Ask Betty!

Do you have any cooking questions
or need a cooking tip?
Send a question and I will try to answer.

Ask Betty

What Is Cardamom?

Hi Betty. What is cardamom? --Vicky
Hi Vicky, Cardamom is a warm, spicy-but-also-sweet spice that originally came from India. It is used in Scandinavian and Indian cooking and occasionally in American desserts. It is easy to find ground cardamom in the spice aisle of your supermarket, or in seed form in gourmet shops and larger supermarkets. I have a couple of recipes that use this pungent spice if you’d like to give it a try: Indian Grilled Chicken, Blueberry Cream Cake, and Sour Cream Twists (see Grandma’s Secret Trick for the cardamom variation)

  • Question
    Hi Grandma! I'm kind of scared of undercooking chicken, but I don't want to overcook it, either! Can you tell me how to tell when it's done? --Alex
    March 2012
  • Question
    How do you keep brown sugar from getting too hard? --Vanessa
    March 2012
  • Question
    I am looking for recipes for tilapia. --Amy
    March 2012
  • Question
    Hello Grandma! Years ago, I received your recipe cards and amongst them was a delicious Rice Krispie/ice cream pie. It was a huge hit in my home. Sadly I have misplaced the recipe and have not had any success finding it on your website. Is there any way you still have it available? My family and I would love to have this gorgeous dessert on our Thanksgiving table again. Please help! Thanks. --Tiffany Dugger
    March 2012
  • Question
    Can you use quick oats instead of rolled oats? Thank you. --Rach
    March 2012
  • Question
    I had a recipe from Grandmas and this weekend I took it to the store with me and lost it. I have all of the ingredients and was so excited to try the recipe again. I looked on the website and it is not there. Do you still have the Chicken Stroganoff recipe? Where can I find it? Thanks. --Katherine
    March 2012
  • Question

    I was wondering if you by chance have a recipe for homemade maple syrup. I thought it might come in handy if someday we ran out of storebought and couldn't make it to a store, especially due to bad weather. Thank you.

    —Anishka

    May 2012
  • Question
    Hi Betty. What is cardamom? --Vicky
    March 2012
  • Question
    Dear Betty, I frequently see "baking soda" as an ingredient in many baked goods recipes. Why is this? Is it really necessary? In addition, salt may be optional. If a person is attempting to reduce her/his SODIUM intake can't she/he do without either or both ingredients without really affecting the outcome/taste of the baked good(s)? Thank you and happy holidays! Sincerely, Bill
    March 2012
  • Question

    What is the reason for a cake to come out too crumbly? Is it because of over beating or keeping the batter out for long time or is it because of too much baking soda? I baked a carrot cake; it was so soft and crumbly that it fell below the resting tray!
    --Sabitha

    June 2012
07/28/10
Pin It print
TAGS:
Join Grandma's new Oven-Lovin League

FREE Membership entitles you to
fresh-from-the-oven club privileges:

  • Thousands of Kitchen-Tested Recipes
  • Exclusive Cooking Tips from Grandma Betty
  • Member-Only Merchandise Discounts
Join Now! It's Free!