CookingTips and Quick Substitutions

Substitutions:
1 cup buttermilk: 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice (not in raw applications, like buttermilk dressing)
1 teaspoon baking powder: ¼ teaspoon baking soda + ½ teaspoon cream of tartar, OR ¼ teaspoon baking soda + ½ cup buttermilk, sour cream or yogurt (for ½ cup of liquid in recipe)
1 cup heavy cream: 1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup brown sugar: 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 ½ tablespoons molasses, OR ½ cup dark brown sugar + ½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream: 1 cup yogurt (low-fat or regular)
1 cup cake flour: 1 tablespoon corn starch + 1 cup (minus 1 tablespoon) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar: 3 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar (for meringue or similar), OR 2 teaspoons baking powder (for tartar and 1 teaspoon baking soda)

“Band-aids”:
Too salty: add small amounts of vinegar (any kind) until the salty taste dies down
Stale: add a piece of bread to the package (works especially well for old brown sugar)
Dry turkey: as you carve it, spray the turkey with warm chicken stock
Lumpy gravy: puree gravy in a blender (make sure to secure the lid so you don’t burn yourself!)