HERB BUTTER

Herb butters are quick and easy to make by combining butter with freshly chopped herbs, but then the fun begins after chilling, because you can roll into logs, roll out and cut with small cookie cutters or mold into elegant shapes.  You can also freeze as logs or individual portions for up to six months, so you will always have some available to impress your guests!

Herb butter is a great way to add extra flavor to not only breads, but vegetables, pasta, rice or potatoes plus a great opportunity to experiment with the flavors of herbs and use up leftover herbs that have been used in other recipes. They also can be brushed on grilled meat, chicken and fish and melted into pan sauces.

Here is a basic recipe as well as some of my savory & sweet favorites:

BASIC HERB BUTTERS: Finely chop 2Tbs fresh herbs and mix into 1/2c softened butter with a spatula, then add other ingredients if desired such as 1/2tsp lemon, 1 pressed garlic clove, salt and pepper.  Refrigerate in a covered container for 24 hours before using, but it may be kept refrigerated for two weeks or frozen for up to six months.
NOTE: 2 tsp finely ground dried herbs plus lemon juice may be used instead of fresh herbs

SAVORY BUTTERS

LEMON-ROSEMARY BUTTER
1 stick butter                                    
1tsp fresh lemon juice
1Tbs fresh rosemary                                   
1tsp fresh lemon thyme

GARDEN HERB BUTTER
1/2c butter
1Tbs minced tarragon
1Tbs minced parsley
½ tsp minced chives
1/4 tsp minced garlic
dash pepper

PARMESAN-PARSLEY BUTTER
1/2c butter
2Tbs Parmesan cheese
1Tbs chopped Italian parsley

LEMON BUTTER
1/2c butter
2Tbs chopped lemon balm
1Tbs chopped lemon thyme
1 tsp chopped lemon verbena
2 tsp lemon zest
1tsp lemon juice
pinch of salt

CALENDULA-NASTURTIUM BUTTER
1 stick softened butter                                           
pinch of cinnamon
2Tbs chopped nasturtium
2Tbs calendula flower petals        
squeeze of lemon

SWEET BUTTERS

RASPBERRY BUTTER
1/2c butter
1/3c fresh/frozen raspberries
2Tbs powdered sugar

SPICED HONEY
1/2c butter
1/4c honey
1tsp orange zest
1/2tsp cinnamon

ROSE BUTTER
1/2c butter
1/2c Rose Geranium Jelly

SWEET ORANGE-GINGER BUTTER
1/2c butter
1Tbs chopped crystallized ginger
1Tbs honey
1tsp orange zest
1/4tsp ginger
1/4tsp allspice

 “Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins. 
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
I Peter 4:8-9