Flavored Butters Spice Up Dinner Time

Mmmmm...Garlic bread. Made with real butter, real garlic and really good bread (from a local Italian bakery, preferably). Both adults and kids find garlic bread hard to resist, and when you make your own flavored butter ahead of time, it's fast and easy too!

One Chic Mama's recent discovery for making really easy, really good garlic bread, is to make flavored butter and keep it on hand for those garlic bread cravings or dinner in a flash. Just soften up some butter (or non-hydrogenated margarine) and add a few pressed cloves of garlic - how much is up to your discretion (and that of your kids). Blend well and keep in a sealed container in the fridge. When it comes time to make the garlic bread, simply slice up some bread (use sandwich bread in a pinch and it'll still taste delicious) and spread with your pre-made butter. Place on a baking sheet and run under the broiler until lightly brown and crispy, about 5 - 7 minutes.

Flavored butters are a wonderfully quick way to add an easy and interesting touch to meals. Try making honey butter by blending softened butter with a little honey. It's great with fresh cornbread or warm biscuits, and your kids will love it. For an interesting and savory combination, blend rosemary and garlic. Or try sundried tomatoes (re-hydrated and finely minced) with garlic and some fresh herbs, mixed with softened butter. A pat of one of these atop grilled fish or steak, or tossed with pasta, adds an intriguing layer of flavor and is a great finishing touch. The combinations are endless. And when you make the flavored butters ahead of time, you can store them in the fridge or freezer so that they're ready at the drop of a hat. Spice up your dinners with a little flavor! It's easy when you plan ahead.