Hello, I have a recipe which I want to try, but I have a couple of questions, so here goes :-
One of the ingredients is 1/2 cup of Cisco, I can't get this in my location and have read that I can substitute Coconut oil, which I have, as one is solid and the other liquid, do I still use 1/2 cup of coconut oil?
The recipe states to use Plain flour, and includes a tsp of Baking Soda. I would normally use Self Raising flour when baking a cake, which is plain flour with Baking Powder added. I'm not sure if Baking Soda is the same as UK Baking Powder, or is it the same as Bicarbonate Soda, which is also sometimes used in cake baking. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you :)

Baking soda and bicarbonate soda are the same, baking powder is different. I really don't have a problem with switching flours but you can use a little bit of baking powder if you use flour that is NOT self rising. As far as the coconut oil I would use a little butter with it. Not sure if you should use the same amount or less. I never use margarine with baking it seems to give a watered down consistency.

Thanks a lot for your very quick reply! I was going to use all butter but the recipe actually calls for 1 stick of Butter to be mixed with 1/2 cup of Crisco so wasn't sure what to do, maybe I'll try just a small amount of Coconut oil with the butter. I think I'll play safe with the flour and add a little bit of Baking powder as well. Thanks again :)

They have butter flavored Crisco.

Baking powder contains baking soda mixed with corn starch to disperse it and sulfates to keep it from clumping. You should be OK whatever you use, but the soda is more concentrated.

I have noticed I can live without the baking powder unless I want what I am baking to be fluffy and rise more.

I agree, the sulfates must aid the bicarbonate in rising somehow?

All I know us that baking powder makes the flour rise.

Baking powder contains baking soda mixed with corn starch to disperse it and sulfates to keep it from clumping. You should be OK whatever you use, but the soda is more concentrated.

Thank you, I'll give it a go and I'm sure it'll be fine :)