Cook & Tell Owner's Manual

A Guide to Understanding the Idiosyncratic

To make sure we all leave the starting gate at the same time, the Cook &Tell Bureau of Weights, measures, Egg Sizes and Oven Temperatures offers the following guidance:

1.      The big “T” means tablespoon. The little “t” means teaspoon. If you forget, remember the supreme logic of the premise: A tablespoon is bigger than a teaspoon.

2.  “Eggs” means large eggs, unless otherwise noted.

3.     In most cases, we prefer butter to margarine. Substitute as you wish, but use stick margarine that contains at least 60% oil.

4.     Shortening means the solid kind, Crisco, for instance. (Is there any other kind? Whatever happened to Spry?)

5.     Just “flour” means all-purpose flour.

6.     When brown sugar is called for, use light brown, unless otherwise noted. And pack it. (You knew that.)

7.     Cream cheese is the brick-type kind unless specifically described as whipped.

8.     Sift only when ordered to. Ditto on greasing pans. The “p” in “s & p” is freshly ground. Sometimes I spell it out, for the benefit of those who came in late.