This is a copy of the Toll House Kitchens Success Guide to Baking. BAKING TECHNIQUES: SEPARATING EGGS: Tap the side of the egg on theedge of a bowl or cup to crack the shell. Pass the yold from shell to shell, dropping the white into a cup before adding it to the other whites called for in the recipe. If a little yolk gets into the whites, scoop it out with part of the shell. The presence of any yolk in the whites can ruin them. BEATING EGG WHITES: Egg whites may be beaten with an electric mixer, rotary egg beater or ballon style whisk. Bowl and beater must be clean and dry because even a small amount of grease or oil can prevent the whites from whipping properly. Beat the whites slowly, gradually increasing the speed as they begin to foam. Beat only until they hold shape or point. CAUTION: Do not beat egg whites ahead of time. They should be folded in Immediately after they are beaten. WHIPPING CREAM: Cream may be whipped with electric mixer, rotary eggbeater, or ballon style whisk. Cream, bowl and beaters should be very cold for best results. To avoid spattering, beat slowly, gradually increasing speed as cream thickens. CAUTION: Be careful not to overbeat as you will end up with butter and buttermilk. It is best not to whip cream too far ahead of time or it will separate slightly, if this happens, mix briefly with a wire whisk. FOLDING INGREDIENTS: Many recipes call for folding beatn egg whites or whipped cream into another mixture. Both egg whites and whipped cream contain air in the form of many small bubbles. Folding rather than mixing is done to retain the air in the mixture. Start with a large bow containing the heavier mixture. Using a circular motion with a rubber spatula, cut down through center of mixture across bottom of bowl, lifting up and over. After each fold, rotate the bowl slightly in order ot imcorporate the ingredients as evenly as possible. Fold in remaining egg whites or whipped until uniformly but lightly combined. MEASURING DRY INGREDIENTS: Use the standard graded sets of four: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup. Spoon dry ingredients into measure and level off with a metal spatula. MEASURING LIQUID INGREDIENTS: Use a glass or plastic measureing cup with a pour spout. With the cup sitting on a flat surface, read it at eye level. Fill to exactly to line indicated. WORDS TO BAKE BY: BEAT: to thoroughly combine ingredients and incoporate air with a rapid regular motion. This may be done with a wire shisk, rotary eggbeater or and electric mixer. BLEND: To thoroughly combine two or more ingredients. CHILL: To refrigerate until cold. CREAM: To combine two or more ingredients by beating until the mixture is light and well blended. CUT IN: To combine solid fat with dry ingredients by using a pastry blender or two knives in a scissor motion until particles are of the desired size. DRIZZLE: To sprinkle drops of glaze or icing over food in a random manner from tines of a fork or the end of a spoon. FULL ROLLING BOIL: To cook a mixture until it appears to rise in the pan. The surface billows rather than just bubbles. GLAZE: To coat with a liquid, a thin icing or a jelly either before or after food is cooked. MIXING JUST UNTIL MOISTENED: Combining dry ingredients with liquid ingredients until dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened but mixture is still lumpy. PACKED BROWN SUGAR: Brown sugar pressed into measuring cup with a spoon. Sugar will hold its shape when cup is inverted. SIMMER: To cook in liquid just below the boiling point. Bubbles form slowly just below the surface. SOFT PEAKS: Egg whites or cream beaten to the stage where mixture forms soft rounded peaks when beaters are removed. STIFF PEAKS: Egg whites or cream beaten to the stage where mixture holds stiff pointed peaks when beaters are removed. CHOCOLATE: ITS CARE & HANDLING It's no surprise that chocolate is America's favorite flavor. However, as a natural product made principally from cocoa beans, chocolate does have certain characteristis that affect the way it should be stored and used for best results. STORING CHOCOLATE: The key words are COOL, DRY, AND LOW HUMIDITY! Storage temperature should be between 60 degrees and 78 degrees F. with relative humidity at less than 50 %. It is all right to refrigerate chocolate, but wrap it tightly so that it won't absorb odors. Airtight wrapping will also prevent moisture from condensing on the chocolate when it is removed from the refrigerator. Chocolate becomes