There is no hard and fast rule for how much oil it takes to replace butter: it varies by recipe. Start with a cake, muffin or cookie recipe. (Stick with butter or shortening for pie crusts). Try substituting one-fourth or half the butter with oil. And don't substitute the same amount: try two thirds to three fourths as much oil. In other words, to replace 4 tablespoons of butter, experiment with a scant 3 tablespoons of oil.
Born: 11/26/1938 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Age: 78. Full name: Richard Caruthers Little. Noted For: impressionist; frequently appeared on Dean Martin Comedy Hour (1965-74), Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1975-84), The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1968-82), The Hollywood Squares (1972-80).
(Blog updates from the Oscars) Alan Arkin won the best supporting actor Oscar for his role as Grandpa in Little Miss Sunshine. It was the first Oscar win for the 72-year-old veteran actor. He beat out Eddie Murphy, whom many had considered the frontrunner for his role as James Thunder Early in Dreamgirls.