Random Questions

[oyceter]

Happy solstice! I don't celebrate in any religious way, but I really should get the sticky rice and sesame or peanut paste balls that you eat on winter solstice. Tasty. And I am just happy because today is the absolute shortest day of the year, so I can finally look forward to the days getting (slightly) longer! Oh sun, how I miss you!

I have become a completely lazy person and stopped researching because everyone here is so helpful. I am so lazy, in fact, that I attempt to blame my shortcomings on the lovely volunteer spirit of people -_-;;.

And so... random questions!

1. Is is possible to substitute wheat flour for white flour? Does it do horrible, horrible things?

2. Is it possible to substitue soy milk for milk in recipes? Does it chemically react to things and utterly mess them up? I do sort of realize that one cannot make cheese or yogurt or clotted cream from soy milk, but in oatmeal, I think it should be ok... on the other hand, my cooking exploits should teach me to follow the recipe. Also also, my stomach is really, really unhappy with the amount of dairy I am currently consuming, and I want more oatmeal.

3. I have decided to use the Amazon gift certificates that I get from my credit card to acquire manga. Indeed, I have finally fallen prey to the darned things, despite swearing up and down (and left and right) not to, due to the enormous price difference between English-translated manga and Chinese-translated manga. Like my laziness, I blame everyone on LJ for this ;).

So... what should I get? I currently have random volumes of Saiyuki and have decided that I need to get all of Saiyuki, Saiyuki Gaiden and Saiyuki Reload. I am also planning on buying all of Nana to support my favorite mangaka and manga ever (so far...). And I just ordered the first three vols. of Fruits Basket. I will probably also start getting Kare Kano instead of snitching them from the library.

4. I plan to embark on adventures in blocking soon. Any advice? I don't have a blocking board and don't plan on buying one (I figure I will use my bed or something)... what else should I get?

5. What is molasses anyway? I had some for the first time on Monday when I was baking gingerbread. It is dark and sticky and has a really nifty rich, malty flavor. I like. I also felt very Little House on the Prairie.

6. If Cthulu and the Beast were to duke it out, who would win? Discuss.

Comments

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

1. You want King Arthur White Wheat Flour, which Trader Joe's carries. It substitutes better for white flour than most. Even so, blend it. Pure whole wheat flour gives you heavier baked goods than normal.

2. Yes, but you'll have to mess around with them to get the quantities right.
3. No clue.
4. No clue.
5. Sugar-syrup residue left over from refining white sugar. Dark and caramell-y tasting. Adds moisture to baked goods.

6. Cthulhu always wins every fight because he can play the Apocalypse Card.

[oyceter]

Oh neat! I just read your post on King Arthur flour too ^_^.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

The "White wheat" is a special whole-wheat flour, by the way; I usually bake with regular King Arthur, which is an unbleached flour, but doesn't have the bran or germ. White wheat is in a distinctive brown package.

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/flour/home.php