Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Conversion of Metric to US Standard

Liquid Ingredients by Volume

1/4 tsp = 1 ml
1/2 tsp = 2 ml
1 tsp = 5 ml
3 tsp = 1 tbl = 1/2 fl oz = 15 ml
2 tbls = 1/8 cup = 1 fl oz = 30 ml
4 tbls = 1/4 cup = 2 fl oz = 60 ml
5 1/3 tbls = 1/3 cup = 3 fl oz = 80 ml
8 tbls = 1/2 cup = 4 fl oz = 120 ml
10 2/3 = 2/3 cup = 5 fl oz = 160 ml
12 tbls = 3/4 cup = 6 fl oz = 180 ml
16 tbls = 1 cup = 8 fl oz = 240 ml
1 pt = 2 cups = 16 fl oz = 480 ml
1 qt = 4 cups = 32 fl oz = 960 ml
33 fl oz = 1000 ml = 1 l

Cooking/Oven Temperatures

Fahrenheit Celsius Gas Mark
Freeze Water 32° F 0° C  
Room Temp. 68° F 20° C  
Boil Water 212° F 100° C  
Bake 325° F
350° F
375° F
400° F
425° F
450° F
160° C
180° C
190° C
200° C
220° C
230° C
3
4
5
6
7
8
Broil     Grill

Equivalents for Different Types of Ingredients

Standard Cup Fine Powder
(ex. flour)
Grain
(ex. rice)
Granular
(ex. sugar)
Liquid Solids
(ex. butter)
Liquid
(ex. milk)
1 140 g 150 g 190 g 200 g 240 ml
3/4 105 g 113 g 143 g 150 g 180 ml
2/3 93 g 100 g 125 g 133 g 160 ml
1/2 70 g 75 g 95 g 100 g 120 ml
1/3 47 g 50 g 63 g 67 g 80 ml
1/4 35 g 38 g 48 g 50 g 60 ml
1/8 18 g 19 g 24 g 25 g 30 m

Dry Ingredients by Weight

(To convert ounces to grams, multiply the number of ounces by 30.)
1 oz = 1/16 lb = 30 g
4 oz = 1/4 lb = 120 g
8 oz = 1/2 lb = 240 g
12 oz = 3/4 lb = 360 g
16 oz = 1 lb = 480 g


Length

1 in = 2.5 cm
6 in = 1/2 ft = 15 cm
12 in = 1 ft = 30 cm
36 in = 3 ft = 1 yd = 90 cm
40 in = 100 cm = 1 m

Recipe Conversion Metric to US Standard

Equivalents for Different Types of Ingredients

Standard Cup Fine Powder
(ex. flour)
Grain
(ex. rice)
Granular
(ex. sugar)
Liquid Solids
(ex. butter)
Liquid
(ex. milk)
1 140 g 150 g 190 g 200 g 240 ml
3/4 105 g 113 g 143 g 150 g 180 ml
2/3 93 g 100 g 125 g 133 g 160 ml
1/2 70 g 75 g 95 g 100 g 120 ml
1/3 47 g 50 g 63 g 67 g 80 ml
1/4 35 g 38 g 48 g 50 g 60 ml
1/8 18 g 19 g 24 g 25 g 30 m

Metric Units to Standard US Units

APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS
FROM
SI / METRIC UNITS

TO
STANDARD / US CUSTOMARY UNITS
SYMBOL WHEN YOU KNOW MULTIPLY BY TO FIND SYMBOL
LENGTH
mm millimeters 0.039 inches in
m meters 3.28 feet ft
m meters 1.09 yards yd
km kilometers 0.621 miles mi
AREA
mm2 millimeters 0.0016 square inches in2
m2 square meters 10.764 square feet ft2
m2 square meters 1.195 square yards yd2
ha hectares 2.47 acres ac
km2 square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi2
VOLUME
mL milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz
L liters 0.264 gallons gal
m3 cubic meters 35.314 cubic feet ft3
m3 cubic meters 1.307 cubic yards yd3
MASS
g grams 0.035 ounces oz
kg kilograms 2.202 pounds lb
Mg (or "t") megagrams
(or "metric ton")
1.103 short tons (2000 lb) T
TEMPERATURE
oC Celsius 1.8C + 32 Fahrenheit oF
ILLUMINATION
lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc
cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl
FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS
N newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf
kPa kilopascals 0.145 poundforce per square inch lbf/in2
**

APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS
FROM
STANDARD / US CUSTOMARY UNITS

