Yesterday was a day like any other day.
I woke up thinking about doughnuts and chili fries. Ok… not really. I did, however, make my way to the kitchen, found an open box of cereal, and ate a giant handful of dry cereal with my eyes closed. Then I drank milk. I can’t tell you whether or not I drank straight from the carton or used a glass. That information is classified. Just let me be known that I seem to be a bachelor at heart.
Yesterday was a day like any other day. There was cereal, a bit of beach, eye cream (because I’m obsessed), food, friendship, and curious amounts of butter.
Herb butter. A simple combination of salt and pepper, fresh thyme and chives, fresh (fuzzy) sage and lemon zest.
It all gets smashed into butter. Later I’m going to suggest you put this cold butter inside a hamburger patty. That’s obscene and I apologize in advance.
December 26, 2011. Morning by the beach. If anyone ever makes me live in a frozen tundra land… I’ll hold this dear inside my heart.
December 26, 2011. Brunch with Tracy, Casey, and Cooper (not pictured… obviously). Tracy is cutting her son’s pancake. She’s mom-ing hard.
December 26, 2011. Afternoon butter manipulation and photography. Yes… I shoot on the floor in front of my door sometimes. Just… deal.
What are you going to do with all of this beautiful, herb-y, salty, butter spread?
Bread is an amazing place to start. Toasted? With garlic? Keep talking!
December 26, 2011. You might consider, as I did… placing small pats of herb butter inside ground beef and making butter burgers.
Butter. Burgers. I mean… sweet Lord. The recipe is from Good Meat, a book I am deeply emotional about.
I can neither confirm nor deny my butter burger consumption. A butter burger is not pictured here because that would be entirely irresponsible, and frankly… dangerous.
December 26, 2011. End with a cider. Pear.
Super Herb Butter
makes 1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened slightly (you can use salted butter, just leave the extra salt out)
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (depending on how salty you like things)
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 teaspoons coarsely chopped fresh thyme,
2 teaspoons coarsely chopped fresh sage
2 teaspoons lemon zest
3 tablespoons chopped chives
Place butter in a small bowl. Using a fork, mash until softened. Add salt and pepper and mash to incorporate. Add thyme, sage, and lemon zest. Mash to incorporate. Lastly, add the chives and stir to combine. Place butter on a piece of plastic wrap and tighten into a small dish. Chill until ready to use.
Butter will last, wrapped in the fridge, for up to one week.
Jacqueline
Making it as we type!all from my garden!i have a mud mask on too lol!!
Erika
What a treat! I usually mix my butter with dill and sea salt. But you just inspired tomorrow’s breakfast for us :) Thanks for the recipe!
x,
http://www.jasminblancboutique.blogspot.co.uk
Bakerkat
Yummy. I have to try this.
Tanishka
:) Hmmmm yummy! Butter Burger, who would have thought!
Seanna Lea
I am a vegetarian, but I will have to keep the butter burger in mind the next time I am grilling for friends. Usually I make the stuffed burgers that were in Entertaining or Cooks Illustrated a couple of years ago. They always go over really well.
Nicki
Merry Christmas, from one who lives in a frozen tundra land. (totes jealous of your beach day)
tracy shutterbean
oh man. I NEED A HAIR CUT.
and this butter.
i think this might be Casey’s internet debut. Hello world, this is my beanbag!
joythebaker
you’re growing your hair OUT!!! and welcome to the world dear Casey!
Elaine DePasquale
I’m loving this idea! I’m currently on the quest of making the perfect pretzel and this butter would be a great add to shake up the normal butter I’ve been using! It will be great because it’s super easy and you can totally use just whatever is in your fridge.
Check out my blog because I will definitely be including these on my next batch!
Elizabeth @ Saffron Lane
There really is nothing better than a well-constructed butter burger (oh, yes — I have no shame). I love to make mine with a caramelized onion and chive compound butter. Sinful … in all the best ways.
If you only knew where I shoot some of my food photos — the front door (with/without cat) is nothing. :)
Heather
Helllloooooo BUTTER! Yum. (times 1000).
And all this from the “frozen tundra land” of Canada! (That one kinda stuck out to me!)
Courtney @ Sunday Soup
Looks oh so good! What eye cream are you currently obsessed with?!? I’d love your recommendation!
Jay @ LocalFood.me
Fantastic post and recipe. Herb butter is so easy and an amazing addition to recipes, from burgers to stir fry.
Lucia
These days are so special that we crave for them all the year long. But then, they wouldn’t be so special, would they?
