Bread & Butter Baby!

Somewhere I have heard it said that the glory is in the details. The small, seemingly unnecessary things we do in life are often what set our decisions apart. What sets us apart.

My hubby & I like long walks. We hike a trail that leads to a pine laden rise. Below us the river flows wild and clear. And for a few minutes we are almost alone.

We watch as a fisherman tries a new fly, giving quiet thanks for creation's complexity.

Jay finishes a sentence. I nod. We sense our reprieve is coming to an end.

He grabs my hand and we start for home.

 "It's often the things that come natural to us that we take for granted. We tend to think that

what is easy for us is easy for everyone" He muses.

And I keep thinking about these true words.

As a foodie I think of the small details we foodies notice.

Seemingly small changes. And as one who fishes I know the details make all the difference.

If I used the word "love" loosely I might say I love butter.

My dad asked for butter one year for Christmas - this gene is inherited.

When I was first married and had no idea how or what to cook I found a recipe for honey butter.

Which is basically a blending of equal parts whipped butter & honey with a 

few hearty sprinkles of cinnamon.

I somewhat forgot about Honey Butter until last spring. I was packing a catered lunch for my hubby's fishing trip & had roasted Sweet Potato Medallions. 

I wanted to add something that put these a little over the taste bud top.

So I whipped up some honey butter & added a few salted pecans. A new favorite was born.

Last week I catered a dinner at the Muskegon River Lodge. 

www.muskegonriverlodge.com/

The meal had some fairly sweet elements so I decided to forgo the Cranberry Walnut Bread side & instead made Cranberry Walnut Butter & Herbed Butter.

I served this with a multi grain baguette.

It surprised me when one of the guests wanted the recipe.

I served some to my family to see if they felt the same...they did.

Those small inane details that make all the flavorful difference.

Herbed Butter  (pictured above with green beans) :

One stick of softened butter whipped

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2-1 tsp minced garlic

That's the basic recipe but I don't hesitate to swap one of these out or pull an additional herb from my garden.

Cranberry Walnut Butter (top photo)

1 c. dried Cranberries

1/4 cup simmering Orange Juice

1/4 cup salted toasted walnut pieces

One stick of softened butter

2-1/2 Tbsp Honey

2-1/2 Tbsp Brown Sugar 

1. Add dried cranberries to OJ that has been brought to a simmer. 

2. Remove from heat & let soak about 15 minutes. 

3. Whip butter with honey & brown sugar about 5 minutes

4. Add walnuts & cranberries - mix til well blended

5. Refrigerate until chilled

I have only begun to experiment with Cranberry butter but think it could be delicious on Squash & a whole host of roasted veggies. 

The difference the right fly makes.