TO
SI / METRIC UNITS
SYMBOLWHEN YOU KNOWMULTIPLY BYTO FINDSYMBOL
LENGTH
in inches 25.4 millimeters mm
ft feet 0.305 meters m
yd yards 0.914 meters m
mi miles 1.61 kilometers km
AREA
in2 square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2
ft2 square feet 0.093 square meters m2
yd2 square yard 0.836 square meters m2
ac acres 0.405 hectares ha
mi2 square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2
VOLUME
fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL
gal gallons 3.785 liters L
ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3
yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3
MASS
oz ounces 28.35 grams g
lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg
T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams (or "metric ton") Mg (or "t")
TEMPERATURE
oF Fahrenheit (F-32) x 5 / 9
or
(F-32) / 1.8
Celsius oC
ILLUMINATION
fc foot-candles 10.76 lux lx
fl foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2
FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS
lbf poundforce 4.45 newtons N
lbf/in2 poundforce per square inch 6.89 kilopascals kPa
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/metric_conversion_chart.html

Brandteig - Cooked Dough Basic Recipe

Brandteig - Cooked Dough Basic Recipe



Basic Brandteig recipe is for german Windbeutel or Éclairs.

 Brandteig is neutral in taste, the sugar is only needed for sweet fillings. 

The dough can either be used as a sweet dessert and filled with a simple Vanilla cream or refined Vanilla cream or it can be used to make a savory appetizer and filled with a savory cheese cream.


Ingredients:

1/4 L / 1 cup water, pinch salt

1 tablespoon sugar (optional, for sweet bakery)

50 g unsalted butter

150 g flour = 10.5 tablespoons OR 31.5 teaspoons

4 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

butter and flour for the cookie sheet


Preparation

MEASURE and weigh all ingredients carefully !

Bring water, salt and butter to a boil (and optionally sugar) in a narrow medium sized pot and remove immediately from heat. Add the sieved flour to the hot water all at once, stir until smooth return to stove on low heat and continue stirring until mixture forms a large clump and doesn't cling to the sides of the pot. On the bottom of the pot the dough should have formed a white 'skin'.

Remove the dough mixture from stove and add the eggs, one at at time while stirring to combine them. If using small eggs, add one more so in this recipe 5. The dough has to be smooth and glossy and when it falls off the spoon form long, 'peaks'.

You can add sieved baking powder to the cooled mixture at this point if dough appears to firm and stir to combine it well. Make walnut size balls using a tablespoon or piping bag for Éclairs (2-3 inch lines) on a with butter greased and floured cookie sheet making sure the distance between each is large enough because Windbeutel or Éclairs will double in size.

Bake in a preheated (410-430°F) oven on medium or lower rack for about 10 - 45 minutes depending on size. Do not open oven in the first half time of baking because the dough is sensitive to cold drafts! Windbeutel or Éclairs should be light and hollow inside. If necessary 5 minutes can be added to the baking time after turning off the oven and while baking with open oven door.  Protect Windbeutel from any drafts and cut them open in half while they are still hot.

Roasted Duck Stuffed with Apples

Roasted Duck



Roasted Duck stuffed with apples


Duck is usually served on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in Germany, but it's an excellent hot dish to serve on any special occasion. 

Sides are Spätzle (German home-made noodles) or Knödel (German homemade dumplings) and Rotkohl (red cabbage). ** all recipes on this blog***



Ingredients:

1 young duckling

salt, pepper, paprika

1 onion

60 g / 2.1 oz butter

3/8 L / 1.5 cups water

some beer for basting

1 teaspoon potato or corn starch

5-6 medium sized tart apples
 (i.e. Granny Smith)

Preparation

Thaw the duckling over night in the fridge. Next day remove the giblets pack from the inside of the duck. Rinse duck with cold water inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels. Cut off the neck skin and the tail section, where most of the fat is stored. Make a cut in the skin on the breast side towards the tail. Remove any fat from under the skin if necessary. Season duck inside and outside with salt, pepper and a little paprika.

Wash and peel the apples, remove core. Cut in wedges and fill the duck as necessary, do not overfill because the duck could fall apart during roasting. Close opening by sawing together. Place duck in a roasting pan, breast down, tie the legs together and tuck under the wings (or tie them as well). This prevents the duck loosing shape during roasting and to much browning of the legs and wings. 

Add the into wedges cut onion to the bottom of the roasting pan with a little of hot water, melt the butter and pour evenly over the duck. Roast uncovered in a pre-heated oven (390°-420° F on medium or lower rack) for 1.5 - 2 hours. When the back of the duck is browned turn duck breast side up. Baste duck several times during roasting and in the last 10 minutes baste the duck with the beer or salty water and increase the temperature to 450° F. This will create a nice crusty skin.

