1 tablespoon flour (for thickening) = 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch.
1 teaspoon baking powder = 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar.
In many recipies you can make an equal substitution between white and brown sugar.
1 cup honey = 1 1/4 cup sugar plus 1/4 cup liquid.
1 cup heavy cream (not to be whipped) = 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup margarine or butter.
1 cup buttermilk = 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to equal 1 cup.
1 cup sour cream = 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough cottage cheese to equal 1 cup (process untill smooth in blender).
1 oz. square unsweetened chocolate = 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening, butter or margarine.
1 medium lemon = 3 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh or bottled); or 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon flavoring.
1 medium orange = 1/3 cup fresh juice or reconstituted frozen orange juice.
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard = 1 teaspoon prepared mustard.
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning = 1/4 teaspoon thyme plus 3/4 teaspoon sage.
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice = 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ginger and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg.
1 teaspoon vanilla = 1 teaspoon almond extract.
1 cup tomato sauce = 8-oz. can tomato sauce; or 1 can of condensed tomato soup; or 1 cup catsup; or 3/4 cup tomato paste plus 1/4 cup water.
-Dry bread crumbs....these can be the store bought kind or you can use leftover garlic toast or even old croutons, just put them in the blender!
-Soft bread crumbs....rip up a piece of bread and process it in the blender.
-Cereal....Wheaties, Corn Flakes, Bran Flakes and even Rice Crispies work well. All of these can either be processed in your blender (or crushed by hand), or used just as they are. You make the call!
-Crushed potato chips.
Sprinkle evenly over the top of "casserole," put it into your preheated oven (400) for 3-5 minutes. Keep in mind that a "casserole" can be something as simple as mac and cheese made on the stovetop. Just preheat the oven while you're making it, put the prepared mac and cheese in an oven safe dish (even a cake pan will do), sprinkle with topping of your choice, bake and voila, home cooking that your Grandma would be proud of! Combine a topping with one or two easy stir-ins!
-Grated cheese, any kind...even a little makes a big difference! Use the same oven temperature and time as the crumb topping. You can even layer toppings. Melt the cheese over the "casserole" first, take it out of the oven and topitoff with one of the buttered crumb toppings. Put it back into the oven for another 3-5 and wow, you've made something really special!