The Joy of Butter!

[Bathsheba]

I've read lots of praise regarding butter (especially compared to margarine) here in BB but I thought I would start a specific thread about this delicious ingredient and condiment!

Right now I am on my second slice of toasted Philipas Sultana & Orange Cob... spread with Harmonie Organic Butter (as recommended by Brontide in another thread as being a nice butter).. and yummo!


So... what are your favourite ways of using butter? And what are your preferred brands. I'm also a fan of Girgar (a cultured Danish butter).

[NaeNae]

We just use the dairy soft one (devondale)

I LURVE it smothered over a hot corn cob lots and lots of juicy butter. I also love the taste real butter gives to mash taters.

Oh and on hot banana bread

[amberj]

Butter is awesome- full of great stuff!

I have a butter question, actually. I just decided that buying the whole "spread from the fridge" butter is a rip off, so I chopped a stick of butter in half and put it in a container and keep it on the counter to use.

But its still a bit hard (probably a bit cold in our house!!!). I have to take out the bit I want to use and mash it with a knife for a minute so it softens up, otherwise it rips apart the bread.

Does anyone know of any ways to soften it- should I mix it with olive oil or cream or something??

[NaeNae]

amberj - you could zap it for a few secs? We never stick ours in the fridge unless there is a heatwave and when its too tough to spread I neuk it until the edges are soft enough.

[Lulu]

Does anyone know of any ways to soften it- should I mix it with olive oil or cream or something??

I do the same, but the butter container sits next to the kettle

I love it when there is HEAPS of butter in the house, cos it means I'm cooking up a storm!

[nanananny]

I use westerns hardcore butter lol (no reduced salt, easy to spread versions for me)

I love it on crumpets

[Bathsheba]

I think I read in the margarine thread to whip a bit of water through butter to make it more spreadable... never done it myself though. I am also avoiding buying as much "spreadable" butter (unfortunately DH likes it)... and now that it's cooler I'm just putting pure butter in a crockery butter dish in the pantry. Which reminds me: apparently you're meant to avoid contact with metal and butter... does something bad. Once again... it was in the marg thread... that's why I want to gather all this info here.

ETA: I just love that most butters just have 3 ingredients: cream, water, salt. Can't beat pure foods.

[NaeNae]

Bathsheba - my MIL can still make her own butter (it takes ages and ages though) She said she'll show me how to do it when I am a SAHM , sooo cannot wait for that one. We still have all the old butter churning stuff on the farm in the cream room.

[Bathsheba]

Nae: mmmmmm! Sounds wonderful! I have over beaten cream until it separated into this watery stuff and butter... but it was only a small quanity... i expect it would take a long time to get any substantial ammount.

[Snowy Love]

I've been wondering this sincethe marg thread - If you're going to keep real butter out of the fridge does it have to be kept in a crockery container or does it just look better on the bench? Thanks

[Rouge]

Crockery is better for butter, but I'm lazy and I don't own a crockery butter dush.

We have stacks of butter here at all times as we use it in everything, and I always have stacks of unsalted butter on hand for baking.

I just made pastitsio and the white sauce required 180gms butter Mind you I made two baking dishes worth...

[Indadhanu]

Mmmmmmm, i just love crusty fresh bread from the bakery and butter. Num num num!

[boomba]

mmm Butter *homer drool*
We love it in mash potatoes, on corn, fresh bread and veges! Yummmmmmmm!

[Indadhanu]

Mmmmmm, butter on boiled potatos, or jacket potatos!!! YUM!! Or corn!

Last night I made garlic baked potatos with butter, always yummy!

[boomba]

Ooh and fresh popped popcorn yummmm!

[Phteven]

My man doesn't like butter
What a freak!!!

[boomba]

Bron Dh complains that i put too much butter in the potaoes ppft you can never have too much. He doesnt like it on much either ....oh well more for me

[sneakysparkle]

Today I realised I just need to sit my knife in hot water before I spread my butter - like the old saying "like a hot knife through butter"

LOVE fresh hot buttered popcorn
Or on vegemite toast!