In a Pinch? Memorize These Common Cooking Substitutes

If you want to try out a new recipe but you don’t have time to run out to the grocery store, don’t sweat it. These helpful ingredient substitutions will show you how to use an item that you have on hand in place of one that you don’t, and they just may save your entire dish.

  1. Beef or Chicken Broth. Though it is easier to use a pre-packaged broth, there are ways around it. Simply mix one bullion cube with one cup of boiling water to create a simple broth, or blend one tablespoon of soy sauce with enough water to equal one cup.
  2. Brown Sugar. For sweeter dishes, substitute one cup of white sugar plus 1/4 cup of molasses in place of one cup of standard brown sugar, but be sure to decrease the liquid in the rest of the recipe by 1/4 up. 1 1/4 cup of confectioner’s sugar will also work.
  3. Buttermilk. Instead of less-common buttermilk, mix one tablespoon of vinegar with enough regular milk to equal one cup.
  4. Honey. 1 1/4 cup of white sugar plus 1/3 cup of water is an equal substitution for one cup of regular honey. You can also use one cup of corn syrup.

Common Ingredients Substitutions [All Recipes]
Cooking: Ingredient Substitutions [UNL Food]
Baking Ingredient Substitution Table [Joy of Baking]

Happy Labor Day!

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Labor Day!

Trellis Spa at The Houstonian: Pamper Yourself

Pamper yourself at Trellis Spa at The Houstonian. This hotel spa offers an array of relaxing and rejuvenating services, from facials and waxing to massages and body wraps. Customers love the ambiance with soothing decor and fresh flower arrangements. Large windows look out onto the Houstonian’s 18-acre grounds.

Arrive early for your service and lounge about in a soft, oversized robe and snack on cookies and tea. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of the amenities, which include an indoor float pool, jacuzzi tubs, steam rooms, and a tranquility room with a fireplace.

Plan on spending a whole afternoon at Trellis.

Trellis Spa at The Houstonian
111 N. Post Oak Lane
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 680-2626
www.houstonian.com/TheSpa.aspx
www.yelp.com/biz/the-houstonian-hotel-club-and-spa-houston

The League of Extraordinary Brewers: Unique Brews and Delicious Eats

Craft beer enthusiasts will find their dreams have come true once they step into The League of Extraordinary Brewers. A true celebration of small breweries from Texas and beyond, this gastropub also serves beer brewed right on the premises. Local beers include Nitro Lone Pint and Brazos Valley alongside Texas labels such as 512 and Rogness. The selection changes to include new and seasonal taps, a reason to stop back frequently to see what’s offered.

A fresh pint of your favorite style of beer goes great with the small plate selection on the menu, including cheese plates and the favorite beer cheese pretzel. More substantial fare includes hand-stretched pizzas topped with Meyer’s Elgin Sausage, a regional craft meat. Settle in beside other beer connoisseurs in this cozy yet comfortable brewery accented by exposed brick and wall length windows.

The League of Extraordinary Brewers
907 Franklin Street
Houston, TX 77002
(281) 406-0652
leaguebrewpub.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-league-of-extraordinary-brewers-houston

Houston Dairymaids: A Gourmet Cheese Shop

Cheeses of all varieties can be found at Houston Dairymaids, a specialty cheese shop on Airline Drive. For the past seven years, Houston Dairymaids has brought local, hand-made cheeses unlike any other to the city’s specialty foods community, seeking out products made from unpasteurized milk to offer customers excellence in flavor. Working strictly with Texas cheesemakers sets this market apart from other specialty food stores, giving recognition to some of the state’s best cheesemakers.

Houston Dairymaids is open Tuesdays through Sundays to sell cheese, honey, Slow-Dough breads, fine wines, and craft beers. Learn the subtle differences between Scarmoza and Mozzarella or which cheeses pair well with your favorite wines. Houston Dairymaids is a great place to indulge in your passion for delicious dairy products while you stock up on your favorites or pick up a few to give as gifts.

Houston Dairymaids
2201 Airline Drive
Houston, TX 77009
(713) 880-4800
www.houstondairymaids.com
www.yelp.com/biz/houston-dairymaids-houston-2

Three Useful Apps for Tennis Fans

You love tennis, but unfortunately you can’t spend every day on the court. If you want to get a daily dose of tennis even when you’re on the go, there are a number of smartphone apps for tennis fanatics just like yourself. Here are a few of the best.

