The Devils Spatula

Kitchenphobia? That is a little bit of an understatement. A year ago I had never even made scrambled eggs! My boyfriend who is from Romania, is used to homecooked foods and fresh bread with every meal.  When he asked me if I knew how to cook. I told him I could. I thought,"How hard can it be you just follow a simple recipe and voila, Rachel Ray." Wrong. I learned some foods that you purchase do not come with a recipe or directions. Such as, chicken, the back of the meat package should have a warning labeled. DO NOT COOK CHICKEN ON LOW. You and your boyfriend will be praying to a porcelain god that evening....And just because grease is wet does not mean it can not start a fire....and anything with flour must be cooked before it is consumed, don't confuse confectioner sugar with flour. Even through all these mistakes I have made I have still managed to make some decent meals! I am learning each day, but it sure would have been nice to have a little help. So if you are anything like me these tips will help!

• Keep a small plastic bag handy when you are cooking it will save time. You won't have to keep going back and forth to the garbage can.
• Also keep a hand towel near you to dry off your hands. It's amazing how many times you will wash your hands when cooking just one meal
• Before you start cooking get all items you will need ready, Bowls, utensils, milk, eggs etc. It will keep you from having to search for items, and risk the chance of burning your food.
• When you first start cooking try to follow recipe exactly, as you learn more change cooking to taste, by adding a new seasoning or garlic
• Always keep, milk, bread, eggs, salt, onions, butter or oil handy most recipes will require these
• Try shopping for 3-5 days worth of groceries. If you try to shop for longer than that you will end up with foods that have gone bad.
  
  
  INGREDIENT SUBSTITUE:

Butter: 1/2 cup = 1/2 cup of shortening with 1/4 teaspoon of salt


Buttermilk: 1 cup= 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice and enough milk to equal 1 cup total liquid


Cake Flour: 1 cup = 1 cup minus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour


Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon= 2 tablespoons flour


Egg: 1 teaspoon of flavored gelatin, 3 tablespoons cold water and 2 table spoons plus 1 teaspoon boiling water


Milk: skim: 1 cup= 1 cup water 4 tablespoons nonfat instant milk


Milk: whole: 1 cup= 1 cup water, 4 tablespoons non fat instant milk, 2 teaspoons melted butter or 1/2 cupwater 1/2 cup evaporated milk


Molasses: 1/2 cup= Honey: 1/2 cup


Self Rising Flour: 1 cup= 1 cup all purpose flour with 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoons salt


Whipped Cream: 1 cup= 1/3 cup of butter, 3/4 cup milk


THERE IS MORE TO COME FROM "THE DEVIL'S SPATULA" I WILL KEEP UPDATING THIS SECTION WITH NEW RECIPES!!