"Use the right tool for the job" isn't just a slogan for election time, it's a household must. - Home on the Range
A few minor chores will be done around here this weekend. Nothing major, as I'm at the crash pad on call. It's stuff I could call the landlord for but would rather fix myself rather than have to shut Barkley up in a back room if I'm out, in case they arrive while I'm gone. Simple chores, none requiring more than a screwdriver, a hammer or some Spackle, but I realized that for every household job, there is the right tool for it.
In cooking there are often substitutions made, basil for oregano, honey for sugar, applesauce for oil in brownies. Some things just don't work as well. ( I once substituted Aleppo Turkish peppers for the milder smoked Ancho and made someone cry.)
Good Kitchen SubstitutionsAllspice – 1 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves.
Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon 1/3 tsp. baking soda plus 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
Buttermilk – 1 cup 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar plus enough regular milk to make 1 cup (let sit for 5 minutes)
Cocoa – 1/4 cup 1 ounce (square) chocolate (decrease butter/oil in recipe by 1/2 Tablespoon)
Condensed Milk – 1 cup Heat 1/3 cup of evaporated milk, 3/4 cup of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of butter until dissolved.
Cornstarch (for thickening) – 1 tablespoon 2 tablespoons of flour (cook at least 3 minutes longer to thicken)
Egg – 1 whole egg 1/4 cup of egg beaters or
2 tablespoons of regular mayo (for baking batters only)
Good and Not so Good Romance Substitutions
Romantic Dinner for Two:
Good: Beef tenderloin, roast asparagus, salad and a martini
Not Good: Hot dog with 3 alarm chili sauce and a can of Squirt
Getting ready - Undergarments for off the shoulder dress:
Good: Strapless bra
Not Good: Duct tape
Getting Ready - Cuff Links:
Good: Gold Tie Pins
Not Good: Small bone shaped dog biscuits
Men's Evening Wear:
Good: Long sleeve dress shirt, bowtie
Bad: Underoos and a cape
Women's Evening Wear:
Good: Something in velvet or silk and a smile
Bad: It requires a key
Getting Close:
Good: Warmed Massage Oil
Not Good: WD40
Shooting Sports and Self Defense
On the reloading bench:
Good: High quality blackpowder
Not Good: Mix of smokeless powder and blackpowder.
Really Not Good: Tang
Self Defense:
Good: Something in .45 or .357
Not Good: Slingshot loaded with angry hamster
In the kitchen
Dishwasher Spot-Free Rinse Agent:
Good: White Vinegar
Not Good: Fluoroantimonic Acid
Baked on Oven Grime:
Good: Baking Soda
Bad: C4
Miscellaneous
Repairing Glasses:
Good: Needle Nosed Pliers
Not Good: Pipe Wrench
Getting at a Roof Repair:
Good: Hardwood Ladder
Not Good: Hardwood Tree
Receding Hairline:
Good: A good haircut
Not Good: Toupee made of beaver pelt
Repair of Circuit Board:
Good: Soldering Iron
Not Good: Arc Welder
Removing Wallpaper:
Good: A bottle to spray on a mist of warm water and a scraper
Not Good: Propane Torch
Bad Breath:
Good: Chew a Sprig of Fresh Parsley
Not Good: Chewing Tobacco
Relatives giving you a headache:
Good: Advil
Not Good: Anvil
Kitchen Fixture Removal:
Good: Crowbar
Not Good: C4
Front Porch Wasp Nest:
Good: 4 T. of Dawn dish soap per cup of water sprayed 10-20 feet away
Not Good: HK G3 / HK91 . 308 machine gun
Cutting a 2 x 4:
Good: Bench Vice
Bad: Your knees
Small dent(not hole) in drywall:
Good: Joint compound
Not Good: Bowling ball
Property Line Dispute:
Good: Surveyor results and a homemade pecan bourbon pie
Not Good: C4
