Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Book Giveaway & Workout Wednesday

Hiya! Hope your week is treating you well. My first two days were crazy busy, so I am hoping the rest of the week is a little more chill.

Have you ever been in the kitchen cooking or baking and realized you don’t have an ingredient called for in a recipe? I am always making substitutions, so I was super excited to receive this book, Substituting Ingredients: The A to Z Kitchen Reference (June 2010) by experienced food writer Becky Sue Epstein. Its basically the substituting bible (note: I received this product for free)!

P1080984  So what will you find inside?:

 P1080990 According to the Publisher:

“Author and senior editor at Intermezzo magazine, Becky Sue Epstein includes more than 1,000 healthy, A to Z, easy-to-find, and cheap substitutions. Her goal is that no cook will ever abandon an appetizing dish for the lack of a particular ingredient, a time crunch, dietary restrictions, or for the cost to make the dish.

Substituting Ingredients includes less expensive ingredient options, nontoxic household cleaner solutions, simple recipes for condiments, sauces, marinades and spice mixtures.”

P1080985

P1080987

Want to win a copy of your own? Leave a comment telling me your favorite ingredient substitute. You DO NOT have to have a blog to enter!! Contest is open until Thursday, June 17 at noon and the winner will be announced on Friday.

How are your workouts coming this week? My tentative plan is as follows:

  • Monday:Quick run to warm-up, taught Body Pump
  • Tuesday: Taught Body Attack
  • Wednesday: Run or walk (hopefully outside!)
  • Thursday:  Teach 45 minute pump/45 minute step
  • Friday:  Off
  • Saturday:  Teach Body Step
  • Sunday: Off

Enjoy your week!

77 comments:

The International Loser said...

The thing I substitute the most for is chocolate chips! Whenever I'm in Europe I am still shocked when I go to the store for chocolate chips and can never find them....of course I should realize by now that I will in fact never find them! I just take cooking chocolate and break it up, simple substitution but takes more time then opening a bag and pouring!

Barbara Palermo said...

Really a very interesting text! I prefer to replace butter with oil in cakes! Thanks for the giveaway!
Barbara
ricettebarbare at gmail dot com

Heather said...

I almost ALWAYS substitute oil with sugar free, natural applesauce. You can't even tell the difference!!
Hope the rest of your week relaxes for you...... :)

Lindsay @ http://pancakesnpajamas.blogspot.com/ said...

Have fun walking/running today! I love the egg/flax substitute. It adds a great nutty flavor to brownies.

stephanie @cookinfanatic said...

What a fun book! I like to substitute white vinegar for household cleaner, all natural and does the job!

Sophie @ yumventures said...

I'm definitely the applesauce/yogurt substitute for oil in cakes/brownies lover! Though I still havent perfected it, this book could probably help!

Erin at The Healthy Apron said...

Hmm let's see...I love substituting whole wheat flour for AP flour whenever I can but if I am missing a particular herb for a dish, I ALWAYS keep parsley on hand as my "go to" fresh herb, it makes a wonderful garnish as well. Oh and recently I have been adding turmeric to most dishes in replace or in addition to cayenne or paprika. SO SO many great health benefits!
I would LOVE to win this book though! I am so curious about other ingredients to substitute with!

lee@In My Tummy said...

Last night I subbed goat cheese for feta. That worked really well.

Jenna said...

Oh, I definitely need this book. I always am using substitute ingredients when I don't have things on hand! My favorite would be banana or applesauce for oil.

CaSaundraLeigh said...

Love the new layout--very cute! And I need that book for sure--I am always looking for substitutions. My most common is applesauce for oil in baked goodies.

Anonymous said...

I like using Greek yog instead of sour cream...and when baking - applesauce for part of the oil.

Jessica said...

Fantastic book! How handy! I'm always googling substitutes!

I like to use applesauce instead of oil when baking.

Unknown said...

ooh, love the new look! my fav sub is greek yogurt for sour cream :) sounds like a great resource!

Molly said...

Love the new ingredient! My fav substitution is applesauce for oil!

K from ksgoodeats said...

