Compound Butter

Do you want to impress people with almost no work? I do. 

I love having dinner parties and entertaining, but I'm known as a great cook among my friends so I alway feel the need to impress them. But sometimes I'm busy and I don't have time for anything complicated.

It's okay though, because I have a secret. Compound butter.

All compound butter is is butter mixed with other stuff. But when you roll it into a cylinder and serve beautiful slices on meat, on vegetables, or with bread for your non-paleo guests (boo) people are amazed.  

This week I made some basil compound butter just for me and Mike and we ate it on top of ribeyes and spinach. He was impressed and he knows my secrets ;)

Grilled Ribeye with Basil Compound Butter

Basil Compound Butter

Ingredients

1/2 stick of butter (or a quarter of a package of Kerry Gold... mmmm), room temp

1 cup basil leaves (or other herb)

1 clove garlic

salt to taste

Directions

1) Place basil, garlic, and salt in food processor and pulse until very finely chopped.

2) Add butter in and process for about 30 sec until everything is mixed

**you could do these step by hand, but it would take forevs**

3) Place butter on wax paper, parchment paper, or plastic warp (less than ideal) smoosh butter out a little and then roll into a cylinder and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours to firm. Slice and serve. 

Cucumber Water

Since middle school I have been a total diet coke addict.  There were times in my life that I would drink at least 2 liters of the stuff everyday, including having a caffeine full glass right before bed.  In fact, here is a picture from behind my computer just 6 months ago:



I figured that it was good for me because it was calorie free. Totally wrong. 

Now I drink mostly water or espresso, maybe an iced coffee, and I try not to drink caffeine after 12 pm. But I get bored with water and coffee. Sometimes I want to drink something with a little flavor. In comes flavored water - not this crap.  Flavored water I make myself.  And its easy. I just place whatever flavorings I want to use in the bottom of my Brita filter, add water, and enjoy a few hours later.

My favorite is really simple - plain cucumber - but really there are endless options.  I've done strawberries and basil, honeydew melon and mint, orange and lavender, lemongrass and basil.



Ingredients
2 liters of water
1 medium cumber, sliced (whatever fruit or veg you are using you want about a cup of slices)
4 -5 sprigs of thyme(optional) (for fresh herbs use 1/3 of a cup, if you are using a dried herd, like lavender, use 1-2 tablespoons)

1) Place cucumber (and thyme if using) in the bottom of your brita filter or pitcher.  Pour water in.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, 24 is better. Strain. Serve over ice. Enjoy. Be refreshed!

For my grow up readers - this is super tasty mixed with gin or rum and a splash of seltzer!