Have you ever been frustrated when baking a cake or cookies to discover there is no baking powder on hand or the buttermilk carton is empty?

Have you found it a terrible waste to have to buy a larger container when you only need one half teaspoon?

Here are some basic ingredient substitutions. Have this article laminated and keep it close at hand. One of these days you will find it to be a big time saver; no stopping and running to the store.  Any product made with substituted ingredients may vary slightly from the original but the flavor and texture is still there.

However, there are some cooking ingredients that have no real substitution, baking soda being one of them. Substituting liquid oil for solid shortening in cooking or vice versa does not work well, but in some cases if the recipe calls for one cup melted butter you can use one cup of oil.

Cornstarch (for thickening), 1 Tbs.: ½ Tbs. flour.

Apple pie spice, 1 tsp.: ½ tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, 1/8 t...