With Xmas approaching We concentrate on gifts for all the children/grandchildren etc. The adults enjoy fine wine, nice food and when it is a get together at one person’s home we each bring a dish. Xmas is mainly for children and enjoying the looks on their faces. – Susan Wood, Christchurch
Last week Laura from Paeroa had a question for readers. “I would like to do some baking but with butter so expensive at the moment I would like recipes that use oil instead. Can you replace butter with oil? ” Andie from Christchurch says yes – essentially the conversion ratio is 1 part butter to […]
Andrea writes, “Margarine can replace butter in just about every recipe, which makes it cheaper. It can be used in recipes where the butter is melted or softened or creamed. I’ve used it in scones, biscuits, slices, cakes, muffins and everything, really. Oil can replace butter in recipes where the butter is melted, but it […]
DJ from Whangarei writes, “There is a movement called Time Banking. There are TimeBanks set up around the country. You might pay a small joining fee then list your skills, connect with others and request help on things and offer help to others in return. Everyone’s time is equal.” This is what Time Bank says […]
I have substituted applesauce for both sugar and liquid in making muffins. I made the applesauce when I could get eating apples super cheap, cooked them down to a puree and bottled it in jam jars. When I made my muffins, I just tipped in a jar of the applesauce to substitute for both sugar […]
I have substituted oil for butter in the bread I bake and there seems to be little to no difference in the resulting loaf. I substitute the oil at the same weight I have for the butter. – ie, 250 gram oil for 250 gram of butter. – Annette in Canterbury
Margarine can replace butter in just about every recipe, which makes it cheaper. It can be used in recipes where the butter is melted or softened or creamed. I’ve used it in scones, biscuits, slices, cakes, muffins and everything, really. Oil can replace butter in recipes where the butter is melted, but it won’t work […]
There were quite a few ways of making butter go further by adding water, milk, and even cornflour. These days, the simplest way is to combine warm water and butter in equal parts by putting the butter into a mixer on low speed and slowly adding warm water until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Store it […]
Caron from the Waikato writes, Last Spring I bought an unusual yellow heritage tomato plant at a Farmer’s market. It grew very well and produced the most wonderful large bright yellow, delicious fruit. I cut a thick slice from the last one, placed it on a paper towel and let it completely dry out on […]
An oily rag family from Northland has written to us about their no-cost family activity. Grandma and four kiddies packed a picnic lunch and had a great time at their local reserve. The kids each made a stick raft from dried flax flower stems, which they dropped off a bridge for a race down the […]