Happy Thanksgiving!

We'd like to wish a happy and safe Thanksgiving to everyone out there! Enjoy the food, drink, and company. Here's a festive picture of cats for the occasion.

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A Quick Guide to Ingredient Substitutions

Cooking for someone with a food allergy this holiday? 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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Make this Homemade Holiday Gift: Pine Sachets

This holiday season impress your loved ones with homemade gifts! These sachets contain the wonderful scent of pine, check out the steps to make them in "Make this Homemade Holiday Gift: Pine Sachets"!

Materials: 

• Freshly fallen pine needles


• Tartan scraps in 6-inch squares
• Sewing machine, or needle and thread

Instructions:

1. Place two squares of fabric with the fronts together.
2. Sew three of the edges, and turn your sachet right side in.
3. Stuff the sachet with pine needles. Sew the fourth edge closed.
4. Stack a couple and tie with a satin ribbon.

(Image credits: The Cavender Diary)

Original Article Here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/make-this-homemade-holiday-gift-pine-sachets-homemade-holiday-gift-idea-exchange-project-10-197017

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Fall Recipe: Quince & Vanilla Sorbet

It seems like fall just got here, and winter is only a few weeks away. Celebrate the season while you still can with this delicious "Fall Recipe: Quince & Vanilla Sorbet", perfect for cozying up with a blanket at the end of a long day.

Quince & Vanilla Sorbet

Makes about 1 quart

2 pounds quince (about 3 medium fruit), peeled and cut up
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 vanilla bean
2 star anise pods
Pinch salt

Place the quince in a large pot and add the sugar, honey, and 2 cups water. Split the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and use the tip of a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Add them and the vanilla pod to the pot, along with the star anise and salt, and stir.

Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved. Lower the heat and cover with a parchment circle (see general directions here for cooking quince) or loosely with a lid. Simmer for 45 minutes or until soft and pink.

Refrigerate the quince in its syrup overnight or for a few hours.

Remove a few slices of cooked quince for serving with the sorbet, and strain out about 1/4 cup of syrup for drizzling over top. Reserve these and refrigerate.

Blend the rest of the quince and its syrup in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to an ice cream maker and process for 20 minutes or until it's frozen. Spread in a freezer container and cover the surface of the sorbet fully with wax paper or plastic wrap. Put on a lid and freeze for up to 1 month.

Serve with slices of quince and a drizzle of the syrup.

(Image credits: Faith Durand; Rachel Joy Baransi; The Splendid Table)



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/fall-recipe-quince-vanilla-sorbet-recipes-from-the-kitchn-196059

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