How Do You Improvise in the Kitchen?

[JAS_OH1]

But I do know what molasses tastes like. I don't even remember why I bought it exactly. It was for a recipe but not sure what because I didn't get around to making it. I think maybe a different pumpernickel bread than the recipe I used previously.

https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Dark-Pumpernickel-Rye-Bread-2562959#directions

Yup. It was the pumpernickel bread recipe. I have everything to make it except the motivation.

 

[Morning Glory]

Lol I’ve just happened upon a bottle of pomegranate molasses and can’t remember what I wanted that for.
I suspect it was Ottolenghi related

Usually is.

Pomegranate molasses goes extremely well with aubergines, though. Oh yes...

 

[ElizabethB]

My most frequent improvisation/hack is Buttermilk. I cannot justify purchasing an entire container for 1/3 cup or a TBSP. I always have lemons and heavy cream on hand. 1 TBSP lemon juice + 1 cup cream. I rarely make more than 1/3 cup.
Another hack I like is citrus sugar. If a recipe calls for granulated sugar and citrus zest, I put the sugar and zest in a small food processor and pulse a few times. The zest is fully and evenly incorporated into the batter.
There are several items I make rather than purchase: Hummus, Tartar Sauce and Pimento Cheese immediately come to mind.

 

[The Late Night Gourmet]

No rolling pin? No problem!

I have 2 rolling pins - 1 French roller and 1 standard - somewhere, but I have plenty of cans of vegetables and soup (which I rarely use, so I know they’re there).

 

[TastyReuben]

View attachment 109509

No rolling pin? No problem!

I have 2 rolling pins - 1 French roller and 1 standard - somewhere, but I have plenty of cans of vegetables and soup (which I rarely use, so I know they’re there).

Wine bottle, man!

 

[caseydog]

View attachment 109509

No rolling pin? No problem!

I have 2 rolling pins - 1 French roller and 1 standard - somewhere, but I have plenty of cans of vegetables and soup (which I rarely use, so I know they’re there).

A can like that is the perfect tool for smashing plantains to make tostones.

CD

 

[The Late Night Gourmet]

A can like that is the perfect tool for smashing plantains to make tostones.

CD

And, you know it goes well with tostones? Corn. See how efficient we are?

 

[The Late Night Gourmet]

Wine bottle, man!

I like this better: when I’m done, I have a reward.

 

[ElizabethB]

Tostones Something else I had to look up.

 

[ElizabethB]

I have a regular rolling pin and a French rolling pin. I brought the regular pin to the camp at Toledo Bend. I want a pasta rolling pin but do not want to pay the price so I will improvise and get a dowel cut to size and sand the ends smooth.

 

[caseydog]

Tostones Something else I had to look up.

Plantain chips. You cut the plantains into one inch chunks, par fry them, then smash them with something (like a big can of corn), and fry them until crispy.

CD

 

[karadekoolaid]

Delish!
In Colombia they call them patacones, in Venezuela, tostones. There's even a little kitchen gadget to "smash" them, like a wooden tortilla press, with a circle cut in the middle.
I don't care what they call them - I just snaffle them down.

 

[badjak]

I have a regular rolling pin and a French rolling pin. I brought the regular pin to the camp at Toledo Bend. I want a pasta rolling pin but do not want to pay the price so I will improvise and get a dowel cut to size and sand the ends smooth.

I use a piece of broom stick
It's beech, sanded and works a dream

 

[The Late Night Gourmet]

Wine bottle, man!

I actually found Wine Bottle Man:

 

[ElizabethB]

Good idea. Unfortunately, my broom does not have a wood handle.