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How to Make Ingredient Substitutions

Watch the 5 Ways to Make Ingredient Substitutions When You Don’t Have What You Need for a Recipe video

Have you ever started on a recipe but discovered that you’re missing an ingredient? In my latest video, I share some clever ideas for how to make ingredient substitutions when you don’t have what you need for a recipe.

Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My content may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.

That Elusive Missing Ingredient

Have you ever started to make a recipe and then suddenly realize you don’t have everything you need?

If you’re like me, you may have jumped in and started cooking or baking right away but didn’t read the recipe all the way through. And then you see it! The one line in the recipe that calls for something you don’t have in your pantry or you’re simply out of. Now what? Don’t worry! I have a few ideas that might help.

Substituting Ingredients to the Rescue

Quite a few years ago, my mom gave me an ingenious little paperback book called, quite simply, Substituting Ingredients. The book delivers what it promises!

This popular paperback contains very little prose but lists lots of ingredients that can be substituted for one and another. The book is very thorough!

The authors start at “A” (Allspice) and work all their way through “Z” (Zucchini). They don’t miss an ingredient. The authors have published numerous editions of their popular book to build upon their first edition in 1986.

If you don’t already have the book, you’ll find it to be indispensable to your kitchen library.

Ideas for Substitutions

In my latest kitchen life video, I talk about some of the book’s creative substitutions and how to adjust the other ingredients in your recipe so that the substitution you are using won’t throw off your entire recipe.

For example, if you decide that you don’t want to use white sugar in a cake recipe, but instead, would rather substitute honey, you may not realize that the recipe needs to change. It’s not a one-for-one substitution. The authors explain how you have to adjust how much honey you use in the recipe to account for its liquid nature.

More Videos All About Kitchen Life

Now that you have some ideas of the ingredients that make great substitutions for items you’re missing, be sure to watch my other videos that revolve around what I like to call “Kitchen Life”:

  • My top 5 thrifty kitchen tips
  • My top 10 favorite forever foods that should be in every survival pantry
  • How to make yeast from water
  • Four ways to make a buttermilk substitute

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

Kitchen Academy Videos

Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos, live streams, and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.

In the following members-only video, I talk about Traditional Foods Journals You Need to Read.

Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest

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  3. Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy (Optional Paid) - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
  4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook (Optional Paid) - Get a printed book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.

I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!


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Disclaimer:I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.

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