Vanilla Extract

Baking Basics, Ingredients

Vanilla Extract: Everything You Need To Know

Vanilla extract is an integral ingredient to many culinary dishes; however, most people do not truly understand it. To understand vanilla extract, we have to understand the basics of vanilla. So, where does vanilla extract come from? Vanilla comes in the form of a bean, but it isn’t the type of bean you have in mind.

Is Evaporated Milk The Same Thing As Condensed Milk

Baking Basics, Ingredients

Is Evaporated Milk The Same Thing As Condensed Milk?

If you are reading this, you might struggle to distinguish between evaporated milk and condensed milk. Both types of milk have similar names and look. They are also on store shelves. However, there is a crucial difference between both types of milk. The difference is simply the amount of sugar involved. Evaporated milk doesn’t have any added sugar, while condensed milk does.

Powdered Sugar

Baking Basics

What Is Powdered Sugar?

In this guide we are going to explore everything there is to know about powdered sugar. Confectioners sugar is almost always thought of as a decorative tool, but it may surprise you to learn that there are actually a variety of recipes in baking that call for the use of powdered sugar exclusively. We will also take a look at how powdered sugar is made and give details on how you can make your own. 

Yeast 101

Baking Basics, Ingredients

Yeast 101

Yeast is a frightfully complicated topic, but absolutely critical for bakers. So, let us begin by asking the most obvious question first. What is it? 

Butter Basics

Baking Basics, Ingredients

Butter Basics

Butter is used on toast in the morning, added to lots of baking recipes, and even used as a dipping sauce for lobster and breadsticks. This beloved ingredient is loved all around the world, but not many people know how it’s made, where it came from, and why it’s so important in baking.