I love bread baskets. I love bread baskets even more when they are accompanied by a flavored butter. Keep in mind, I grew up going to such foodie havens as Ponderosa, Perkins and Country Kitchen so now that I am older and live in a more metropolitan setting, it doesn’t take a lot to impress me.

We were going to have my cousin and his wife over for dinner. My cousin is a meat and potatoes kind of guy so we were doing just that: steaks and mashed potatoes. I wanted an easy way to jazz up the spuds so I decided to make my own flavored butter. After than night, I was a goner, how could I serve plain old butter again?

Lemon Chive Butter

Zest from one lemon
Handful of chives (about 1/4 cup), chopped
1/2 – 1 tsp of garlic powder (depending on how garlicky you want it)
1 stick of butter, room temperature*

*If you will be having guests over that night, take the butter out in the morning and let it sit out until it is soft to the touch

  1. Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  2. With an electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until whipped.
  3. Scoop into a small bowl and put the fridge. Chill for an hour.
  4. Take out about thirty minutes before guests arrive so the butter will be spreadable.

Tomato Basil Butter

1/2 small can of tomato paste
2 Tbsp of Dried Basil or Italian Seasoning
1 stick of butter, room temperature

Same steps as above.

 


Serving Suggestions

  • Serve with bread
  • Toss with 2 Tbsp- 1/4 cup of pasta water to make a quick, easy and light pasta sauce
  • Mash with potatoes
  • Serve tomato basil butter with cheddar chive bread
  • Serve with grilled corn
  • Eat with a spoon…oh wait, that’s just me who does that…

Enjoy!