Annie
Oh Joy. Oh. Joy! This is simply bananas. I made some pronto right after reading this. Guess what I just got done eating? Garlic knots. For real. I made some pizza dough, tied it into knots, brushed a smidge of super herb butter on them, baked them, then put them in a bowl and poured a bit more melted delish all over them. Not really garlic knots because there isn’t garlic, but I didn’t know what else to call them.
Is that All I’ve eaten since the morning? YOU BET. Did I call my guy and tell him about this success? Oh yes. Did he ask if I saved him some, did I say no but promised to make more, explained that I was just testing them so that he didn’t have to suffer through a not so great treat just in case that HAD been the case? Totally.
All is good in Annieland thanks to you, Joy. In fact, Annieland is thriving! High five!!
Nicola @ unhip squirrel
Gaaah! I love herb butter. I made some for a Christmas party with orange zest instead of lemon, then proceeded to put AN ENTIRE STICK WORTH into mashed yams. Heavenly!
Paula
Make your own butter. Shake room temperature whipping cream in a mason jar until it separates. Gently stir in flakey sea salt and your herbs. You’ll love the crunch of the sea salt.
Kate
cat tail!
Ellenc
You just made my favorite food even better.
kale @ tastes good to me!
A butter burger. I just keep saying it out loud, for fun. You daring thing, you!
Kelly@frugalfoodiefamily
Holy moly. I didn’t think butter could get any better.
And pear cider – delish!
Emili Day
Yea! Winter for me is holiday food and pub food. I’m bored of holiday food. Butter burgers make me feel like I never have to leave my house. I make better food here and can invite whoever I want. Pubs are overated.
Just, just starting a blog. U inspire me!
rachel
1) YUM.
2) what kind of eye cream are you obsessed with? inquiring minds want to know.
Cortnie
It sounds so nerdy (and frankly, ridiculous) to try and make a vegan version of a butter burger but I’m going to try anyway! ;)
xo
cortnie
Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet
I love to put herb butter on top of a steak or pork roast straight off the grill/out of the oven. So delicious! I will definitely have to try it in a burger now. My tastebuds and waistline thank you.
Claudia from Idiot's Kitchen
Okay, I’m usually a stuff-burgers-full-of-blue-cheese kinda girl, but I could make a serious exception to try a butter burger! Nice fluffy cat tail picture too. No way my cat could be that close to butter and not be all up in it.
Sarah (I Dream of Beets)
This looks so beautiful. And lord knows, I love me my butter.
Sarah
STOP. MAKING. ME. LAUGH.
I really don’t need to pee my pants from laughter every time you post.
I really don’t need my mom to scream to me about hygiene when i do.
And i really don’t need to increase our water bill with my loads of peed pants in the washer.
But then again, it is so worth it. I change my mind.
KEEP. MAKING. ME. LAUGH. :)
Melody (Redhead in the Kitchen)
Butter burger. It’s like when something is so awful that you can’t look at it, but you can’t stop looking at it either? I can’t stop thinking about it.
Sarah @ See Sarah Bake
Oh my- how I LOVE butter burgers. There’s a Midwest fast food chain called Culver’s that makes them and my dad is obsessed. In his world, a burger just isn’t the same if it isn’t butter filled. (But I mean, can you blame the guy- they’re insanely awesome). I must make this herb butter for him and show him what’s up
Nicole
So good, so good.
Rachael B
Joy, I just wanted to share with you that I showed my good friend this and he actually went “oooooo” and hurried off into his kitchen. He made us moose burgers – yes, moose – with these little nuggets of happiness inside them. This burger was fantastic. I’m generally not a fan of eating animals I think are nature’s most awesome beasts, so maybe next time we’ll just use beef.
Rebecca@A Dusting of Sugar
Oooh, Joy, if you lived in the frozen tundra of the Midwest, you could get ButterBurgers whenever you wanted at Culvers, haha.
Sara
Mmm. Butter is never bad. I have no problem with slapping some in/on a burger – my dad always did, and still does do that. He’s s true butter lover. I love that you shoot pics on the floor by your door too – we never really know what it takes to get those photos!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Butter, that’s been enhanced, is just even…better :)
Glad you had such stellar holiday festivities and fun times with your friends!
thelittleloaf
Flavoured butter is one of the simple pleasures in life. I like to spread a garlic version through baguettes or melt it over steak. The butter burger does sound vaguely obscene…but in a delicious kind of a way!
Elizabeth
I love herb butters!
Mary's Pastry Lab
your pictures just got better… butter + herbs… roasted chicken!!!!!!!!!!
