Cooking problems?

I always come across the same questions at my job, so I'm figuring they must be common cooking/kitchen problems that people face. Here are some big ones.

1. How do I sautee onions and garlic and not burn the garlic!?

Easy! Just sautee the onions until they are almost done (to your liking), and then stir in the garlic and sautee altogether for a couple minutes.

2. We're out of ______!?!!! What do I use instead!!!?

1 tbsp cornstarch = 2 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder = 1/2 tsp cream of tartar + 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 square cooking chocolate = 3 tbsp cocoa powder + 1 tsp butter
1 c granulated sugar = 2 c very loosely packed powdered sugar
1 c sour cream = 1 c yogurt
1 c brown sugar = 1 c white sugar + 2 tbsp molasses
1 c olive oil = 1/2 lb butter
1 clove garlic = 1/8 tsp garlic powder

3. How much dry pasta will yield ____ cups of cooked pasta?

1 c long grain rice = 3 c cooked rice
1 c dry macaroni = 2.5 c cooked macaroni
8 oz box of spaghetti = 4 c of cooked spaghetti