"Sing a Song of Seasons
Something special in all,
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall."

April has arrived and we can safely say that spring is on its way. 

We have a mix of sunshine and rain and although we can experience warmer temperatures, there are days when it's not cool enough to put the furnace on, yet we need to do something to warm up the house.  Ruth Martin often bakes to warm up the kitchen - just turning on the oven warms up a room and dispels the dampness while great goodies are baking.

Often, we'll start into some baking and find that we're missing some key ingredients.  Hopefully, this list of substitutes will help when you are in such a predicament.  My theory has always been to try to make do with what is on hand - if it doesn't turn out exactly as planned, no one is any the wiser!

If you don't have an egg, substitute one tablespoon of vinegar.
Run out of brown sugar?  Add 2 tablespoons to 1 cup of sugar in the food processor and combine until smooth.
Add 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (or vinegar) to 1 cup milk to make 1 cup of buttermilk.
Substitute 3 1/2 Tbs cocoa plus 1 Tbs oil for 1 square cooking chocolate.
1/2 tsp baking soda plus 1 tsp cream of tartar equals 1 1/2 tsp baking powder.
1/2 tbs cornstarch or 2 tsp tapioca equals 1 Tbs flour (for thickening).
And remember, a "pinch" of salt means less than 1/8 tsp and a "dash" means 2 to 3 drops.

Here are a few recipes which will not only warm up the kitchen but will put a smile on your family's faces when they walk in the door - save yourself a trip to the store and start baking!

Johnny Cake is a cross between a pancake and cornbread.  I remember my Mom making this for us when we were little.  She made it in a square baking dish and it was served with lots of maple syrup that Grandpa had brought back from Ontario.

Johnnycake
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 Tbs butter
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream

Combine dry ingredients.  Beat in butter, eggs and sour cream.  Spread into a greased 8 x 8" pan and bake in a preheated oven at 400 for 25 minutes.

Here is another recipe for Johnnycake that makes a delicious weeknight dessert.

Pear Maple Johnnycake
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbs sugar
4 firm pears, peeled, halved and cored
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup cornmeal
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup sour milk or buttermilk
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Melt butter in a 12" non-stick skillet.  Brush a 9" cake pan with 1 Tbs melted butter and reserve 6 Tbs in a small bowl.  Sprinkle sugar evenly over butter remaining in the skillet.  Arrange pears, cut sides up, in the skillet and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp nutmeg.  Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. 

Then turn pears over and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp nutmeg.  Cook until pears are lightly browned and liquid has evaporated, about 8-10 minutes.  Transfer pears, cut sides down, to the prepared cake pan.  Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and remaining 1/4 tsp nutmeg in a bowl. 

Whisk in buttermilk, syrup, eggs, and reserved butter just until combined.  Pour over pears and bake in a preheated oven at 400 for about 25-30 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool on a cake rack for 15 minutes, then run a knife around the cake to loosen edges.  Invert onto a platter.  Serve with additional maple syrup.  Serves 6-8.

These are sure to warm up the kitchen and round out any meal!

From the Best of Bridge (Winner's) Cookbook

Biscuits
2 cups flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup buttermilk

Combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt together.  Cut in butter and mix together lightly.  Add buttermilk and mix just enough to blend together.  Do not overmix.  Roll out dough on a floured surface to 1/2" thickness. 

Cut with 2" round cutter and bake on greased baking sheet in a 450 oven for about 15 minutes.  Makes 18 biscuits.

My favourite way to use ripe bananas.

Banana Walnut Muffins
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 Tbs lemon juice)
2 large bananas, mashed
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Add melted butter to eggs and buttermilk and then to mashed bananas.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and fold in wet mixture.  Fold in walnuts.  Coat a muffin tin with cooking spray and spoon in muffin mixture.  Bake at 400 for 15-18 minutes.  Makes one dozen large muffins.

From the Eastern Star Cookbook

Mocha Spice Cake
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup cocoa
2 Tbs instant coffee
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sour milk + 1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  In large bowl, combine shortening with sugar and beat until smooth.  Stir in eggs and beat again.  Add dry ingredients alternately with the sour milk mixture.  Coat a 7 x 11 pan with cooking spray and bake in a preheated oven at 350 for about 35 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool on baking rack.  

And, if you are out of eggs, this cookie recipe is perfect.  Make up the dough and bake them later.

Oatmeal Cookies
11/2 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup shortening (part butter, part Crisco)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 cups rolled oats

Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and set aside.  Cream together the shortening and sugar, either in a large mixing bowl or in your kitchen aid.  Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk and mix until the dough forms a ball.  Remove from bowl and wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper.  Chill in the refrigerator for several hours or even a few days. 

When ready to bake, remove dough from the fridge; roll out on a floured surface to 1/8" thickness.  Cut with 2" cookie cutters (dip in flour occasionally to prevent from sticking).  Place on parchment lined cookie sheets and bake in a preheated oven at 350 for about 16 minutes.  Remove and allow to cool on racks.  Makes 3 1/2 dozen.

So the next time you are in the mood to bake but have run out of a few ingredients, don't let that stop you - use some of the above tips and bake up a storm!











Oatmeal Cookies