Hello,
I don't usually post here but I'm hoping someone can help. I have a
recipe for chocolate, cream cheese filled cupcakes and I forgot to buy the
vinegar needed! It only calls for a table spoon of vinegar. I'm not
usually one to bake from scratch, but I do from time to time. This recipe
is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar? What is it's
purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!

Beth

Beth wrote:

> Hello,
> I don't usually post here but I'm hoping someone can help. I have a
> recipe for chocolate, cream cheese filled cupcakes and I forgot to buy the
> vinegar needed! It only calls for a table spoon of vinegar. I'm not
> usually one to bake from scratch, but I do from time to time. This recipe
> is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar? What is it's
> purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!

Sounds like it's there to increase the acidity. You could also
try lemon juice.

In any case, if it's only one T I think you're safe
leaving it out.

--
Reg email: RegForte (at) (that free MS email service) (dot) com

"Reg" > wrote in message
m...
> Beth wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>> I don't usually post here but I'm hoping someone can help. I
>> have a recipe for chocolate, cream cheese filled cupcakes and I forgot to
>> buy the vinegar needed! It only calls for a table spoon of vinegar. I'm
>> not usually one to bake from scratch, but I do from time to time. This
>> recipe is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar? What
>> is it's purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!
>
> Sounds like it's there to increase the acidity. You could also
> try lemon juice.
>
> In any case, if it's only one T I think you're safe
> leaving it out.
>
> --
> Reg email: RegForte (at) (that free MS email service) (dot) com
>

Thanks!! I am really dying for some chocolate right now but not enough to
make a trip to the store for vinegar!

"Beth" > wrote in message
. com...
>
> "Reg" > wrote in message
> m...
>> Beth wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>> I don't usually post here but I'm hoping someone can help. I
>>> have a recipe for chocolate, cream cheese filled cupcakes and I forgot
>>> to buy the vinegar needed! It only calls for a table spoon of vinegar.
>>> I'm not usually one to bake from scratch, but I do from time to time.
>>> This recipe is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar?
>>> What is it's purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!
>>
>> Sounds like it's there to increase the acidity. You could also
>> try lemon juice.
>>
>> In any case, if it's only one T I think you're safe
>> leaving it out.
>>

If the leavening agent in your recipe is baking soda, then you probably need
the vinegar. Decreasing the pH will reducing browning and increase
tenderness, but I bet that it is there to react with the baking soda. If
the leavening agent is baking powder only, then you will probably be OK.

"Vox Humana" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Beth" > wrote in message
> . com...
>>
>> "Reg" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>> Beth wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello,
>>>> I don't usually post here but I'm hoping someone can help. I
>>>> have a recipe for chocolate, cream cheese filled cupcakes and I forgot
>>>> to buy the vinegar needed! It only calls for a table spoon of vinegar.
>>>> I'm not usually one to bake from scratch, but I do from time to time.
>>>> This recipe is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar?
>>>> What is it's purpose and is there something I could substitute?
>>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Sounds like it's there to increase the acidity. You could also
>>> try lemon juice.
>>>
>>> In any case, if it's only one T I think you're safe
>>> leaving it out.
>>>
>
> If the leavening agent in your recipe is baking soda, then you probably
> need the vinegar. Decreasing the pH will reducing browning and increase
> tenderness, but I bet that it is there to react with the baking soda. If
> the leavening agent is baking powder only, then you will probably be OK.
>It is baking powder. Whew! Thanks!

"Beth" > wrote in message
. com...
>
> "Vox Humana" > wrote in message
> . ..
>>
>> "Beth" > wrote in message
>> . com...
>>>
>>> "Reg" > wrote in message
>>> m...
>>>> Beth wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>> I don't usually post here but I'm hoping someone can help. I
>>>>> have a recipe for chocolate, cream cheese filled cupcakes and I forgot
>>>>> to buy the vinegar needed! It only calls for a table spoon of
>>>>> vinegar. I'm not usually one to bake from scratch, but I do from time
>>>>> to time. This recipe is completely from scratch. How necessary is the
>>>>> vinegar? What is it's purpose and is there something I could
>>>>> substitute? Thanks!
>>>>
>>>> Sounds like it's there to increase the acidity. You could also
>>>> try lemon juice.
>>>>
>>>> In any case, if it's only one T I think you're safe
>>>> leaving it out.
>>>>
>>
>> If the leavening agent in your recipe is baking soda, then you probably
>> need the vinegar. Decreasing the pH will reducing browning and increase
>> tenderness, but I bet that it is there to react with the baking soda. If
>> the leavening agent is baking powder only, then you will probably be OK.
>>It is baking powder. Whew! Thanks!
>
>
Question...If it hadn't been baking powder for my recipe, but instead it had
been baking soda, could I have changed the baking soda for baking powder and
just not worried about the vinegar? What's the difference? Thanks! I love
the quick response to comments I'm learning something here!
Beth

On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 23:33:00 GMT, "Beth" >
wrote:

>Hello,
> This recipe
>is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar? What is it's
>purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!


