Yummy Herbed Butter

Back in 2010, I wrote a blog post "Butter vs Margarine" and I gave you my easy-peasy homemade butter recipe. Today, I'm going to go a step farther and give you some ideas to use that homemade butter (or store-bought butter) to make some yummy herbed butter.

Herbed butter can add whatever little extra yum you want ~ you can add lots of zesty herbs for real pizazz or add just a touch of a simple light-tasting herb to add that little bit of interest to your rolls and bread. 

You will need:

~1-1/2 sticks of butter OR 1 c of rolled butter OR homemade butter ~ softened
~sea salt
~small bowl for mixing
~mixing spoon
~various herbs OR herb mix of your choice (see below)
~plastic wrap 
~air-tight container (preferably glass)

Directions:

1) use soft, warm butter
2) blend herbs completely through the butter
3) roll butter either into a long bar or into a ball
4) wrap in plastic wrap
5) chill for at least 1 hour before use

Now . . . for the Herb Blends . . . 

**My favorite is my own all-time, absolute favorite herb blend. I use this in/on nearly everything. :-) Add an extra pinch of sea salt.

**Combine 1/2 ts sea salt, 1/4 ts coarse black pepper, 1/2 ts. thyme, 2 ts. sage. This mix is especially good on turkey or chicken ~ as you spread it, it melts into the crevasses of the warm meat. And don't forget to spread a little on your dinner rolls.

**Combine 2 ts dill and 1 ts rosemary. So good on chicken or fish.

**Rosemary. Also great on chicken or fish all by itself. 

**Garlic. Simply mix in 1 minced clove or 1/4 ts garlic granules. Blend well. So good on hamburgers.

**Cilantro butter ~ oh yeah! Blend in 2 TB cilantro, 1 TB lime juice, 1/4 ts sea salt. Another good one on hamburgers. Or spread on a tortilla, then spread a thin layer of guacamole, sprinkle a little Jack cheese over it, roll up and you have a great little Southwest appetizer or snack.

**1/4 ts lemon balm and 1/4 ts lemon juice. Great with fish and seafood dishes, and on corn fritters and hush puppies with your seafood.

**1/4-1/2 ts dried marigold petals, chives and parsley. Try this blend with chicken, eggs and potato or other veggie dishes.

**1/4 ts basil, 1/4 ts thyme, 1/8 ts parsley, 1/4 ts dill. So yummy spread on hot homemade bread or melted over your favorite mixed veggie dish.

**Basil and garlic OR my favorite herb mix and garlic. Spread onto thick slices of homemade bread, put on a cookie sheet or stone and bake for 10 minutes at 350* ~ best garlic bread EV-ER! 

**And don't forget honey butter!! Mix a TB of local raw honey into your butter. Mmmm . . . your rolls have never tasted better.

Use your imagination and create your own blends. Let me know what you come up with.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><