That sounds like a winner! My favorite ingredient sub is using Greek yog for sour cream - for dips and whatnot.

PS. it's been a while since I clicked out of Reader and came to your blog so GORGY layout!!

Samantha said...

I love to substitute yogurt in my brownies, makes them a little less of a guilty treat :)

Jessie (Bites and Pieces) said...

My favorite ingredient substitute is probably apple sauce for oil in baking recipes. By the way, I love your new blog design! It is so pretty and modern looking. :)

Anonymous said...

What an awesome book! I love substituting oatmeal for breadcrumbs in a recipe. You can't even taste the difference!

Anonymous said...

I use the flax and water all the time to sub for egg and it works great every time!!

Hailey @Adventures in Health
haileyshealthadventures.blogspot.com

Lisanne Boling said...

I like the new layout! I guess one of my favorite substitutions is applesauce for oil.

Joanne said...

I have to say that I have not done a lot of substituting (that is why I am curious about the book) but I do the applesauce instead of oil.

Kristie Simmons said...

The book would be great to have around. I use yogurt for sour cream or EVOO for butter.

Anonymous said...

applesauce for olive oil and greek yogurt for sour creme

hbobier said...

My fave ingredient substitute is anything meat for something non-meat. Sometimes I'll just put in faux chicken instead of chicken or, as always, toss in some tofu!

Unknown said...

I usually use either soymilk or almond milk for regular milk because my fiancee is lactose intolerant. Both work great!

Kerr said...

looks like a great book! I like to use apple sauce when baking instead of oil.

Angharad said...

Love the new look of the blog! Tres chic!

Winterjade said...

I use banana in my pancakes instead of eggs...YUM!

Priyanka@thehealthydiary said...

I mostly substitue eggs with flax meal and oil instead of butter. This is a wonderful givaway!!

Sarah W. said...

I usually substitute applesauce for oil. It's delicious!

Rene said...

I just wanted to say that because your blog I've started going to Body Pump classes at my local 24 Hour Fitness. It's an awesome workout!

I still need to get a heart rate monitor though! How many calories do you tend to burn during a 60 minute Pump class?

Dynamics said...

I substitute part whole wheat flour for white flour. I also substitute the oil with applesauce.

Kerr said...

yep, I live on James Island. I found you through pancakes and pajamas! I love meeting new charleston bloggers!

Maria said...

Love the new look! sorry I haven't been around, new job and I have the flu. Not a good week for me:( I love using applesauce or yogurt in my baking.

Christina said...

i try to substitute greek yogurt instead of mayo in salads and oil in baking products! nice new layout!

Krista said...

Great new blog look!

I like to sub applesauce in place of oil. Oil has just always creeped me out when it comes to baking!!!

Natalie said...

I know this is a popular one but applesauce is such a great sub in baking!

Lindsay said...

I love, love, love using applesauce instead of oil in cakes etc. Makes them more moist and better for you!

Megan D said...

This book looks awesome! My favorite substitute is making buttermilk by adding 1 T vinegar to 1 cup soymilk!

Alisa said...

Hmm, tough question. I like to make taco seasoning from scratch as a sub for store-bought. And, I often use ground flaxseed or nuts (with water or milk alternative added to consistency/taste) instead of oil to thicken salad dressing. - My email is alisa - @godiaryfree.org :)

Anon said...

i love to replace sour cream with greek yogurt!

Jess said...

This book sounds awesome! I'm always googling substitutes for late night baking! I also love substitutes that make baked goods less of a splurge and more of a tasty treat - applesauce for oil, bananas for eggs, etc.

Stacey said...

The new blog design looks great. As for substitutions defiantly applesauce for oil and whole wheat flour for white flour. That book sounds really interesting. I seem to always be out of an ingredient in a recipe.

Stacey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather said...

That book sounds so cool! My kitchen would love it :). I like to use Greek yogurt instead of Mayo and sour cream and smashed banana instead of apple sauce in some baking recipes.

Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews said...

I like to replace butter with applesauce in recipes.

jodie said...

Using greek yogurt is fav.