Beth...you need to find a new hobby......baking is not your forte.

"Ward Abbott" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 23:33:00 GMT, "Beth" >
> wrote:
>
>>Hello,
>> This recipe
>>is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar? What is it's
>>purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!
>
>
> Beth...you need to find a new hobby......baking is not your forte.
>
Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!

On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:59:36 GMT, "Beth" >
wrote:

>Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
>good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!

I would defy you to be able to tell the difference between a "scratch"
cake and a Duncan Hines Deluxe mix. You would choose the Duncan
Hines mix.

Vinegar is acid. Lemon or lime juice would be an acceptable
substitute in a pinch. A small bottle of vinegar would be essential
in any kitchen from making a quick vinaigrette to cleaning a crystal
vase.

Whoa dude! Aren't we a bit testy?? She asked a legitimate question & you
have to be an asshole??

WTF?? It's people like you that keep people like her away from newsgroups
like this.

My parents were very fond of a saying: "If you can't say something nice,
don't say anything at all."

Shame on you...



"Ward Abbott" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:59:36 GMT, "Beth" >
> wrote:
>
>>Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
>>good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!
>
> I would defy you to be able to tell the difference between a "scratch"
> cake and a Duncan Hines Deluxe mix. You would choose the Duncan
> Hines mix.
>
> Vinegar is acid. Lemon or lime juice would be an acceptable
> substitute in a pinch. A small bottle of vinegar would be essential
> in any kitchen from making a quick vinaigrette to cleaning a crystal
> vase.
>
>
>
>

Lisa wrote:

> Whoa dude! Aren't we a bit testy?? She asked a legitimate question & you
> have to be an asshole??
>
> WTF?? It's people like you that keep people like her away from newsgroups
> like this.
>
> My parents were very fond of a saying: "If you can't say something nice,
> don't say anything at all."

Have you said something nice...?

Pastorio


>
> Shame on you...
>
>
>
> "Ward Abbott" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:59:36 GMT, "Beth" >
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
>>>good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!
>>
>>I would defy you to be able to tell the difference between a "scratch"
>>cake and a Duncan Hines Deluxe mix. You would choose the Duncan
>>Hines mix.
>>
>>Vinegar is acid. Lemon or lime juice would be an acceptable
>>substitute in a pinch. A small bottle of vinegar would be essential
>>in any kitchen from making a quick vinaigrette to cleaning a crystal
>>vase.

On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 13:57:07 GMT, "Lisa" > wrote:

>My parents were very fond of a saying:

Truth if brutal.....but there is something about that heat in the
kitchen <vbg>

Ward Abbott wrote:
> On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:59:36 GMT, "Beth" >
> wrote:
>
>>Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
>>good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!
>
> I would defy you to be able to tell the difference between a "scratch"
> cake and a Duncan Hines Deluxe mix. You would choose the Duncan
> Hines mix.

We used to do cakes in my restaurants, for banquet customers. We
discovered early on that if you asked people what they wanted, it was
almost always a cake from scratch. But if you let them taste side by
side, they almost always chose the box mix. They're more intensely
flavored, sweeter, and more moist because of all the extra chemicals and
humectants they put into them. They have more - new word - "cakeness" to
them. Same principle as, if two are good, four are better.

> Vinegar is acid. Lemon or lime juice would be an acceptable
> substitute in a pinch. A small bottle of vinegar would be essential
> in any kitchen from making a quick vinaigrette to cleaning a crystal
> vase.

Exactly.