Tennis Channel
Browse an entire channel dedicated to your favorite sport no matter where you are with the Tennis Channel app. The sleek, easy to navigate layout makes it simple to browse through news from competitions like the Masters, as well as scores, blogs, and player profiles to keep you even more connected to the latest tennis happenings. Tennis Channel even offers HD videos of full matches from your favorite players around the world.

Tennis Channel Everywhere
Tennis Channel Everywhere enables fans to watch both live and past videos from the Tennis Channel right from any iPhone or iPad device. Keep up with current tennis matches airing on the popular television channel with the live feature, or browse through the high quality video archives to catch up on the highlights from matches you may have missed.

World Tennis News
If you prefer to read your tennis news rather than watch all of the highlights, World Tennis News is the app for you. This attractive app rounds up news and results from all across the competitive tennis circuit and compiles them into a neatly organized database that’s constantly updated.

Try Gourmet Cupcakes at Sprinkles

Get your sweet treats at Sprinkles in Houston. Although a chain cupcake bakery, customers rave about the fresh deliciousness of the confections. Favorite flavors include the chocolate marshmallow, red velvet, and strawberry but even boring old vanilla still tastes great at Sprinkles! You can even expect gluten free and vegan options. Check the website for today’s flavors, including seasonal specialties. Sprinkles is popular and will often sell out, so get there earlier in the day for the best selection. Although expensive at $3.75 each, these gourmet cupcakes are generously sized.

Sprinkles
4014 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 871-9929
http://www.sprinkles.com/cupcake-bakery-locations/houston
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sprinkles-cupcakes-houston

Bite Into a Tasty Taco at Torchy’s Tacos

Torchy's Tacos originated in Austin, but the tales of these tacos have traveled across the state to Houston, where the franchise has debuted several locations. What started off as a somewhat far-fetched dream of chef Michael Rypka ended up becoming a wildly successful business.

Taco selections include the shrimp with coleslaw, jalapenos, and queso: the beef barbacoa with avocado, and cilantro; and fried mushroom with refried black beans, corn, and carrots. The meat is tender and juicy, the vegetables are fresh and well-seasoned, and there are plenty of vegetarian options.

Be sure to try Torchy's breakfasts, which feature crisp potatoes, scrambled eggs, tomatillo sauce, and expertly cooked bacon. Torchy's is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and opens at 8 a.m. on the weekends.

Torchy's Tacos
2411 South Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 595-8226
http://www.torchystacos.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/torchys-tacos-houston

Save Room for the Berry Bread Pudding at Masraff’s

An elegant ambiance, expertly attentive service, and a sumptuous menu of flavorful fare are the hallmarks of Masraff’s. Seating options include the bar with an elevated fireplace, the patio, or in the chic dining room.

Settle in with a glass of wine from Masraff's expansive inventory, then whet your appetite with the ahi tuna tartar, garlic seared calamari, or the chilled colossal crab. Move on to the main event with pan seared diver scallops with carrot ginger bisque, coffee rubbed filet mignon with wild mushroom risotto, or pan roasted chicken breast with au gratin potatoes. Save a spot for the warm triple berry bread pudding with cream cheese mousse.

Masraff's is open every day.

Masraff's
1753 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 355-1975
www.masraffs.com
www.yelp.com/biz/masraffs-houston

Deliciously Unique Uses for Fresh Parsley

Fresh parsley is a very versatile herb, and it’s also one of the most common in any at-home herb garden. If you love the bright, fresh taste of parsley but you’re growing tired of your usual recipes, all it takes is a bit of inspiration to come up with brand new dishes. Here are three unique uses for parsley.

Parsley Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce
Instead of the traditional Italian ravioli, why not spice things up with the decadent flavors of brown butter, ricotta cheese, and parsley. These homemade raviolis are made using won ton wrappers instead of pasta, and the robust taste of flat-leaf parsley really shines against the creamy flavor of the brown butter sauce.

Cucumber, Onion and Parsley Salad with Feta Cheese
This fast and easy salad is perfect for a quick lunch at home. The cucumber and onion make a crisp, crunchy base, while the lemon juice and olive oil blend to create a healthy dressing. Sprinkle some fresh parsley and crumbled feta cheese across the top before serving.

Chimichurri
This Argentinean sauce is similar to traditional pesto, but the addition of chili pepper gives it a bit of added spice. Fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, and olive oil create a lovely deep green color throughout the oil-based sauce. Argentineans use chimichurri as everything from a steak marinade to a pasta sauce.

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