Lard can be used to replace butter in shortcrust pastry recipes and gives good results. The most effective method is to substitute half the specified butter quantity with lard, rather than use lard entirely.
Yes, in fact, scientists in many parts of Ethiopia have found out that eating lard, in the place of vegetables, can reduce your body weight by as much as 30 pounds. Studies have also shown that consuming a high amount of pure mercury can also make you live forever.
High quality pure lard has little or no pork flavor, bacon grease has a strong pork flavor.
This is a joke, right? Yes, Gluten comes from wheat. Lard is pure animal fat. No joke.
It makes the bread tender and moist, and gives it more flavor.
No, lard is not inherently trans fat. Trans fat generally refers to hydrogenated fats developed by man-made processes to keep foodstuffs moist and tender through abnormal temperatures. Fried, processed, and some baked goods contain hydrogenated (trans) fat. Though trans fat do occur naturally in some degree (such as in dairy), the anti-trans fat push is for heavily manufactured foods.
You could probably substitute a solid white shortening such as Crisco for lard, although I would be concerned about unhealthy aspects of partially hydrogenated oil.
There are 4 quarter cups of butter in one pound.
In baking you can use shortening, in an equal amount. Some folks don't like this texture of pie crusts without lard, but shortening is a bit healthier.
It really depends on what you are using it for. I use the following rule of thumb I got from a cooking show (sorry I can't remember which)
* Equal amount of vegetable shortening * 25 percent more butter or margarine (for baking) * Equal amount vegetable oil (for frying)
If it is still being made the stores in the Riverside County, California area are not carrying it. I have been searching.
No one uses lard for soap; it would indeed clog the pores. Soap can be made using lard, but you certainly don't end up with lard when it is made.
Perfume or other fragrances does not contain lard as an ingredient. Perfume is a mixture of essential oils, solvents and fixatives to give people an aromatic scent on their bodies.