My Betty Crocker cook book has let me down twice this month

[MissMillie]

Once with a bread pudding, and once w/ the Raspberry chocolate bars I made last week. The bread pudding was DRY (not custard-y like it should have been) and the ratio of crust to topping on the bars was off.


I've used this cookbook in the past--exclusively for cooking (as opposed to baking) and had pretty good results. But the baked goods are seriously disappointing.

You'd think that with a name like "Betty Crocker Cook Book" you'd be in the clear.

So sad.

I do get it into my head that I can tweak the recipes for better results. Just seems that all these baked goods will have to be tested before making them for general consumption. lol

[soothsayer]

1. Huh. Is it a new one or old one? The vintage ones are usually right on

[MissMillie]

2. I've had it for 30 years

The copyright has a slew of dates on it. The newest is 1991, the oldest is 1969.

[soothsayer]

4. Huh. Well I can only swear by the brownies--fudgy variety

One pot. Oh man are they good.

[WhiteTara]

19. So, yours is the new one

Mom's BC cookbook was from the 50s.

[getagrip_already]

3. well, if you don't mind using ingredients like lard, salt, and

lots of heavy cream. Kind of like the original paul prudholm books where he had you use 6 sticks of butter and the bacon and grease from a full pound for 4 people.

Julia child's cb is usually a much better choice for a grab and go recipe. BC was always the 50's bland bad for you choice.

Just sayin..

[Delmette2.0]

8. You should see mother's Betty Crocker cookbook from the late 1940's

The cookie section is well used and has my favorites like Coffee and Spice, requires 1/2 cup of cold coffee, then there is Potato Doughnuts that require 1 cup of cold mashed potatoes.

[lisa58]

11. I also have my mother's from the same era...

...the cookies are amazing. My favorite Christmas cookies are from this book

[irisblue]

5. you check your oven temp with a thermometer lately?

to make sure the setting on the knob v the in oven temp are the same?

[MissMillie]

6. Oven is about 2 months old

but I haven't checked it.

The bars came out cooked okay, it was the ratio of crust-to-topping that didn't work well with that recipe.

[irisblue]

9. dry pudding implies a bit too high a temp.

[marble falls]

7. I only use Betty Crocker for baking and she's not let me down yet.

[Diamond_Dog]

10. I have a Betty Crocker Cookie Book

Well used after raising 3 boys.

[PJMcK]

12. It must be your new stove!

(snarky wink)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Yes. Hard to find tried and true. All I know is stay clear of Martha Stewart.

My sister is obsessed with her recipes. As an observer.. too much time, too many ingredients, and never tastes GREAT.

[Retrograde]

14. Where do you live?

According to my late mother's Betty Crocker cookbook, the recipes are tested in Minnesota (this was back in the 1940s) - baking can be sensitive to local conditions.

Bread pudding is not generally custard-like - it's stale bread held together with eggs and milk.

[dem in texas]

15. Custardy bread pudding is what I like, too.

I make bread pudding with a can of apple sauce added to the milk-egg mixture. Don't have the recipe any more, I usually go by the size of my baking dish. I have made it is so much that I go by eye. I don't have any apple sauce or I would make it and measure as I go.

[MissMillie]

17. New England

But the workings of the oven don't explain the failure of the chocolate raspberry bar recipe.

[WhiteTara]

16. what year is your book?

[MissMillie]

18. posted above

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1157102955#post2