@MissAdventurous
Cream of tartar is one of those mystery ingredients you might have seen in your grandma's pantry without knowing what it's used for. After all, its name doesn't give you a clue—not like baking powder or baking soda. Yet just a touch of it makes a big difference in your baking and cooking. Here's what it is and how to use it in recipes, and even around the house. #multitasker
What is cream of tartar?
First of all, it's not creamy. It's a dry, powdery, acidic byproduct of fermenting grapes into wine. Its sciency name is potassium bitartrate, aka potassium hydrogen tartrate or tartaric acid (hence the commercial name). But you can find it in the spice aisle labeled as plain ol' cream of tartar. It is a byproduct of the wine making process.
What is cream of tartar used for?
Adding a small amount of cream of tartar when you're beating egg whites—usually 1/8 teaspoon per egg white—speeds up the creation of foam and helps stabilize the structure of those miniscule air bubbles you're whipping up. In baking, this means mile-high meringue pies, melt-in-your-mouth meringue cookies, and angel food cakes that practically float off the plate.
Why is cream of tartar in snickerdoodle cookies?
It's what separates a tangy, chewy snickerdoodle from an ordinary cinnamon-coated sugar cookie. The acid in cream of tartar gives snickerdoodles their distinctive tangy flavor, and the chew happens because cream of tartar prevents sugar in the cookie dough from crystalizing into crunchiness. Science!
How else is cream of tartar used in recipes?
When combined with baking soda, it becomes a leavening agent (the stuff that makes baked goods puff up in the oven) by producing carbon dioxide gas. If you ever run out of baking powder, you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar for 1 teaspoon baking powder.
Add a pinch of cream of tartar to boiling vegetables to help them retain their bright, fresh color.
A pinch of cream of tartar also helps stabilize whipped cream to prevent it from deflating.
Make colorful, edible play dough!
What can I substitute for cream of tartar?
Use 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar to create the acidic effect of 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar in a recipe.
What is cream of tartar's shelf-life?
Cream of tartar keeps its freshness indefinitely, as long as you store it in a cool, dry spot. When in doubt, you can test it by looking at it and smelling it. It should look white and powdery, and it should smell mildly acidic.
How else is it used around the house?
Cream of tartar makes an effective non-toxic household cleaner all by itself or combined with other earth-friendly kitchen ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar. Try these ideas:
Metal polish: Add water to make a paste to polish stainless steel and aluminum. This also removes scratches on white bowls and plates caused by knives and forks.
Copper polish: Add lemon juice in a 1:1 mixture. Rub on, rinse off.
Poreclain sink, tub, toilet scrub: Add distilled white vinegar in a 1:1 solution. All-purpose scrub: Add distilled white vinegar in a 4:1 solution (i.e., 1 cup vinegar to 1/4 cup cream of tartar). This also cleans stainless steel sinks like nobody's business.
"And on the days when you struggle to look at yourself in the mirror, for you feel dissatisfied by what you see, Remember that feeling that something is less beautiful does not make it so.
That you were born beautiful, and will die beautiful, for beauty is no two-dimensional thing, that can ever be captured by an image, as it encompasses the soul.
And a single flaw that you believe that you possess based on what you have been taught to believe is beautiful cannot come close to reflecting the entire essence of who you are.
And so, if you ever find yourself fixating on your appearance and wishing to change what cannot be changed,
I would suggest, my dear, that you shift your focus from the beauty without to the beauty within, that shines outward but originates inside,
that remains with you as you age, and cannot ever be taken from you when you die.
And change the mirror of the body to a mirror of the soul."
Words by Tahlia Hunter
Artwork by Katarína Vavrová Artist
@MissAdventurous May I use that Donna Ashworth quote on my profile?
~ Sunset Snuggles
🦄 Enthusiast 🏞 Travel Fiend 🐘 Animal Lover
🎄 Merry Christmas to my homies! ☃️
Yes please do @SunsetSnuggles ❤️❤️
Winter Solstice is approaching... which reminded me of an old Sami, northern Norwegian legend called "The Death of The Sun’s daughter".
Biejjen nieide, “The Sun’s daughter”, is a long legend which is known in various forms in several Sámi areas of Norway and Sweden.
Near the holy door in turf hut Sun’s daughter — Njávesheatne Tired of life’s heavy burdens Yearned to ‘scape, to another place Wishes to see God, the master The Thunder God, foe of giants Wants to see the Sun, her father. She awaits the spirit of death, In turf hut near the holy door The Sun’s daughter — Njávesheatne
She who corralled the wild reindeer Gave it then to the Sun’s children On her last journey she shall fare He stands by her bed, her son, The evil Áhchesheane’s bane At the foot of the bed a girl Young daughter of Áhchesheane
The Sun’s beautiful daughter speaks She’s hard to hear, weak is her voice Hear her words, and remember them! The Sun’s beautiful daughter says: The Sun’s setting, night is coming Darkness blankets lovely Sápmi Morning will come, will it not? The sun slowly sinks, the wolf comes Slinks around in the dark of night Wily it is when it’s hunting, Morning will come, will it not?
