To die for.
There's nothing worse than being elbow-deep in an exciting recipe, only to realize it calls for an ingredient you don't have. But there is a way around the situation that doesn't involve keeping your kitchen stocked with items you won't get much use out of. Read on for five slightly unusual ingredients many recipes call for and an easy substitution for each. Source: Flickr User sleepyneko, Read more
I was at my vacation house when an intense craving for homemade waffles hit. Since it was snowing heavily, we had to make waffles with the ingredients in the kitchen. The recipe called for buttermilk, and rather than find another recipe, I decided to make the simple substitution for buttermilk that is a combination of milk and lemon juice. Here's the easy recipe: Place a tablespoon of lemon Read more
Xanthan Gum A stabilizer that is produced from fermented corn sugar. It's used as a thickener for things such as salad dressings or dairy products and is a key ingredient in molecular gastronomy (think of all of the foams you're seeing on menus). Xanthan gum is also often used as a substitute for wheat gluten in order to add volume to bread and other gluten-free baked goods. Image Source Read more
Last week I tried to make cinnamon rolls and the recipe called for 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk, unfortunately I only had 1 cup in my house. Since I was in my pajamas and the weather wasn't exactly hospitable, I decided that there was no way I was going out to the store. However, I was already halfway through the recipe (I really thought I had everything before I started) and needed a solution Read more
Many holiday inspired baked goods, including this Pumpkin Pie Cake call for pumpkin-pie spice, but what does that mean? Pumpkin-pie spice is a spice that is sold in many grocery stores. You'll find it in the spice aisle between Paprika and Rosemary. However, instead of rushing out and buying a specialized spice blend, why not make your own? It's a simple spice blend that is generally made from Read more
There was an interesting discussion over at the Kitchen Goddess group regarding the substitution of applesauce for oil. Lucky for us, FitSugar heard about it and gave us the lowdown. Now you might be asking yourself, could this really taste good? The answer is yes. Take your best cookie recipe and give it a try. I'll be honest, it won't taste as fantastic as the original, but it'll be healthier Read more
When you're craving something salty, crackers and pretzels are a popular choice, but they're not an option if you're avoiding gluten. You could buy pricey gluten-free alternatives, but they're not exactly the healthiest snacks. Here are three salty snacks you can prep ahead of time that are free of wheat, barley, oats, and rye. Gluten-Free Quinoa Pizza Bites Made with cooked quinoa, gooey Read more
We may talk a lot about iPhoneography in these parts, but there's no substitute for an "old-fashioned" camera in all its double-digit megapixels, HD video, and interchangeable lens glory. The latest in Sony's camera offerings comes from the brand's Alpha line: the NEX-F3, suited for a more casual photographer, and the SLT-A37, a DSLR kit for those who want to get a little more serious with their Read more
How does your garden grow? Now that the weather in California's started to warm, all of the vegetables in mine have finally started to grow! Nothing's quite large enough to pick yet, except for a few nasturtium plants, which are growing like weeds. When life gives you nasturtium leaves, make nasturtium pesto! I used the traditional ingredients in a basil pesto, but substituted the basil with a Read more
Consumers have a tendency of falling for the next big health gimmick. Save your money on health duds with these Business Insider tips. No matter how many times we're told otherwise, Americans' obsession with get-healthy-quick schemes will likely never die. Too bad most of these fads aren't worth their weight in salt — or your hard-earned dollars. We've put together a list of some of the worst Read more
