Tuesday Tip: Herb-Infused Butter

Herb infused butter is so easy and simple!  It's great for a dinner party, holidays, on steaks, or just on toasted bread!  Today, I'll show you just how to make a herb infused butter along with a recipe for my favorite butter!

 {Basil Garlic Butter}

 

{Mix ingredients together}

 

{Slice a piece of bread into quarters so you can try and get the seasonings right}

 

{Once you get it right, proceed to eat the remaining bread pieces}

So what exactly is an herb-infused butter?  Typically it's butter mixed with whatever you want and then used.  You can make plain garlic butter, or parsley butter, or lemon butter, or garlic lemon parsley butter!  The options are endless!!!!

Basil Garlic Butter

Makes 8 oz

8 oz butter (2 sticks), room temperature
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced
Salt and pepper

1. Mix ingredients together.
2. Taste on a piece of bread and adjust salt and pepper.
3. Store in the fridge in an airtight container or freeze according to directions below.

Yes, you can freeze butter, and it freezes really well actually.  So if you want to make this ahead of time for a function, freezing is the best option.  My Basil Garlic Butter is just one option, but I encourage you to experiment!  Just remember, start with small amounts because it's easier to add more than to take it away!

How to Freeze Butter

 

{Step 1:  Spread butter onto a piece of plastic wrap}

 

{Step 2: Fold plastic wrap over butter}

 

{Step 3:  Adhere plastic wrap to butter, making sure there are no air bubbles in the butter}

 

{Step 4:  Roll plastic wrap around the butter}

 

{Step 5:  Twist the ends shut and until butter becomes uniform in size and shape}

 

{Step 6:  Take another piece of plastic wrap and wrap it around the wrapped butter}

 

{Fold over and roll to wrap it again}

 

{Nice little package}

 

{Step 7:  LABEL AND DATE!!!  Then place in the freezer}

If you are freezing regular butter, just keep it in the original packaging (the paper wrapper) and place in a storage bag (like Ziploc), date it, and freeze.  Thaw in the fridge when you need it.  Butter can be frozen for up to 6 months.  (PS--great way to stock up on butter for the holiday baking!)

{Making garlic bread}

 

{Soooooo delicious on bread, corn on the cob and over steaks!}

Have you ever had herb-infused butter?  Maybe at a restaurant?  You could replicate it at home with the steps outlined above!

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Happy Birthday!!!!

Today is my birthday!  Or as my mom so frequently and lovingly mentions, my birthday technically only lasts 19 minutes since I was born at 11:41 PM.  (Thanks mom)

{Baby picture--not sure how old I am here}

As I celebrate another birthday, I can't help but think of time and aging.  My best friend called me a few weeks ago almost panicked at the thought of the late twenties (it's almost 30! she exclaimed).  I am not scared or frightened by age--I never really have been.  I never really celebrated the milestones like 18 or 21 because I have always felt much older than my technical age. 

{A few years old--maybe 4}

{I am about 12/13 here} 

But, I feel different.  Between the ages of 18-24(ish) I felt like I had an adult maturity with a child's mind.  For example, I would ask for everyone's opinion on decisions, secretly wanting them to make it for me.  Within the last year or so, I feel like I've finally become the adult that I pretended to be.  I still ask for opinions, but now I make the decision myself--I don't expect them to do it for me.  I think that's what those years are for: to find your adult self.  I guess what I am trying to say is that I feel completely like myself, and I am comfortable with every part of me--the good and the bad.

{Senior pictures at 18}

So that's what I am going to share with you: the good and bad parts of me!  They aren't in any order and written until I couldn't think of anything else to share, and I will not label anything "good" or "bad" because they are all me!

{Marble cake--my favorite that I made for my family birthday dinner yesterday (coming this week!)}

1.  I love fashion.  In fact, if the hubby was willing to take pictures of me this would probably be a food and fashion blog.  Why?  Because as a "plus-sized" woman, I believe we have been sorely misrepresented (if represented at all), and I would like to be someone who inspires others to love and appreciate themselves and their bodies no matter what size they are.

