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GT DRAGON Chinese Restaurant * with order over $20 before tax Halton Hills Village 369 Mountainview Rd. S.,Unit 5, Georgetown 905~702~8688 www.gtdragon.com 100% vegetable oil, NO MSG March 28 - 31 FREE order of Chicken Fried Rice* BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY Many folks would assume that while stand- ing in the lobby of the arena waiting for your son to come out of the dressing room, especial- ly in a game where he scored two goals (con- grats Alex!), you might be chatting with your friend about the game. No. Of course not. We were chatting about baking. Now generally, baking is moms domain; Im the cook, shes the baker. Although we cross the lines fre- quently, that is where our passion lies. But I will attempt to clear up the question at hand. What are baking soda, baking powder and cream of tartar? Can you substitute and why are they needed in the recipes? Big question. Lets start with what they are. Baking soda (also known as sodium bicar- bonate) and baking powder are both leavening agents. They are primarily used in baking to help the batter or dough rise. Baking soda requires an acidic compound to kick-start the reaction either cream of tartar, lemon juice, yogurt for example. When the sodium bicar- bonate and the acid react, they create carbon dioxide, which causes the dough to rise. Baking powder was invented in the 1800s so that the sodium bicarbonate and the acid where already combined in one compound. Generally, baking powder consists of two parts baking soda and one part cream of tartar (the acid) mixed with some flour or starch to reduce the reaction. So, if there is sufficient acid in the recipe already, then baking soda can be substituted for baking powder and a sufficient reaction will take place. However, if the recipe has fairly high acidity (which can be caused by butter- milk, lemon, yogurt, citrus or honey) then bak- ing soda is called for because if baking powder is used then the mixture may become exces- sively acidic and some of the acids will remain unconsumed in the chemical reaction and there will be an unpleasant chemical taste to the food. Most baking powders are double acting. This means that they contain two acids that react separately. One reacts at a low tempera- ture (as soon as the batter is prepared) and the other at a higher temperature (once it goes in the oven). If a baking powder is called single acting, then it only reacts at the lower temper- ature. Many recipes like cakes, cookies, etc., call for the butter and sugar to be creamed together at the start of the recipe. This is important because when this happens, it creates tiny seed bubbles in the batter which the leavening gas will further expand when the leavening agent is added. Cream of tartar (not to be confused with the tartar sauce you put on your fish) is a white, odorless powder that is created during the fer- mentation of wine. When the wine ferments, there is a crust left on the inside of the barrels which is purified and this acidic powder then becomes cream of tartar. Cream of tartar is used primarily in combination with baking soda to create baking powder. However, it is also used as a stabilizer for egg whites. It can be used to prevent sugar syrups from crystallizing and is found in combination with potassium chloride in sodium-free salt substitutes. The moral of the story is dont mess with the recipe when you are baking. Baking is a sci- ence and steps that may seem small (like creaming the butter or measuring the baking soda correctly) are key in ensuring that the del- icate chemical reactions are completed properly and your food will come out as intended. Would I substitute baking powder and baking soda probably not, Id head to my neigh- bours to borrow! At this time, I could not find any informa- tion about the shelf life of these products. If you do not use them regularly, my suggestion would be to buy them in small quantities from the bulk food store rather than in the large con- tainers that are sold in the grocery stores. Cooks note: when your baking soda is get- ting tired, you can use it as a natural air-fresh- ener in the fridge it absorbs odours (appar- ently this works in the litter box as well). It also works well in putting out grease fires (but hopefully youll never have to find that out for yourself). Have fun and keep cooking! Lori and Gerry can be reached at whatscookin@independentfreerpress.com Ingredients 1 lb stewing beef 1 pkg fried French onion soup mix 1 carrot, diced 8 medium beets, peeled and diced 1 can (3.5 oz) tomato paste 2 tsp dried dill 12-16 cups beef stock 2 cooking onions, chopped 1 1/2 cups green cabbage, chopped 2 tsp freshly ground pepper coarse salt to taste sour cream for garnish Method 1. Cut stewing beef into bite-size pieces and trim any visible fat. Put in crock pot. 2. Dissolve onion soup mix in hot beef broth. Start with 12 cups and top up after vegetables are added, to make sure the crock pot is full. Stir in tomato paste until well blended. 3. Add the carrots, beets, onion and cab- bage. Stir to distribute. 4. Top up the crock pot with more stock if necessary. Add pepper. 5. Cook on high for seven hours. Add salt to taste after seven hours. 6. Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top. Cooks note: Instead of using all beef stock when I make the recipe, I used a couple of cups of beet broth. In the fall, when I have cooked beets for pickled beets, I froze several contain- ers of the juice. This adds extra beet flavour to the borscht. The science behind baking soda, powder and cream of tartar Lori Gysel & Gerry Kentner Crock Pot Borscht Sports & Leisure, Friday, March 28, 2008 11 For advertising information call Ph: 905 873.0301 Fax: 905 873.0398 This message brought to you by your local newspaper. When asked to name our favorite restaurant, cafe, or shop, we almost always cite a unique local business (look at the results in our Readers Choice as proof). We embrace the idea of distinctive businesses with local character, but often forget their survival depends on our patronage. It is easy for us to get so consumed by efficiency that we forget how much of our lives we spend eating out, shopping, and doing other business. We owe it to ourselves to consider the quality of our experience, and ask if we benefit when we choose a community-based business. Local owners with much of their life savings invested in their businesses have a natural interest in the long-term health of the community. Community-based businesses are essential to charitable endeavors, frequently serv- ing on local boards, and supporting a variety of causes. Yes, there are some corporate chains that give back to towns in which they do business, but anyone who raises funds for local non-prof- its will tell you that independents are their base of support. So... support your neigh- bors... support our community, shop smart... shop our local stores! YOUR COMM UNITY NEWSP APER THE INDEPENDEN T & FREE PRE SS 50 cents (+ GST) Friday , June 3 0, 200 6 44 Pages Voted Ontari os bes t newsp aper www .indep endent freepr ess.co m Recipe of the wee k: Canad a Day cupc akes Page 1 9 Lapoin te in t he hun t at Star Amat eur Page 1 7 Chatten name d senior of the y ear Page 9 Christ the Kin g student s tied u p in projec t Page 4 Editoria l 6 Ted Bro wn 7 Chris Bo rak 1 1 Calend ar 12, 13 Sports 17, 18 Classifi eds 22- 24 INSIDE The H alton Jr. B Bulldo gs will begin the Ontari o Lacr osse Asso- ciation playof fs Mon day in Oa kville. See W ed- nesday s editi on for full game d etails. WEDNE SDAY. .. The sto res m ay be c losed to morro w (Satur day) but there is still going t o be pl enty to do as both A cton an d Glen William s com mun ities ho st Cana da Day parties. The day gets un der way in Glen William s at 8 a .m. w ith a Pancak e Break fast, fo llowed by Fun Runs and the ann ual basebal l game between the To wnies and Co uncillo rs. Childre ns gam es sta rt at 10 a.m. fo llowed by the p opular noon parade . Openi ng cer emo nies s tart a bout 1 p.m. w hen the Glen C itizen o f the Y ear and win ner o f the Be st Dec orated House are a nnou nced. Game s, an eclect ic music con cert, pet sho w an d the D uck Race ro und ou t the aft erno on ac tivities . Mean while the da y kick s off i n Acton s Pro spect P ark at 6 p.m. with Conce rt in t he Park . This include s the Second Annua l Acton Idol C ontes t and songs f rom he adliner Alysha Brooke per- forming coun ty and weste rn tun es alon g with Jam ie Thor ne. Yuk Yu ks Jeff M cEnery will als o pro- vide s tand-u p com edy as well as be the M aster of Cerem onies fo r the Ac ton Ido l Conte st. The Ac ton Fi re Figh ters As sociati on pro vides th e explo - sive fin ish to t he day with a f irework s show , also in Prospe ct Park. T he free even t gets u nder w ay at d usk. Th e firefig ht- ers, w ho are promis ing the ir large st, loud est an d brigh test display ever , will b e passi ng thei r helme ts for d onatio ns to help pa y for th eir ann ual birt hday gi ft to the commu nity. St. Alba ns Chu rch in t he Glen will als o be ho lding a fire- works d isplay a t dusk. Its also a free w ill offer ing. The In depend ent & Free P ress o ffice w ill be c losed Monda y, July 3 for the holida y and w ill reop en Tu esday, July 4 at 8:30 a .m. REF INAN CING ? PUR CHA SING ? BOB WOO DS Mortgag e Speci alist (905) 877-5211 *Rate subjec t to ch ange 360 Gu elph St ., Georg etown 5.25% 5 year fi xed (905) 8 73-165 5 354 Gu elph St reet, G eorgeto wn APPLE Auto Gla ss Truck Acce ssories Uph olstery Heavy Equi pment Glass Window Ti nting GEORGETOWNCHRYSLER We handle all insurance work. ACTON A l k O g j l ` l ` ] < j a n ] l g 9 [ l g f TORONTO , 1 = Y k l ] j f 9 n G h ] f = n ] j q \ Y q ) ( % . $ > j a \ Y q ) ( % 1 - * * C a f _ K l & O ] k l - ) 1 0 - + % ) ( + ) o o o & l ` ] g d \ ] ` a \ ] ` g m k ] & [ g e , ) . * ( + % / ( ( ) Visit th e Olde Hide H ouse i n Acto n this Canad a Day for unbea table s avings in Le ather Fashio ns, Ac cess ories and Fi ne Lea ther F urnitu re. Plus, t his is the FIN AL WE EKEN D to s ave o n sele cted leathe r floo r mod els, c abinet ry, dis contin ued s tyles and w arehou se ov erstoc k ACTO N LOC ATION OPEN SAT. JULY 1st Proud to be Canad ian 70% Up to Off msr Canada Day parties set for Glen , Acton ALYSH A BROOK E Pitchin g again st the team he gre w up c heerin g for, W ashingt on Na tionals hurler Shawn Hill of George town, dueled with T oronto Blue J ays st arter T ed Lilly W ednesd ay for four in nings b efore T oronto broke out fo r four runs and even tually won 6-1. H ill was pulled after the fif th inn ing, bu t mad e the dozens of hom etown suppo rters, who ca me to watch him p itch in perso n in the big leagues , proud . See s tory pa ge 17. P hoto b y Eamo nn Ma her Hill on t he hill YOUR HOM ETOWN N EWSPAPE R ... EXCL USIVE LY SER VING THE R EADE RS OF HALT ON HI LLS The In depen dent & Free Press is you r sour ce for local news, region al new s, upc oming event s & sp orts. Delive red to every home every Wedn esday and F riday. 905.873.030 1 Special pullout section Wedn esday, Augus t 29, 2 007 8 Pages Circula tion 21 ,220 www .indep endent freepr ess.com Do y ou kn ow y our local m erchan ts Pages 6 & 7 Can yo u pass the test of a Loca l Shopp er? Page 3 I SHOP L OCAL Halton Hills Comm unity N ewspap er A GOOD REASON TO SHOP LOCAL