The Olive Chef Community

(compiled from Eve and homecooking.com)

Baking

• Egg Replacements:

In baked goods-such as cookies, muffins and quick breads-replace each egg with:
Half a small, ripe, mashed banana
1/4 cup of tofu, blended with the liquid ingredients in the recipe
1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce, pureed prunes or canned pumpkin

• Butter:

Substitute canola or safflower oil in baked goods. You can also usually reduce the amount by as much as one-third without affecting taste. Use olive oil for other cooking needs.

• Baking chocolate (1 oz.)
  Combine 3 tablespoons dry cocoa, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon water

• Buttermilk (1 cup)

Combine 1 cup milk and 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white distilled vinegar in a small bowl. Let stand 1 minute; proceed with recipe.

• Cream Cheese

Strain 8 cups yogurt for 1-6 hours, depending on how thick you want your cream cheese. This can be done by putting a piece of white cheesecloth (or a new dishtowel, which can be saved and used for this purpose) in a colander or sifter, and setting it over a pot to drain, separating the curd from the whey. The thick yogurt that remains is a great substitute for cream cheese.

• Cornstarch

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or 2 teaspoons arrowroot starch can be substituted for 1 tablespoon cornstarch.

• Baking Powder
  1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar can be substituted for 1 teaspoon baking powder.

• Substitutions for Wine and Liquor in Cooking

(Eve: When a recipe calls for some sort of wine or liquor, and it is either not available or not appropriate for use, the following substitutions may be helpful.)
* If the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange-flavored liqueur, substitute 2 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice concentrate or 2 tablespoons orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon orange extract.
* For 2 tablespoons Amaretto, substitute ¼ to ½ teaspoon almond extract.
* For 2 tablespoons sherry or bourbon, substitute 1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
* For 2 tablespoons Kahlua, coffee, or chocolate-flavored liqueur, substitute 1/2 to 1 teaspoon chocolate extract plus 1/2 to 1 teaspoon instant coffee in 2 tablespoons water.
* For 1/4 cup or more of port wine, sweet sherry, brandy, or fruit-flavored liqueur, substitute an equal measure of unsweetened orange, apple or pineapple juice plus 1 teaspoon of corresponding flavored extract or vanilla extract.
* For 1/4 cup or more of white wine, substitute an equal measure of white grape juice or apple juice. (Try also: chicken broth or bouillon, ginger ale, or diluted cider or white wine vinegar.)
* For 1/4 cup or more of red wine, substitute an equal measure of red grape juice or cranberry juice. (Try also: tomato juice, diluted cider or red wine vinegar, beef broth or bullion.)
* Other substitutions include chicken broth, beef broth, vegetable broth, flavored vinegars, fruit juices, and apple cider.

• More Alcohol Substutions

For beer or ale … try chicken broth, white grape juice or ginger ale.
For rum … use pineapple juice or syrup, flavored with almond extract.
For Kirsch … use syrup or juice from black cherries, raspberries, boysenberries, currants or grapes.
For Cognac … juice from peaches, apricots or pears.
For Cointreau … orange juice or frozen orange juice concentrate.