Pushing the show, rather than lifting it, will also prevent injuries. If you are using a snow blower, be sure to have it maintained regularly and heed all warnings from the manufacturer. For ice on steps and walkways, weigh the pros and cons of salt versus sand, or consider more environmentally friendly solutions.

No. 5: Holiday curb appeal

We spend most of the year improving the curb appeal of our homes — making sure they’re distinctive from those around them, welcoming to visitors and eye-catching for passersby. Holiday curb appeal should be no different. While you may be tempted to outdo the neighbor’s light show, consider decorating your house to play off its architectural style and design features. Be sure that the lights you hang are UL-approved for safety and, for energy savings, look into the newer LED varieties. (If you are hanging lights, you’ll find some helpful tips here.) And remember, a house doesn’t have to be wrapped in lights to set a holiday mood. Sometimes a couple of well-placed spotlights on evergreens or wreath-bearing doors and windows can be an effective way of marking the season and showing off the architectural elements of your home.

Image Source: The Corcoran Group

Original Article Here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2013-12-09/bob-vilas-december-projects/

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Sleep: Your Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Some Great Zzzs

Having some trouble catching quality zzzs lately? This guide has some really helpful tips to help you get the restful sleep you need. Check out "Sleep: Your Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Some Great Zzzs"!

1pm: Yes, believe it or not, sleep prep begins now!

Sleep patterns are influenced by the light you receive during the day. So either get outside during the day if you can, or if possible, do some exercise. Exercise increases the amplitude of daily rhythms and tells the body to promote deeper sleep cycles. To help with sleep, the best time to exercise is at least six hours before bedtime. (For some people, exercise too close to bedtime can disrupt their sleep cycle.)

3pm: Put down the coffee and take in no more caffeine today.

That afternoon cup of Joe can interfere with your ability to sleep for up to eight hours after your last sip, so skip it if you want to sleep better tonight.

630pm: At dinnertime, keep meals simple.

To save prep time during the week, try doing the bulk of your cooking on the weekends. No time on the weekends? Then keep a few bottled (not canned) jars of pole-caught tuna fillets, olives, capers and red peppers on hand. Toss with organic mixed greens and raw, chopped veggies, so you can assemble a healthy dinner in a flash.

645 pm: Eat slowly and consciously, savoring the food.

With most of our breakfasts eaten on-the-go and our lunches wolfed down at the desk, dinner is the one meal most of us can actually make time for. Think of dinner as a delicious prelude to sleep – a calming ritual to help you start unwinding from a stressful day.

745 pm: Now’s the time to put down your fork to help prep your belly for bed.

Try to finish eating at least three hours before bedtime to insure that the digestive process tailing off before you crawl under the covers.

8pm: Last call for liquids.

Cut yourself off at least 3 hours before bed – to extend your bouts of uninterrupted sleep, particularly if you tend to get up to relieve yourself in the middle of the night. Another tip to reduce overnight bathroom trips: avoid sugars, grains and carbs at night.

9pm: Turn off and tune out.

With apologies to Timothy Leary, it’s time to turn off and tune out – as in completely power down anything with a screen, including computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, TV’s, Gameboys, etc. This will help calm and soothe your over-stimulated brain, thus signaling to your noggin that bedtime is near. Remove any distractions (mentally and physically) that will prevent you from sleeping

10pm: By now you’ve wound down your gut and brain. What’s next? Your nervous system.

Turn off or dim all unnecessary lights and curl up with a soothing read. Avoid newspapers, thrillers, or other genres that might set your pulse racing. Next, try a short meditation to ease the body into a sleep-friendly state or listen to calming music.

1030pm: Now you’re in the home stretch, so give your body an extra nudge to help you sleep.

Consider a few calming minerals, amino acids or herbs. My favorites include: magnesium; amino acids L theanine, 5 HTP; taurine; lemon balm; passion flower; chamomile; magnolia and valerian root. (You can also try my Be Well Sleep Formula, which contains many of these, together in capsule form.)

11pm: Kiss your mate goodnight.

Slip on an optional (but very helpful) sleep mask, then it’s lights out and off to sleep.

If 11:45 pm rolls around and you’re still awake, get up and out of the bedroom. Keep the lights dim and try a calming activity, like reading or knitting for an hour or so before returning to bed. (Remember, no electronic screens!) .

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

Original Article Here: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11294/sleep-your-step-by-step-guide-to-getting-some-great-zzzs.html

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