Create Your Own Menu (Part 9): Substitutions & Equivalents

This multi-part series will help you if you are interested in creating your own once a month cooking menu. This post helps you to determine how to substitute ingredients, figure equivalents and condense your grocery list.

What's all the chatter about?

Tricia: That sounds like a great idea!

Heather {Gottes Belle Farm}: I think this work for our 6 hour long ride to the U.P. from the very southern part of...

Tricia: Did you click on the “printable recipe cards” link? I just did and it worked. It could have been...

Wendy: This is a great idea! I could not access the link to the toddler menu though.

Rita: Thank you, Lisa. I tried substituting whole-wheat pastry flour for both flours and the muffins are...

lisa: Heather- Yes – Quinoa is a seed, but most of my research in preparing it for baby foods refers to it as a...

lisa: Correct, no salt

kim: Wow, never heard of that one! I’ll have to try it out. What is the substitution ratio?

kim: Coconut oil is usually an acceptable substitution for butter. Maybe it is just because it is summer now, but my...

Tricia: If you are doing a May 2011-current menu (not a 5 day mini though) then you should assume that the recipe...

Tricia: Yes 1 for 1.

kim: Great, thanks for sharing!

Tricia: Oh that sounds amazing! I am definitely going to try it that way very soon. I have some in my freezer.

Heather: This is a great idea! One quick correction, though – quinoa is a seed, not a grain

Sometimes it is...

Heather: I believe this is for babies who are being introduced to whole foods, Lilsunflowerz.

Kim: I love using mashed beans to replace butter!! I’m at half beans, half butter right now but it makes a...

Cheryl: LOVED IT! Served on whole wheat buns with bleu cheese dressing and some bc crumbles, finished off with...

Amy: In pie crust recipes I have successfully swapped butter for shortening in an attempt at whole food substitution....

Julie: I use the enjoy life brand. HH recommended them when you don’t make your own cc. They are soy, dairy,...

SarahM: I made these today and LOVE them! My 3 year old daughter really likes them too! Win!

I used ripe/overripe...

skinny monkey cookies: I agree with the bland comments did not taste good ick!

abbi: We checked the links for the recipe cards and grocery list and they are working fine. Please try to refresh and...

Annett @ Fit Moms Fit Kids Club: I find when baking that if you substitute White Whole Wheat Flour you don’t...

Kelly: Thanks for the comment Laura, this is the diet menu page but I’ll take note for the paleo page. I...

kim: Thanks for sharing! I could not find fully acceptable chocolate chips in my regular grocery store, so just went...

Heather: Can you use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?

Bree: Looks delicious can’t wait to try it I’m going to try to make it tonight

Shalene: If you are looking for ways to make your own chocolate chips (they will not be shaped like the chips you...

Andrea: I am confused. if your recipes are for a family of 4, your grocery list says to indicate the number of people...

Michele: I’ve made crab cakes many times and can’t wait to make these. I just might chop a scallion or...