Tag Archives: butter

Reducing the Butter Recipes

We do a lot of baking in this house, from muffins to quick breads, to supplement our regular meals. I especially like to make muffins, because they can be used for a quick breakfast or a snack, and they freeze well. Recently, though, I have been trying to get by with less butter. It is getting very expensive here, and I haven’t found many good sales lately. If we continue to purchase butter as we normally would, our grocery bill would expand out of our budget. As a result, I’ve had to change my baking schedule a little bit, to … Continue reading →

Simple and Affordable Edible Holiday Gifts

I know. I know. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I can’t help myself. When I noticed that my local market was having a sale on fresh cranberries I instantly thought of all of the homemade gifts I could make with them. I plan to stock up on the tart berries and make a few jars worth of Honey Cranberry Butter to give away as holiday gifts. For me holiday gift giving begins this month. After all, who goes to a person’s house on Thanksgiving without taking a hostess gift? The following recipes are some of my favorite edible gifts. … Continue reading →

Mediterranean-Style Rib Eye Steaks and Garlic Butter Shrimp

With summer rapidly drawing to a close many families are putting the finishing touches on their vacations. Sadly, winter marshmallow roasts around the living room fireplace will soon replace the outdoor BBQs that have become an evening staple for some clans. Bidding good-bye to summer is never easy (especially if you live in the Upper Midwest), which is why I like to ease the pain by grilling out as much as possible during these last weeks of August. The following recipes make for delicious Surf ‘n’ Turf meal. The first dish is a Mediterranean-style Ribeye Steak infused with classic flavors … Continue reading →

Save Money on Butter

Butter can be one of the most expensive staples in the refrigerator. we tend to use a lot of butter in our household, so much so that we have labeled ourselves the “Buttertons,” just as in that margarine commercial. We eat pretty healthy elsewhere and are of a good weight, so I am not yet too concerned about the extra fat and calories of butter. I am concerned, however, at the increasing cost of butter. So here are some ways I am trying to save on butter. The first and most obvious way to save on butter is to use … Continue reading →

What Will You Splurge on for Thanksgiving?

While I’m usually looking for ways to cut costs, there are some things I splurge on when it comes to holiday entertaining. It seems that hardly a year goes by that I avoid being tempted by decorations and attractive serving pieces. I’ve actually purchased divided dishes, pretty trays, and other items, even though I had no idea what I’d serve in them. Then, I had to get creative so I could use them. I have a thing for fabric too and I usually end up purchasing some to make a new tablecloth (unless I find a great pre-made cloth). I … Continue reading →

Herb Butters

One reason I look forward to Spring is that it’s time to grow fresh herbs. I love fresh-cut chives on just about everything, and there’s no beating the fragrance of fresh basil. Herb butters are a great way to capture the flavor of fresh herbs, either from your own garden or purchased from the store or a farmers market. I like to make herb butter when I’ve purchased or harvested herbs for a recipe and then have some leftover. Chop them up, add them to the butter and you have a wonderful treat that can be used right away or … Continue reading →