MYO" Land o' L**kes"Flavored Butters-my secret weapons of FLAVOR!!

SHHH, 

This is VERY SECRET!!!

I have an addiction I have to admit to...

 

 MY Weapons of FLAVOR!!

I have 2 major passions OBSESSIONS when it comes to food: 

Flavor ENHANCERS and TASTY beverages. 

I love my condiments, they are small tools that offer a big punch of flavor and when I want a party in my mouth and (Between you and me:-) in the past I have spent a small fortune on dressings, flavored butters, & marinades...  

The other day I just saw a commercial for Land O' L**kes flavored butters, "Saute Express" that offer consumers an easy start to a meal. The price of a 6- 1 oz cubes is equivalent to 1 WHOLE POUND OF BUTTER!! 

SERIOUSLY??? How interesting...

They do save time, but why pay all that money when you can do this for a fraction of the cost and KNOW EXACTLY what is in your flavored butter?? I would do a Half & Half of Butter EVOO conversion to make using this butter awesome for sauteing!

Today I am going to concentrate on diy flavored butters there is no limit on how to use these powerful flavor weapons! Add them to:

• ANY Proteins,
• ANY Veggies, 
• ANY Pasta Dishes
• ANY Breads/ Baked Good (savory or sweet baked goods). 

I have combined a collection of some of my favorite, some I have made up myself and some are from web site searches-Flavored Butters:

1.)Herbed Butter:

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1t-2T your favorite herb mix,(*homemade "below" or store bought) depending on taste,  
• Garlic powder
• Optional: 1/4 C- 1/2 C fresh grated hard cheeses like Parmigiana Reggiano, Asiago, and Peccarino Romano

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1. Run Herb mix thru the Your bullet/food processor/coffee bean grinder to finely grind herb mix if so with be smoother and no one gets a large bite of rosemary or garlic chunk
2. Add Softened Butter and Cheeses  with Herbs until JUST mixed-don't over melt butter.

Hints for Use:

• Saute Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts for an Italian Chicken
• Add to a Strip Steak
• Add to Favorite Pasta with extra grind of pepper, sprinkle of sea salt, and extra grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese. 
• Love these on fresh baked Italian or French crusty bread, place a slice of butter on top of bread then broil to toast yummy!! 

 

*My Favorite Herbed Mix:

• 1/3 cup dried Marjoram leaves
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/3 cup dried basil leaves
• 2 Tbsp. rosemary leaves, ground down to 1 tsp.
• 1/4 cup dried parsley
• 1/2t fine ground sea salt

Combine all ingredients and store in a tightly closed container. Store in a cool, dry place. 

Great on fresh Grilled corn

Roasted Hasselback potatoes w/herbed butter

Herbed butter is great on fresh grilled corn, potatoes, steak, chicken, fish, pork...limited to your imagination!

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2.)Crab Butter:

• 2 ounces claw crabmeat, picked clean of shells--used imitation crab from Sam's Club
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon seafood base-*made my own
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced

~~~~~~~~~~

1. Fold the crab, butter, seafood base, and onions together in a medium bowl and mix until smooth. 
2. Remove from the bowl and shape into a log on a piece of parchment paper. 
3. Roll up and place in the freezer. 

Delish on Fish fillet, especially flounder and have done it on steak for a version of surf and turf!! Excellent butter, so flavorful and amazing!!

 ~My version of seafood base:

• 2 Tbsp. dried celery leaves
• 1 Tbsp. smoked paprika
• 1-1/2 tsp. ground dried mustard
• 1 tsp. fresh cracked pepper 
• 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper
• 1/2 tsp. fresh grated nutmeg & cloves
• 1/2 tsp. dried ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
• 1/4 tsp. Ground mace
• 1/4 tsp-1/2tsp of ground dried lemon rind(or lemon pepper and omit the black pepper above.)

Mix together in tight fitting lid, use on all seafood dishes, really good-makes about a 1/4C.

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3.) Orange Honey Butter (MotherHOOD)

• 1/2- Juiced & zested
• 1/2-1Lb package butter, softened
• 2T honey
• 1/4 t orange extract

1. Mix all ingredients together, completely incorporating all ingredients, add more zest or honey to taste.
2. Reshape butter into a log & cover with plastic wrap, place on serving plate, and into fridge- if not using right away.
3. Be sure to come to room temp before using.

Delish on homemade English Muffin Breads, Artisan Shaped Bread, Muffins, pancakes, muffins, sweet breads like banana, pumpkin, zucchini...

HINTS:

• I love to press these tasty little morsels into a candy mold, think small size, and have pretty lil' shaped butter.
• Store these in the freezer so at a moments notice you have delicious-citrusy flavored butters! 

4.)Strawberry Honey Butter

1 pint strawberries, hulled 3 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened In a food processor purée the strawberries and force the purée through a fine sieve into a saucepan. Add the honey and the lemon juice and boil the mixture, stirring, for 3 minutes, or until it is thickened.  Let the strawberry mixture cool to room temperature. In a bowl cream together the butter and the strawberry mixture.  Let the butter stand, covered, in a cool place for 1 hour to allow the flavors to develop. ~Use on English Muffin Bread, banana bread really god for that strawberry banana flavor, muffins...)

5.)Cinnamon Honey Butter

• 2 sticks of butter at room temp, 
• 1C Honey, 
• 1C Powdered Sugar,  
• 2 t Cinnamon

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1. In hand mixer place softened butter and rest of ingredients
2. Whip for 30 seconds, scrape sides, then whip again until well combined
3. Be careful not to overmix

Hints:  

• Add to 6- 4oz jars and give for gifts or save the goodness all to yourself!  
• We love these on fresh baked fluffly yeasty rolls, toast in the morning, Fresh Baked Cast Iron Corn Bread, or any baked good is made better with a little Cinnamon Butter!! 
• Use on HAM, I used this once on a Spiral Sliced ham IT WAS SOOOO AWESOME!!

Hints For Storage of ANY prepared Butter:

• Lay on wax paper and roll
• Store in freezer and slice to add to butter
• Add to molds for shaped butter with homemade bread
• Whip into a small crock/ramekin bowl and serve w/bread. 

You can go on and on but these are my favorite tools in my toolbox of flavor!! 

Enjoy!

 

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