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How to Combine Ingredients

Next to correct measuring comes the care in combining ingredients, a fact often overlooked by the inexperienced.

There are three methods to be considered-stirring, beating, cutting and folding. To stir, means to mix by using a circular motion, widening the circles to thoroughly blend the materials. This is the motion ordinarily used.

To beat, we continually turn the ingredients over and over so as to bring the under part to the surface. By beating we enclose a large amount of air into the mixture.

To cut and fold we combine two ingredients by the use of two motionsthe one a repeated vertical downward motion of cutting, and second, by turning the ingredients over and over from the bottom, allowing the bowl of the spoon to touch the bottom of the dish each time. These two motions are repeated until the mixture is well blended. By stirring, ingredients are blended; by beating, a large amount of air is enclosed, and by cutting and folding, the air already beaten in is carefully retained.