Pastorio

Bob (this one) wrote:
> Ward Abbott wrote:
> > On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:59:36 GMT, "Beth" >
> > wrote:
> >
> >>Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
> >>good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!
> >
> > I would defy you to be able to tell the difference between a "scratch"
> > cake and a Duncan Hines Deluxe mix. You would choose the Duncan
> > Hines mix.
>
> We used to do cakes in my restaurants, for banquet customers. We
> discovered early on that if you asked people what they wanted, it was
> almost always a cake from scratch. But if you let them taste side by
> side, they almost always chose the box mix. <snip>

But what about people ;like myself, who prefer to make it from scratch
largely so they are NOT eating all the chemical, preservative,
unpronouncable powdered junk. I cook becasue I want to know - and be
able to pronounce - every single ingredient that goes into what I eat.
Andthat don't happen with a box mix.

"Ward Abbott" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:59:36 GMT, "Beth" >
> wrote:
>
>>Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
>>good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!
>
> I would defy you to be able to tell the difference between a "scratch"
> cake and a Duncan Hines Deluxe mix. You would choose the Duncan
> Hines mix.
>
> Vinegar is acid. Lemon or lime juice would be an acceptable
> substitute in a pinch. A small bottle of vinegar would be essential
> in any kitchen from making a quick vinaigrette to cleaning a crystal
> vase.

Chill out!! I think I can tell that if I get a box mix and make it it's not
scratch. However, if I mix some flour and sugar and whatever else is
required, then I'm pretty sure that's from scratch. I know what vinegar is
you moron. I just didn't know the point of it in a baking recipe. So
what...I've never had the need or desire to learn to bake from scratch
before now. Now that I picked up the habit of getting from scratch recipes
only a couple months ago I can't bake because I don't know how vinegar
reacts with baking soda?!?!? That's insane. I'm a single 25 year old
living in a metropolitan area where I can order pretty much anything I want
until 3 am. I didn't need to know how to make anything that didn't involve
a box! But now that I've decided I like to try new things I'm being
chastised by some internet baking Nazi. I don't think so. I'll have you
know that the cupcakes I made, which had nothing from a mix, turned out
moist and delicious. I mixed up some flour, cocoa powder, baking powder,
sugar, eggs, cream cheese, oil, water, chocolate chips and vanilla to make
some great chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese and chocolate chip filling
and the filling didn't even come through the top! I think that's pretty
good for a novice! And you're rude comments will not keep me out of the
kitchen. Thanks to those who replied so quickly!! I look forward to more
questions being answered by the kinder people here. As for the person who
has nothing better to do than to be rude, well, let's just say I have no
need for rude people and will now be adding that person to my blocked email
list.
Beth

Beth wrote:

.. I'll have you
> know that the cupcakes I made, which had nothing from a mix, turned out
> moist and delicious. I mixed up some flour, cocoa powder, baking powder,
> sugar, eggs, cream cheese, oil, water, chocolate chips and vanilla to make
> some great chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese and chocolate chip filling
> and the filling didn't even come through the top! I think that's pretty
> good for a novice!

So, will you post the recipe for the rest of us who would rathewr bake
scratch cupcakes than boxed mixes, please?

keep it up Beth. Baking from scratch is much more satisfying that from a
box. It also isn't all that difficult. It just takes practice. Who made
Ward god anyway? wendy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Beth" >
Newsgroups: rec.food.baking
To: >
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 9:59 PM
Subject: Vinegar in baking question


>
> "Ward Abbott" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 23:33:00 GMT, "Beth" >
> > wrote:
> >
> >>Hello,
> >> This recipe
> >>is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar? What is it's
> >>purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!
> >
> >
> > Beth...you need to find a new hobby......baking is not your forte.
> >
> Hey now! I have many great hobbies but I like to get new ones! Isn't it a
> good trait that I want to learn how to do it without a box mix?!?!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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>
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>
>

In article >,
Ward Abbott > wrote:
= On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 23:33:00 GMT, "Beth" >
= wrote:
=
= >Hello,
= > This recipe
= >is completely from scratch. How necessary is the vinegar? What is it's
= >purpose and is there something I could substitute? Thanks!
=
=
= Beth...you need to find a new hobby......baking is not your forte.

And just what business of yours is her choice of hobby?

If you don't want to help, don't -- but there's no need to be
gratuitously nasty. Even if you were whelped knowing all there is
to know about cooking, baking, or anything else, doesn't mean that
everyone is or should be.

Doesn't your news reader have a command or a button to skip articles
you don't like? Better yet, get a news reader with kill-file
capability and put authors of such articles in said file and you'll
never see another post from them. But then that would spoil all
your fun, wouldn't it?


--
Charlie Sorsby

Edgewood, NM 87015
USA