Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Compound Butters


Let me tell you, it's not the easiest thing in the world to come up with a completely finger-food-only meal. Especially when you're not just focused on heavy appetizers, but on actually serving sides.

Goodbye pasta salad.

Goodbye chips and dip.

Hello corn on the cob. Problem solved. And another summer favorite.

But what's the one thing everyone loves to do to corn on the cob? Smother and cover it with some butter. Or, well, at least that's how this family rolls.

So I might have cheated, and bought little disposable cups to put the butter in and given out knives -- BUT it still worked, and I say it still qualifies as "finger food".

Since we were on a roll with trying new beers and new hot dog toppings, why not go all out and have new butter flavors while we were at it?

So not regrettable. And SO easy to make. I also put out plain butter just.in.case, and not a single one of those cups were touched. I think that speaks for itself.


Herbed Butter


Adapted from: Allrecipes.com

1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons parsley, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

In a medium bowl, use the back of a fork to mash the butter. Fold in the remaining ingredients until fully blended. Transfer butter to a 12x18 piece of wax paper. Roll paper up, shaping butter into a log. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Makes: 12 tablespoons (serving size: 2 teaspoons)


Smoked Paprika Butter


Adapted from: 101 Cookbooks

1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika

In a medium bowl, use the back of a fork to mash the butter. Fold in the paprika until fully blended. Transfer butter to a 12x18 piece of wax paper. Roll paper up, shaping butter into a log. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Makes: 12 tablespoons (serving size: 2 teaspoons)

Jalapeño Butter


Adapted from: 101 Cookbooks

1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature
2 jalapeños, seeded and roughly chopped

In a food processor, blend jalapeños until very finely minced. In a medium bowl, use the back of a fork to mash the butter. Fold in the jalapeños until fully incorporated. Transfer butter to a 12x18 piece of wax paper. Roll paper up, shaping butter into a log. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Makes: 12 tablespoons (serving size: 2 teaspoons)


As I said, these are really easy to throw together, although the key to this easiness is to have room temperature butter. The colder the butter is, the harder it will be to mix everything together. I'm definitely going to have to keep some of these butter on-hand as they really brought a whole other level of flavor to the corn.



Nutrition Facts - Herbed Butter
Serving Size 21g
Amount per serving
Calories 140Calories from fat 140
% Daily Value
Total Fat 15.6g24%
Saturated Fat 9.8g49%
Cholesterol 41mg14%
Sodium 110mg5%
Total Carbs 0.4g0%
Protein 0.2g
Vitamin A 11%Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 1%Iron 0%

Nutrition Facts - Smoked Paprika Butter
Serving Size 19g
Amount per serving
Calories 137Calories from fat 137
% Daily Value
Total Fat 15.4g24%
Saturated Fat 9.7g49%
Cholesterol 41mg14%
Sodium 109mg5%
Total Carbs 0.2g0%
Protein 0.2g
Vitamin A 13%Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1%Iron 0%

Nutrition Facts - Jalapeno Butter
Serving Size 20g
Amount per serving
Calories 136Calories from fat 136
% Daily Value
Total Fat 15.4g24%
Saturated Fat 9.7g49%
Cholesterol 41mg14%
Sodium 109mg5%
Total Carbs 0.1g0%
Protein 0.2g
Vitamin A 10%Vitamin C 1%
Calcium 0%Iron 0%

17 comments:

  1. Look at all those amazing butters!! Wowza

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  2. Love this! I would have a hard time picking just one for my corn on the cob.

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  3. I would be eating lots of corn on the cob so I could sample all these yummy butters.

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  4. You're right -- they're easy but so-o-o worth the little bit of extra effort. Nice photograph! (As usual.)

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  5. What a great post!! Love these different types of butters and they can be used on so many different things!

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  6. Yumminess all around. These look so good. I must try all of them out. I like the little cups. A germophobe at heart I always like to find a way to keep other people's hand off my food. Lol!

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  7. Oh, my!!! FUN post!!! Great ideas for spicing up corn on the cob~

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  8. Look at all those wonderful butters! Great post!

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  9. Oh these butters look amazing! I dont even know which one I would want to try first...

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  10. Loved the creative combinations!

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  11. Beautiful! I love the idea of having different butters like that available for guests. How creative.

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  12. all looks great, we love to eat here butter garlic

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  13. I love your 24x24 and these compound butters are great! For sure I would want to try them all!

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  14. These look fabulous! What a great idea - especially that bright orange paprika butter!

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  15. Fabulous work...I might even slather some of this deliciousness on a steak!

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  16. I love the cute little shots of these each highlighted for their own recipe! And I am super glad I am making my way through my foodbuzz inbox, because you just reminded me to soften some butter myself!

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  17. Great idea! I love giving people the choice of these different types of butter.

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