The "Worst Ingredient Substitution" contest is over and it's time to announce the winners. The problem? We had too many winning responses so instead of just one winner, we have 21.
Each of them will receive a free signed copy of our first cookbook as soon as it is available in mid-September. Now, here are a few of my favorite entries: toothpaste for mint, grapes for olives, iced tea mix for breadcrumbs in meatloaf, Ex-Lax for chocolate (it looked similar), catnip for oregano, and instant oatmeal for instant potatoes. Thanks for all of the entries—the response was overwhelming. And be careful with your next ingredient substitution!
Announcing our winners!
Also, when father-in-law was learning to cook, he replaced grapes with olives in a chicken recipe because he "figured they look similar."
— Maxim Weinstein (@maximweinstein) July 14, 2017
Ex-sis in law once thought cream of tartar and tartar sauce were the same thing 🤢 Those were some terrible cookies!
— Amanda Andresen (@AmandaWeyhrich) July 11, 2017
I accidentally swapped baking soda for corn starch. Dish had vinegar in it so results were, uh, "volcanic." And not tasty.
— Katharyn (@Book_Sprout) July 12, 2017
Jack fruit for beef in sloppy joes
— Tara Bowen (@teedlesue) July 9, 2017
My dad once put powered ice tea mix in a meatloaf because we were out of breadcrumbs.
— bethsontag (@bethsontag) July 9, 2017
Spent 2 days making 8 quarts of @hseanbrock's bread and butter pickles only to realize as the last jar sealed I may have used zucchini.
— SonVoltMMA (@SonVoltMMA) July 9, 2017
Kids needed lemon juice for after school treat. Took handful of lemon Jolly Ranchers tried to microwave into liquid. Weeks to clear smell.
— Tom (@miniappleman) July 10, 2017
I didn't have raisins so I chopped up then froze my young son's fruit snacks. Not my proudest moment...
— Thom Brex (@thomasbrex) July 11, 2017
My Dad sprayed Pam all over himself thinking it was spray sunblock....
— Liz Wellinghorst (@wcommpr) July 9, 2017
when I was five I helped mom make chocolate chip cookies- used the chocolate I found i the bathroom - ex lax. Started my role as a chef
— Terry Simpson (@drterrysimpson) July 11, 2017
My grandM was going blind, and put coconut instead of noodles in chicken noodle soup; the coconut was next to the noodles in the cupboard
— MA (@MarianneHensel) July 10, 2017
Toothpaste for mint.
— EXRODNEY (@RPS228) July 9, 2017
A friend of mines mother once mistook Fisherman's Friend throat lozenges for Fleischmann's Yeast in a biscuit recipe ha!
— = (@Richardheaven67) July 11, 2017
I once tried to make a chicken curry with a bucket of KFC chicken... I took the coating off... It didn't help...
— Rob Saw (@robsaw) July 9, 2017
Canned peas for frozen peas. Except used to alleviate swelling of Testicle after vasectomy. Canned peas were cheaper but not cold at all!
— Dave O'Connor (@dataminer_1999) July 11, 2017
Comet instead of Kraft Parmesan cheese..I went under the kitchen sink when I was a little girl because I wanted some cheese on my spaghetti.
— RRFF (@nyrev111) July 10, 2017
Once used the "water" from a tuna fish can as a substitute for fish sauce. It did not turn out well.
— Jacob Cloer (@JacobtheCloer) July 9, 2017
My mother had an unmarked container that looked like oregano and I used it as such. Turned out it was catnip!
— Joe Bryant (@SeaTownJoe) July 9, 2017
I was 15 & babysitting and there wasn't any veg. oil, so I used Karo syrup to pop popcorn. Yada, yada yada...the kitchen was remodeled!
— Chris McMahon (@ChrisMcMahon) July 9, 2017
Four words: Canned salmon stir fry.
— Kelli (@kelli217) July 10, 2017
Making mojitos, but had no soda water. Used miller high life instead. #overserved
— Ray Polakovic (@NullusOrdo) July 9, 2017
