Conversions & Substitutions: Emergency Substitutes

It's been quite a long time since my last Conversions & Substitutions post. I found one labeled as "emergency substitutions" as I was sorting through some food storage paperwork. I don't know where it came from, but it was too good to pass up the opportunity to post it and help out anyone out there who might need some assistance.

If you're missing an ingredient, take a quick glance at this list before making a mad dash to the grocery store.

If you don't have...
Baking Powder, 1 tsp
Then Use...
1/2 tsp cream of tartar plus 1/4 tsp baking soda

Balsamic vinegar, 1 Tbsp...1 Tbsp cider vinegar or red wine vinegar plus 1/2 tsp sugar

Buttermilk, 1 cup...1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to equal 1 cup (let stand 5 minutes before using) or 1 cup plain yogurt

Flour, self-rising, 1 cup...1cup all-purpose flour plus 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp baking soda

Half-and-half or light cream, 1 cup...1 Tbsp melted butter or margarine plus enough whole milk to make 1 cup

Onion, chopped, 1/2 cup...2 Tbsp dried minced onion or 1/2 tsp onion powder

Tomato sauce, 2 cups...3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1 cup water

Mustard, dry, 1 tsp...1 Tbsp yellow mustard

Cayenne pepper, ground, 1/8 tsp...2-3 drops of bottled hot pepper sauce

Apple pie spice, 1 tsp...1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ground allspice and a dash of ground ginger

Cajun seasoning, 1 Tbsp...1/2 tsp white pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp ground red pepper, 1/2 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Fresh snipped herbs, 1 Tbsp...1/2 - 1 tsp dried herbs

Poultry seasoning, 1 tsp...3/4 tsp dried sage and 1/4 tsp dried thyme

Pumpkin pie spice, 1 tsp...1/2 tsp...1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground allspice, and 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

For the following spice substitutions, start with half the amount the recipe calls for (unless directed otherwise) and add to suit your taste.

Allspice, ground...ground cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves

Chili powder...dash of bottled hot pepper sauce plus equal measures of ground oregano and cumin

Cloves, ground...ground allspice, cinnamon or nutmeg

Cumin, ground...chili powder

Paprika...cayenne pepper (just a dash since it is hotter than paprika)

For more Conversions & Substitutions, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here! :)