2.  I never thought that I would get married.  Seriously--never like never, ever.

3.  I hate/loathe/despise skunks especially their smell.  Funny story--my dog got spray 3 times by skunks, and twice was within a week of each other.  Since I was the only person that could walk up to the dog without vomiting, I got to wash him every. single. time.  By the way, tomato sauce does NOT work!!!  Only baking soda, Dawn, and hydrogen peroxide mixed together works.

4.  I can wiggle my ears.

5.  I suffer from over-worry and uncalled-for-anxiety (nothing medically diagnosed).  It's something that I am working on, and I am getting much better about it.

6.   I still sleep with the teddy bear that I got shortly after being born.  He is still intact although he has been through a couple of surgeries and has three patches.  I can sleep without him, but I can't stand the thought of him on a shelf or in a box for the rest of my life.  His name is Bearly.

7.  I LOVE Disney/Pixar movies.  My favorites are Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Wall-E, Hercules and Tarzan.   And yes--I sing along with every song!

8.  I cannot stand the smell or taste of anise.  In fact, I typically don't like anything with a licorice taste.

9.  I follow rules, policies and procedures very strictly.

10.  Garlic, pineapple, butter, and dark chocolate are my favorite foods.

11.  I am a 'planner'; I am rarely, if ever, spontaneous.

12.  I would like to sky-dive and bungee jump before I die (I love heights--and falling from them).

13.  The one (and only) time I have ever been drunk was on New Years 2013.  NEVER AGAIN.

14.  I do not like extremely large crowds, e.g. football games, theme parks, and major concerts.  It stresses me out.

15.  I love to clean and organize.

16.  I love to try new food, drinks and activities.

17.  I am a private person so this list is a bit challenging :o)

18.  I am allergic to the sun.  Yes, it is recognized medical condition, and the hives are no joke.  Spring is the worst time of year because the sun is getting stronger after winter, but by early summer, my skin has gotten enough exposure that it doesn't bother me too much.

19.  I don't get subtle hints; if you want something from me, please be direct but polite.

20.  My favorite cuisine is Middle Eastern/Mediterranean.

21.  I've always wanted a tattoo.  Just a small one somewhere not visible to others; I do not know what I want, but I am afraid that I am allergic to the ink (I have many, many skin allergies).

22.  I love black and white photography especially landscape; I adore Ansel Adams's work.

23.  I can be on Death's doorstep with one foot over the threshold, and I still feel INCREDIBLY guilty about calling in sick.

24.  I don't care for clingy/needy people or pets.

25.  I sing in the car (not the shower), and if a song that I really love comes on, I SHAMELESSLY rock it out!!!! (complete with on-stage singing and chair dancing!!!)

{On my wedding day last year which is coming up in October!}

So here's to another year on this planet with wonderful friends and family, food and wine, and good times!

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Food for Thought

If you feel good, anyone who sees you will be drawn to you, no matter what your shape or size.

~Steve Ross, Happy Yoga

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Chocolate Syrup

So my hubby and I are big kids at heart.  We go crazy over a glass of chocolate milk!  One night, we were craving it, but we didn't have any.  Needless to say, we went without, but I happened to stumble across a recipe on Pinterest for chocolate syrup.  I figured we could give it a shot especially since it was so easy and had only a handful of ingredients compared to real chocolate syrup or chocolate milk mixes!

{Yummy chocolate milk!}

{Mixing cocoa powder, sugar, water and salt in a pan}

{Whisked until smooth}

{As it boils, it grows!  I almost had an accident or two!}

{Cooling down}

{It just barely fit into a pint mason jar!}

{Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks!}

Chocolate Syrup (like Hershey's Syrup)

Makes 2 cups

3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cup sugar
Dash of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Place cocoa powder, water, sugar, and dash of salt in a large saucepan, like 2 quarts because it does expand while cooking.
2. Whisk until mixture is smooth.
3. Heat until mixture boils, stirring occasionally.
4. Boil for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Add vanilla and stir to combine.
7. Allow to cool completely before putting in a storage container (mixture will be runny but will thicken once cold).
8. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks (if it lasts that long).

We haven't had this over ice cream or anything, but it tastes just like the syrup you get from the store!  it's much easier to mix into milk.  Plus it really does keep for 3-4 weeks in the fridge!  Can't get much better than that!

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