The "This Might Be A Stupid Question, But...." Thread

[Carotte]

I have a few cooking/ingredients questions,

I made some cookies who called for baking soda and baking powder, I had none so used chemical yeast (sodium bicarbonate and tartaric acid). The cookies turned ok so can I just substitute that chemical yeast anytime it ask for baking soda & baking powder? Or would it be better to find some baking powder and add that too (since there's already baking soda/sodium bicarbonate)?

What is the difference between quick oats and well, non quick oats? I used a few packages of 'pour hot milk, wait two minutes' oats. The other oat we had was Quakers something oats, that looks kind of like the same thing actually..

 

[ladyknight1]

Steel-cut oats are less refined, so cook for a long time, at least 30 minutes. Rolled oats are next, they take 5-10 minutes to cook. Quick cooking oats are the most processed and only take a few minutes of cooking time.

I have never substituted any other leavening ingredients for what is called for in the recipe.

[Outdoor Girl]

You have regular oats, quick oats, 1 minute oats and instant oatmeal.

The regular oats are raw, have the biggest flakes and are the least processed.  I like these best when I'm making oatmeal for breakfast.  Takes a while, though.  They take the longest to cook.  Quick oats are partially cooked and the flakes are smaller.  I like them best for baking.  I find it makes my oatmeal cookies and oatmeal containing muffins a bit lighter and slightly less chewy.  1 minute oats are basically the same as the instant oatmeal but you generally get them in a large bag rather than individual packages.  And they are partially cooked for longer than the quick oats and the flakes are generally smaller.  The instant oatmeals come in all sorts of flavours but they are generally pretty high in sugar.

I can't help you with your chemical yeast question since I've never heard of it!  But I can tell you the basic difference between baking powder and baking soda, in terms of cooking.  Baking powder begins to react as soon as it is hit with the liquid.  Which is why you should work quickly and not over work things like biscuits and scones.  Baking soda needs the heat of the oven to activate to begin the leavening process.  I would think in cookies, it wouldn't matter so much to leave out the baking powder but if you are trying to make a quick bread, it might not work so well.

[marcel]

You can use a mixture of baking soda soda and cream of tartare as a substitute for baking powder. (Bs:CT = 1:2)

I regularly do this because, in a country where baking soda and cream of tartare are uncommon and can not be bought in a regular grocery store, I am probably the only person who regularly doesn't have baking powder, but does have the other two.

@ Outdoor girl,
Baking soda is often activated with liquid acids. In those cases it will start working as soon as it is mixed with the liquid.

[GreenHall]

It his one could go in brain hurt for me too, but I'm curious about the item, as well...

I have almost completely talked myself into buying a new car (2013, from the dealership).  As long as I am that self indulgent, I am probably going to get the sport package so I can get the color I want. 

The salesman was talking up the car, showing the fancy extras...I cant even remember what he called the option, something about paddles, and I asked what he was talking about.  Apparently, the sport model (automatic) has these paddles on the steering wheel that will give you extra acceleration, or let you manually shift the gear.   

Why would they create a way to manually shift gears in an automatic car?  I don't want the hassle of shifting gears, that's why I want an automatic.

[MrsJWine]

Why would they create a way to manually shift gears in an automatic car?  I don't want the hassle of shifting gears, that's why I want an automatic.

I strongly prefer a manual, but they're awful when you're stuck in traffic. I would get a car like that so I could switch to automatic in a traffic jam.

[mmswm]

Why would they create a way to manually shift gears in an automatic car?  I don't want the hassle of shifting gears, that's why I want an automatic.

I strongly prefer a manual, but they're awful when you're stuck in traffic. I would get a car like that so I could switch to automatic in a traffic jam.

One of the reasons I prefer manuals is the control over the transmission.  There are situations such as traffic, steep grades, hairpin curves and bad weather that can be disastrous if the engine in an automatic decides to shift gears at the exact wrong moment. I actually lost a fair amount of my possessions due to an engine shifting gears going uphill, around a curve and on ice causing a brief loss of traction which caused the trailer that was attached to the RV pulling it to lose traction for just a brief moment, which  caused the back end of the RV and the front end of the trailer to slam into the concrete divider, shifting all my things and breaking quite a few of them. If I knew that I could manually override an automatic transmission, I might be willing to give up my manual.

[Iris]

Why would they create a way to manually shift gears in an automatic car?  I don't want the hassle of shifting gears, that's why I want an automatic.

