ALTERNATIVES FOR FANCY PANTS INGREDIENTS .(1)

Here are some easily accessible substitutions with day to day ingredients and ways to make simple ingredients rather than buying them . 1. Always buy generic brands . 2.Bacon is a great substitute for ham ,smoked sausage or pancetta . 3.Breadcrumbs , these are easy to make . If you only have fresh bread , place slices of bread in a preheated oven 180 deg C for 15 minutes , then tear up the dried slices and pulse in the procesor . Cornflakes and rice bubbles can be crushed up . Rolled oats can be processed to a fine crumb. Also use crushed potato chips , crushed dry crackers, desiccated coconut, finely crushed nuts . 4.An obvious substitue for butter is margarine . 5.If a recipe requires buttermilk , mix 1 cup of milk with 1 dsp of lemon juice or vinegar . 6.Cauliflower is a great substitute for brocoli in texture , flavour and vitamins . 7.Coconut , flaked , dried or shredded is a great substitute for fresh coconut . 8.You can make your own condensed milk by combining 1 cup of powdered milk with 3/4 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of warm water .Mix well until well combined and store in the refrigerator .This makes the equivalent of 1 x 395 gm can of condensed milk . 9.Cream can be replaced with evaporated milk , thickened with a little cornflour . Another substitute for cream is 3:1 ratio of full cream milk and butter/marg .Other cream replacements could be , sour cream , Greek yoghurt , cream cheese. 10.Cream cheese can be substituted with cottage cheese or ricotta and can be beaten to desired texture . 11.Eggs can be substituted with 1 tbs of custard powder (per egg)or 1 small mashed banana in sweet recipes .For savoury dishes substitute eggs with 2 tbs of cornflour ( per egg), chia seeds are a great substitute for eggs in either sweet or savoury dishes .( Combine 1 tbs of chia seeds in 1 cup of water and let it sit for 15 minutes , this makes a perfect 1:1 egg ratio ). 12.You can substitute evaporated milk with light cream . 13.Fresh garlic / ginger can be substituted with a dry powder or in a minced form . 14.Honey can be substituted with golden syrup , treacle or molasses . 15.Fresh herbs can be substituted with dry or packaged herbs . 16.Substitute mayonannaise with sour cream of plain yoghurt .