Joining You from South America

[Lynda Lee]

Hello all you brilliant cooks out there.

I was hunting recipes that don't require margarine, or butter, and came upon this site.

I'm a Canadian living and working in Caracas, Venezuela, love to cook and entertain—both of which are getting more and more difficult here with the shortages we suffer. Hence, I will look forward to lots of ideas from all of you.

[jglass]

Hi Lynda. Welcome to the forum.

[shipscook]

what oils or fats are available to you? or what is the reason for no butter or margarine?
I use olive oil for most recipes and transfat free shortening for things that require solid fats.
and welcome,
Nan

[Lynda Lee]

Oh, it is a L-O-N-G story—all of which has to do with the politics of this government. The government wants total control so it is working hard to destroy private enterprise and take everything over for their own use. Consequently the consumer suffers because production is on the decline and the government controls the ability of private enterprise to import rare materials or products because it controls the availability of dollars.

Anyway, it's a long story, and we've had to be very creative at times when there weren't eggs, milk, sugar, chicken, flour, toilet paper, and a host of other things that come and go. Right now, margarine is gone. If nothing else, some of these shortages will drive us to becoming more creative cooks.

[Lynda Lee]

Oops, forgot to answer part of your question. We have oils available: Corn, olive, sunflower, canola, all of which helps.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Oh, it is a L-O-N-G story—all of which has to do with the politics of this government. The government wants total control so it is working hard to destroy private enterprise and take everything over for their own use. Consequently the consumer suffers because production is on the decline and the government controls the ability of private enterprise to import rare materials or products because it controls the availability of dollars.

Anyway, it's a long story, and we've had to be very creative at times when there weren't eggs, milk, sugar, chicken, flour, toilet paper, and a host of other things that come and go. Right now, margarine is gone. If nothing else, some of these shortages will drive us to becoming more creative cooks.

Hi Lydia!

We welcome you to SpicePlace. Good thing you can get canola and a few other oils. There are a host of recipes that are interchangeable with the type oil you use. If you can not get margarine that is OK, it just is not that good for you anyway. You may try experimenting with recipes and substituting oils with types you can obtain. In some of the newer recipes that omit much of the oil and use a smaller amount now call for say apple sauce to help keep the batter moist. You will find many new ideas and recipes here!

You are brave to stay in Venezuela, cripe I am afraid I would not hang around there very long with all that is happening there!

CCCathy

[Lynda Lee]

Hehehe. I have my moments. If it weren't a divine calling, I might be inclined to buy a ticket and head north too! It's a beautiful country with some very wonderful people—that makes it more a pity.

Yes, I am experimenting. I tried a recipe this afternoon that substituted yogurt for shortening and milk (cookies) but they were too cake-like and soft for my taste. I may try to leave out the eggs and see if I can get crisper cookies (or use a little butter or oil so they won't be hard as rocks!!!!!!!!).

[The Ironic Chef]

I can not imagine life without chicken, eggs, milk or four.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Hello Again Lynda,

Sorry I spelled your name wrong on my previous post, I have a dear friend Lydia and thought of her as I saw your name and it stuck o-o-ops!

Your cookies sounded like they would be good biscotti hee-hee! Not a totally bad thing if you like dunking them into coffee or milk! Just add a tsp. or so of Almond extract and wa-la Biscotti!

Do you have availability to honey and any type syrups? What have you found to substitute sugar if need be? Is ther an abundance of sugar cane growing in Ven.? How about fresh fruits and veggies? What are some of the most prolific crops?

I know Venezuela has got to be absolutely georgeous country. And I am sure, as you pointed out, many beautiful people there as well! I guess you just have to take the good with the bad in a situation like that! Hopefully you will not be put into any grave danger with the political disheval, at least nothing worse than learning new recipes to cope with the lack of proper cooking ingredients!

CCCathy

[Lynda Lee]

Hehehe, no problem. I didn't even notice the name!

Actually, you're right. I ate a few of the cookies last night and thought that they did resemble biscotti. I only baked half the dough and since I didn't like the result much I didn't know what to do with the other half. Maybe I'll shape it like biscotti and do the whole baking twice thing and see what happens.

Yes, we can get honey here—very expensive so I wouldn't use it a lot. Splenda etc. are available here too, but since these kinds of things are imported, the price is out of sight for the average Venezuelan. A lot of people ask me for my recipes so I try to make things they can make on their own. (No peanut Butter cookies—PB is $17.00 for a six oz. jar.)

Other syrups? Also imported, so don't use maple syrup etc. much. There is sugar cane here but because of government interference and getting dollars for equipment and rar materials, production of just about everything is way down which sometimes results in no sugar to be found anywhere. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies though many of these are imported from Colombia, Chile, and other parts. This country relies on oil, so about 85% of everything else is imported.

Yes, I hope the worst I have to fear is having to be creative in the cooking area. I've already warned the cats that they might have to use shredded paper in the litter box if I can't get litter (also imported and expensive). They weren't impresses and I have a feeling I wouldn't be if I had to clean that out of the litterbox.