The sun is setting, the herd shrinks, The pest rages, insects torment, Children grope about in the dark, Morning will come, will it not? The sun slowly sinks. Withdraws its light, The Sun’s daughter to father goes Takes with her too the Sun’s children Morning will come, will it not?
"The Death of the Sun’s Daughter" Anders Fjellner (1795 - 1876)
The good Sun-Daughter Njavvis-ene lived a long life. When she finally felt that death was near, she ordered that she should be buried at the top of the very highest peak. From there she could see all around and follow what the people were doing.
When she died she was buried with great ceremony on a mountain top which is known today as the “Sun Daughter’s Mountain”. She was wrapped in a shroud and laid on a bed of njavvi, the long hair from the reindeer’s neck, which was also the name of her husband.
A stone was set up at the head, another at the feet and one at each arm. A flat slab of rock was placed over the top. This was carefully covered with turf and on the foot stone was inscribed: “The turf raised, read the memorial”. And thus stands the grave to this day on the Sun Daughter’s Mountain.
Sources: Lundmark, Bo, 1979: Anders Fjellner – Samernas Homeros.
@MissAdventurous Thanks, missy! 🤩
This is one of the only terracotta warriors that was found almost completely intact. Note the detail on the bottom of his shoe, showing that grip and traction were considered in footwear even 2,200 years ago.
Each life-size clay warrior was crafted to be completely unique and there are no two terracotta warriors-among the 8,000 total-that are exactly the same.
Shortly after the completion of the tomb in 210-209 BC, it was looted for weapons and burned, causing the roof to collapse, crushing the terracotta warriors. All the other terracotta warriors that are currently on display were painstakingly restored. What's even more remarkable is that the terracotta warriors were originally painted in bright colors by skilled artisans.
Unfortunately, when they were exposed to air and sunlight during the excavation in the 1970s, the colors began to curl up almost immediately and disappeared within minutes.
These terracotta warriors were put in place to guard the tomb of the first emperor of unified China--Qin Shi Huang. To this day, the tomb has yet to be opened. According to ancient historians, the tomb contains an entire kingdom and palace in which the ceilings are decorated with pearls to mimic the night sky. The tomb is also said to contain extremely rare artifacts and has been rigged with crossbows to shoot anyone trying to break in. To keep its location a secret, the workers were entombed with the emperor.
The Han dynasty historian, Sima Qian, also mentioned that inside the tomb, "mercury was used to fashion the hundred rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, and the seas in such a way that they flowed." Modern tests have indicated extremely high levels of mercury in the surrounding soil.
"It will always be difficult for an old soul to satisfy the expectations of the new culture; because as an old soul you will always prefer to fall in love with everything that has a soul too.
You will understand and feel the pain of others, you will be generous, giving nonstop no matter what, you won’t ever follow the crowd but you’ll choose to follow your own path instead.
You will value a deep conversation and a loving hello, you'll always be thankful for the simplest pleasures in life.
And I am a vintage soul, my love, that’s trapped in a young body. An old soul that struggles to fit in this plastic world."
[Image: Swans (The Magic Swan Geese)(1967) by Russian painter Konstantin Alexeyevich Vasilyev (1842-1976).]
I’m a 6 volt guy living in a 12 volt world
The basic reason I say that, just about all cars pre-1956 were 6 volt batteries, 1956 and up were about all 12 volt. I sometimes like to say I’m lost in the 50’s I drive a 1953 Ford Truck and a 1959 Ford Convertible. I have a 50’s room at home. And still listen to 45 rpm records on my 1959 Jukebox and in my convertible that has a record player in it.
"Claiming to love someone while treating them poorly is a form of mental and emotional harm. This behavior should stop because it's damaging and deceitful. Love should be reflected in actions, not just words. It creates a cycle of confusion and pain, making the person on the receiving end question their worth and reality. True love involves respect, kindness, and consistent care, so if the actions don't align with the declarations of love, it's not just misleading-it's destructive." ~R. M. Drake
Art | by Angelica Paez
If the mountain seems too big today, then climb a hill instead.
If the morning brings you sadness, its okay to stay in bed.
If the day ahead seems heavy and your plans feel like a curse,
There’s no shame in rearranging; don’t make yourself feel worse.
If a shower stings like needles, and a bath feels like you’ll drown,
If you haven’t washed your hair in days, don’t throw away your crown.
A day is not a lifetime, a rest is not defeat.
Don’t think of it as failure, just a quiet, kind retreat.
It’s okay to take a moment from an anxious, fractured mind.
The world will not stop turning while you get realigned.
The mountain will still be there, when you want to try again.
You can climb it in your own time; just love yourself til then.
@stormydaycuddle 🤣🤣🤣
@MissAdventurous hahahaha. No kidding. Today is testing as I'm sure you've already seen.
@MissAdventurous I'll answer to that. lol.