Trying To Heal said...

i love the new layout! very pretty!

fav sub: applesauce for oil/butter/margarine. :D

Julie said...

gaaah your new layout is so sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and i love the commenting feature :) baller status girl.

umm my favorite sub is definitely egg whites for eggs! does that count??

Lauren said...

First, I love the new layout! It's great Erica!

Second, I love the idea of this cookbook. I think my favorite sub ingredient in plain yogurt for mayo or sour cream.

Hope you are having a great week so far!

Erin said...

My favorite substitute is applesauce for oil.

Anonymous said...

I do the applesauce for butter thing while baking sometimes

Alycia @ Fit n Fresh said...

My grandmother taught a pretty sweet buttermilk substitution - 1 cup of milk plus 1 tbsp vinegar. Weird, right?

Anonymous said...

I dont often replace things very much in recipes!! If I ever replace something, it is usually for something very similar!! For example, if I am making a cookie recipe and I want to change it up a bit I will change Plain Chocolate Chip for Broken up English Chocolate, Add White Chocolate Chips, and possible add nuts or other fun goodies!! ;)

I Run for Fun said...

That is such a handy book! I love substitutions, they make me think!.

I use turmeric instead of saffron in Indian recipes, honey instead of sugar in cakes and in cereal (that counts, right?), substitute wheat flour for rice flour wherever possible.

Michelle said...

yayyy what an awesome giveaway!!! :P

I have allowed low fat yogurt to replace most of the oil in brownie batters. I also looove the flax egg because i'm not a huge egg eater so if i have a carton of it, it usually goes bad!

the phillips fam said...

Sounds like an awesome book!

My favorite substitute is nonfat greek yogurt for sour cream!

Katie said...

I love the new look!!! Looks great, lady. It's not so original, but I like substituting applesauce for butter and oil in baked goods. It does NOT work well in chocolate chip cookies, though!

BroccoliHut said...

What a great concept for a book! My favorite sub is cubed tofu for hardboiled egg whites--it's so much quicker than boiling eggs, peeling, and chopping them.

Anonymous said...

Always sub for breadcrumbs with ground fiber one or oatmeal! Also canned pumpkin in cakes or brownies instead of oil and eggs! Plus many many more! I sub alot!

Anonymous said...

PS...I thought I was lost when I came to your page! LOVE your new layout!

Anonymous said...

and carob chips for chocolate chips...ok, I'm done. I promise. hehe

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

fave sub is coconut oil for all butter or oils. not very original but i love it!

Diana said...

Cool book!

My fave substitution is spelt flour for regular flour. But I also enjoy trying to make recipes vegan...even though I'm not vegan. Lol :)

Holly said...

LOVE the new bloggie look!!

Oh I love to substitute things! My favorite would probably be applesauce for oil when I bake things. You don't even miss the oil!

Taylor said...

My favorite substitute is apple sauce for oil when baking! I would love to see the other great substitutions in this book!

Anita said...

I have started substituting egg whites for whole eggs. You can't tell the difference and it makes the dish with fewer calories. This justifies that second brownie :-)

The Blonde Duck said...

I like your new look!

Melissa @ For the Love of Health said...

Hey Erica! hmmm good substitute egg beaters for the egg!
:-)

Chef Amber Shea said...

1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 Tbsp warm water, to replace 1 egg, is one I use all the time in baking :]

Kim Scott said...

the thing I swap most is applesauce for butter in baking...it makes the results more moist, and also healthier!
Kim

russracing@netzero.net said...

I use plain lowfat Kefir instead of Buttermilk.

Keri said...

GREAT info. Lovely Blog. Fun Friends. You have everything. Keri (a.k.a. Sam)

Deborah said...

Oh my goodness, this is a book I need! I'm always finding myself one ingredient short!

Autumn @Good Eats Girl said...

I just had to google a substitute for something I was using the other day! I'd have to say that I use applesauce instead of oil the most!

Kerstin said...

I like adding in ground walnuts or almonds in place of flour in some recipes - great giveaway!

Eden said...

I love subing flax meal for flour, AMAZING how well if works! and so much healthier!