hard and brittle when cold, so allow it to come to room temperature before using. A TIP ABOUT MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS: Don't use milk chocolate chips in desserts that do not call for melting the chips before blending them in. The milk content causes them to become hard when they are baked. You may substitute milk chocolate chips for semi-sweet chips in recipes such as frostings or sauces that call for melting the chips. THERE'S NO LOVE IN "BLOOM," BUT NO HARM EITHER: Chocolate has a high content of cocoa butter. When stored at temperatures that fluctuate from hot to cold, chocolate cand evelop "bloom"--a gray film caused by the cocoa butter rising to the surface. This dulls the rich brown chcolate color but does not affect the flavor. When the chocolate melts, it regains its attractive color. Don't hesitate to use it. MELTING CHOCOLATE PERFECTLY: IMPORTANT REMINDER: Even the smallest drop of moisture frm a wet spoon or steam from a double boiler can cause melted chocolate to become lumpy. If this occurs, all is not lost. Stir in 1 T vegetable shortening (not butter) for every 3 ounces of chocolate. Butter is not used because it contains water. Stir continuously until the consistency is smooth and even. TOP OF STOVE METHOD: All varieties of chips can be melted using this traditional method. Place the amount of chips you want ot melt in the top of a clean, dry, double boiler. Place over hot (not boiling) water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Note: water in botom pan should be 1 inch below top pan for best results. MICROWAVE METHOD: All varieties of chips can be melted using a microwave oven. Simply place the amout of chips you want to melt in a dry glass measuring cup twice the size (ie to melt 1 cup of chips, use a 2 cup measuring cup). Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute; stir. Microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds longer; stir. It is necessary to stir the chips because they retain their original shape even in the melted state. Because microwave ovens may differ in power levels, consul your "User's Guide" for specific directions for you particular model. SUBSTITUTIONS: RECIPE CALLS FOR: YOU MAY USE: 1 OZ (1 SQUARE) 3 OUNCES (1/2 CUP) UNSWEETENED BAKING CHOCOLATE CHIPS. CHOCOLATE DECREASE SHORTENING 1 T AND SUGAR 1/4 CUP. 3 OZ (3 SQUARES) 3 OUNCES (1/2 CUP) SEMI-SWEET BAKING SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHIPS 1/4 CUP UNSWEETENED 3 OUNCES (1/2 CUP) COCOA POWDER SEMI-SWEET CHIPS. DECREASE SHORTENING 1 T AND SUGAR 1/4 CUP. BAKING PAN OPTIONS: If a recipe calls for a size of baking pan you don't have, chances are you can use what you do have on hand. Use the following list for parctical substitutions. But remember, changin pan sizes will alter the baking time. Smaller pans take less time than loaf pans with higher sides. TIP: Keep a record of pan size changes and baking times for future use. RECIPE CALLS FOR: YOU MAY USE: 9 x 5 x 3-inch two 7 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 2 1/4 loaf pan inch loaf pans OR three 5 1/2 x 3 1/4 x 2 1/4 inch loaf pans. 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 two 5 1/2 x 3 1/4 x 2 1/4 loaf pan inch loaf pans OR one 1-lb coffee can. 10-inch fluted tube pan one 10 x 4-inch tube pan OR one 12 cup ring mold OR two 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pans. 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking two 9-inch round pans OR pan two 8-inch round pans OR two 8-inch square pans. One 9-inch round pan one 8-inch square pan two 9-inch rond pans three 8-inch round pans SUBSTITUTION MAGIC: How many times has it happened to you? Your're missing one item the recipe calls for and your stuck. Don't despair; just try one of these easy sleight-of-hand substitutes. RECIPE CALLS FOR: YOU MAY USE: 1 t baking powder 1/4 t baking soda + 1/2 t cream of tartar 1/2 cup firmly packed 1/2 cup sugar mixed with brown sugar 2 T molasses 1 cup buttermilk 1 T lemon juice or vinegar and milk to make 1 cup 1/2 cup Corn Syrup 1/2 cup sugar + 2 T liquid 1 T cornstarch 2 T flour OR 4 T quick-cooking tapioca 1 cup Light Cream 7/8 c milk + 3 T butter 1 cup Whole Milk 1 c skim milk + 2 T butter Or 1/2 c evaporated milk + 1/2 c Water 1 t Grated Orange Or 1/2 t dried peel lemon rind ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hope that this helps all of the cooks old and new to solve some of their problems that you have all the time in the kitchen.