Two reasons: One; to help you lock down to a lower gear when going down steep grades to avoid overusing your brakes. My old car's automatic transmission had "D 3 2 1" to allow you to do that, my new automatic car has the "sports shift" which allows you to manually override.

Two; To allow you to optimise acceleration. Automatics tend to sacrifice some acceleration in order to save wear and tear on the engine. Also it's fun. You know in manuals how when drivers are accelerating you get the "Vrooom, Vroooooom, Vroooooooom, Vroooooooooooooom" feeling as they accelerate and shift up the gears? That one. I don't bother with it myself unless I'm merging onto a freeway in heavy traffic or something like that because the automatic acceleration is fine on my car, but I can see how drivers might miss that feeling.

Also, as MrsJWine pointed out, I know a fair few people who just enjoy driving a manual but don't want to have the hassle all the time. This is a 'best of both worlds' attempt.

[MrsJWine]

Shortly after I learned how to drive a manual, my parents and I drove from Wisconsin to El Paso, TX. We got stuck in traffic at some point along the way, while I was driving. My clutch leg and foot were on fire.

[GreenHall]

Thanks for all the answers on the auto-manual shifting.

As a follow-up since this is in an automatic car, does anyone know how close to the manual experience this would allow?  If someone would prefer a manual, but take advantage of the ease of an automatic at times, would this be the same experience?

(does not matter to me in the least.  I am far too nervous/anxious a driver to add new steps at this point.  I would like to know how to drive manual, but the learning process would be wracking to me, any teacher involved, and probably the enginve of the learning device...)

[amandaelizabeth]

It is not quite the same as you cannot control the clutch.  I had always driven a manual, and loved it, but when i sold my mini cooper (an original not the new one) the car i replaced it with was not available in a manual version.  However it did come with a tiptronic gear box which is the closest thing to  manual box.  In town I. drive it solely automatically, as i cannot be bothered ro keep shifting, but out of town i usually change gear myself.  You cannot feather the clutch or double declutch both oof which would be useful, nor can you drop it into gear and accelerate away crom the lights as i was want to do with the cooper, but you cannot have everything.

[VorFemme]

A loop of ribbon sewn into the shoulder that is long enough to go from where it is sewn over the hanger's middle part is to keep the outfit on the hanger (it will help distribute & support the weight of the garment to keep it from stretching out of shape or even tearing in storage).  .....

The stores where I shop aren't classy enough to sell the shirts with those ribbons.  I keep my shirts on hangers with clip clothespins at the shoulders.  I also use clip clothespins to hold skirts on hangers.   

Cheap narrow ribbon at the craft store, a needle, some thread, and you can make your own hanging loops.  I've also seen some that go into the little hooks on the hangers around the shoulder area (sewn in under the arm) to support weight that way - depends on the garment.

Strapless may have loops sewn into the waistbad, under the arms, and several other places to keep the garment hanging without crushing it at the top in clips.......

[marcel]

Thanks for all the answers on the auto-manual shifting.

As a follow-up since this is in an automatic car, does anyone know how close to the manual experience this would allow?  If someone would prefer a manual, but take advantage of the ease of an automatic at times, would this be the same experience?

(does not matter to me in the least.  I am far too nervous/anxious a driver to add new steps at this point.  I would like to know how to drive manual, but the learning process would be wracking to me, any teacher involved, and probably the enginve of the learning device...)

To me, non of the systems that are offered in automatic cars come close to the feeling of a manual car.


Also, All the automatics I have ever driven had some kind of control over the gears, even if it is only the D, 3, 2, 1. I have noticed though that many people do not use these options, for example when driving in the mountains, and/or with heavy trailers etc.

[Outdoor Girl]

^ or in snowy conditions.

I see so many people struggling to get up a hill (because they don't have snow tires  ) where, if they down shifted, they could probably make it, no problem.

I'm not looking forward to getting my next vehicle.  I'm probably going to have to go automatic for the first time since I learned to drive.  I definitely don't want the sport shift but again, may not have a choice.

I'm thinking I won't be able to get a stick shift on a vehicle with all the bells and whistles I want.

[Slartibartfast]

Okay, stupid question time: I'm one of those people who rarely or never shift (and never learned how to drive a manual transmission).  I also don't live somewhere I'm driving in a lot of mountains.

But still: which direction is which?  Do I shift to a smaller number going up a hill, or down?  How do I know when I should shift it?  Where does the normal "D" fit in?