Remove duck from roasting pan, remove ties and apples and let duck rest covered with tin foil. Remove the onions from the pan, loosen drippings, remove fat from sauce (optional) by transferring it into a Gravy Separator or if you make the duck a day ahead, you can finish the gravy the next day. Transfer the gravy strained into a small pot and place in the fridge over night. The next day you can scrape off the hardened fat from top with a spoon. Finish the sauce: Heat the gravy if needed and season to taste. Thicken if necessary with the starch. Add 1 teaspoon of starch into a small cup filled half with cold water, stir to create a thin paste. Add to the simmering sauce, stir and simmer until thickened. Heat the duck in the oven on low temperature until hot. Plate the duck, cut into portions, on a decorative plate and place the baked apples around the duck (which can be eaten as well). 

Serve with SpätzleKnödelRotkohl (red cabbage) mashed potatoes, asparagus, green beans  or steamed brussel sprouts.

Rotkohl, Blaukraut, Rotkraut - Red Cabbage

Red Cabbage


This very popular vegetable can be served with Rouladen,Sauerbraten or Roasted Duck. (recipes on this blog)


Rotkohl, Blaukraut, Rotkraut - Red Cabbage


Ingredients:


3/4 - 1 kg / 1.6 - 2.2 lbs red cabbage

40 g / 1.4 oz butter or olive oil

1 tablespoon sugar

1 medium onion

2 - 3 tart apples

4 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

salt, 1 cup red wine

3 - 4 cloves

2 - 3 bay leaves

1 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons blue berry or red currant jam (optional)


Preparation

Wash the red cabbage, remove trunk and cut into fine strips. Brown the sugar in the butter until light brown in color. Add the finely chopped onion and in small cubes cut peeled apples. Sauté for a few minutes. Add the red cabbage and mix everything to combine. Immediately pour a little of the red wine vinegar on the cabbage so it retains the red color. Season with salt, add a little of red wine, bay leaves, cloves and steam covered on medium heat until cabbage is tender for about 45 - 60 minutes. When done, dust cabbage with some flour, season to taste and add some more red wine and/or vinegar if necessary. Add some jam if desired for enhanced taste, stir.

Tip: Do not cook cabbage in a cracked enamel pot because the taste may be compromised and the food may get discolored!

Foto Credit: Fotolia




German Sauerbraten Recipe

German Sauerbraten Recipe

Sauerbraten

This over 3 day in a sour sauce marinated beef is a typical cold season dish, perfect on a chilly November day, serve withSpätzle (German homemade noodles) orKnödel (German home-made dumplings) and Rotkohl (red cabbage) and steamed brussel sprouts or green beans.


Ingredients:

3/4 kg /26 oz lean beef (bottom round roast) or pork shoulder

Salt

30 g / 1 oz bacon (for beef)

40 g / 1.4 oz canola oil

rosemary

1/2 L / 2 cups sour marinade

1 section of dark bread rind

1/2 apple

1 carrot, 1 onion, 1 celery, 2 cloves garlic

Ingredients for sugar roux:

30 g / 1 oz butter

10 g / 0.3 oz sugar

40 g / 1.4 oz flour

1/2 onion (optional)

1/2 L / 2 cups water

salt, bay leave, juniper berries

dash of vinegar, red wine, sour cream.


Preparation

Make the sour marinade according to the basic recipe. Place beef or pork in a large pot and pour the cooled marinade to cover the meat completely. Let rest for 3 days covered in the fridge. Remove meat from marinade, let dry with paper towels. Braise in hot oil on all sides, season lightly with salt, pour some melted butter on top of the meat, cover beef with bacon slices but not the pork. Slice the onion, celery, carrot and garlic and add to the pot. Add little bit of the red wine and some of the thinned sour marinade and roast uncovered for 1.5-2 hours for beef or 1.5 hours for pork. Occasionally baste the meat with the drippings during roasting and rotate the meat.

Add the sauce to the sugar roux (see below) and some of the with water thinned sour marinade. 

Prepare the sugar roux:
Brown the sugar in the butter, add the flour and cook while stirring until gold in color. Add the finely chopped onion (optional) and cook until tender. Pour some red wine and some of the water to the flour and stir. Season with salt, add the bay leave, juniper berries, dash of vinegar (optional), a tablespoon of sour cream at the end. Don't let the sugar brown to dark because it will taste bitter.

Serve with SpätzleKnödelRotkohl (red cabbage) mashed potatoes, asparagus, green beans or steamed brussel sprouts.

**all recipes on this blog**