Corrie
Looks sooo good! Going to try.
bety
butter is ALWAYS great! I can’t wait to put it on top of almost everything :D
kang li
Thanks for the photo tip (as interpreted by me)! I always put food on conventional places like the table which pretty much seals a boring shot..
notyet100
Thanks for the recipe,..:) wish ya great year ahead..
Jayne
Oooh… I made herb butter as Christmas gifts this year. Together with a smorgasbord of other homemade stuff. We used it that night for BBQ lamb. Super uber yummy. :-)
Ellie@Fit for the Soul
hahaha it’s always so fun to see where people take their pictures! :D This butter truly sounds amazing~I think that any flavored butter should have its own food group.
Monica @ Soirees & Such
Love it! I sometimes make cinnamon butter for my pancakes…but maybe I’ll experiment with cardamom next time…hmmm…
Jess
I would definitely melt this on a steak. Also, I will share with you my secret ingredient for garlic butter: it’s parmesan. Enjoy.
Elisabeth
Thankfully there’s nobody at home at the moment – I had to laugh out loud about the way you wrote this posting. Thanks for that ;-)!
And the butter looks really yummy!
All the best
Elisabeth
Lin
Yum….sounds so good. I will try it for New Years Eve Dinner! Thank you and Happy New Year! Love your blog!
Maja
your blog always puts a smile on my face.
Shalan with the Long Road
Oh jeez. December 26th on the beach? Sunny? By the ocean? I remember when my life was like that. That’s it. I’m moving back to the west coast, seriously. But first – I’m veganizing this grand butter smashing and utilizing it pronto. Thanks Joy!
Anne
Ooooohhhh…its all so beautiful and fresh looking! Butter burgers aside (as flavorful as it sounds for another time), this post feels just right after a sweets-induced Christmas hang-over. I’m digging the pictures and the herbs.
Sparrow Grace
Ooh. This makes me very happy. Butter? Undeniably incredible. Herbs? Gorgeous and fragrant. Together? Pure genius.
Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen
You’re one wild lady. I would also recommend using chevre cheese in the middle of the burger. I’m sure the herbs and such would be great mixed in with that too! I live in Wisconsin where ‘butter burger’ means something different (but potentially equally delicious). I believe all meat should be eaten with a responsible amount of fat from its respective animal. Thanks for sharing your bonkers life with the world!
Ruth @ the tasty tRuth
I love your creative style of writing! and who doesn’t take photos on the floor by their door? ;)
renee
I live in frozen tundra land – okay, Canada – and your beach scene just made me cry a little. But reading about your butter burgers made me happy again! When the snow melts and the mittens are put away for good, I’ll crank up the grill and bust these babies out. Cheers!
Jessica
Joy!
Just wanted to say thank you for blogging so well.
I know you’re busy and you work so hard, but you still post often enough to be the brilliant, bright part of my day that I look forward to.
It’s weird that a food blog makes me so happy.
Actually, it isn’t weird at all. :)
Just wanted you to know it’s appreciated!
Thank you.
sherri lynn @ life of a wife
Love herb butter! I think the butter burger sounds amazing, too.
katie @KatieDid
I will fully admit to having made a butter burger before. Incredible and not much else compares in the world. Except an herbed butter burger or course. Gotta make some herbed butter with the new buffalo grass fed butter I just bought today!
katy @ dining with dusty
Frankly, I think butter burgers are some of the best things I’ve heard about all week.
Erika - The Teenage Taste
Mmmm, I love flavored butters! I made cinnamon brown sugar butter before and it was a hit at my family’s Christmas brunch, now I’ll whip up this savory herb version and wow everyone at New Year’s Eve dinner! Thanks Joy! :)
Kate
Oh my. You have just turned an otherwise dreary and uninspiring day into something fabulous with the posting of this compound butter… and putting it in a burger?? I never really crave burgers, but now it’s all I can think of. Good call with the pear cider, too…
Melody
Butter is always amazing :) Thanks for sharing!
teaandbubbly.blogspot.com
pam
your posts always make me smile. I have had a butter burger or 2 in my lifetime. my hubbies grandmother makes them regularly. sinful they are.
and lately the people I work with have been b-tching about not having cooler/cold weather for the holidays….I just want to stand on top my chair and give them a piece of my mind over the cubicle wall world I work in. it is 75, sunny and absolutely awesome. i would rather be at the beach in shorts and a tee over Christmas then bundled up in 6 layers for the holidays. just because it is christmas doesn’t mean it has to be cold! i have said my peace. xoxo pam
caroleena
Just ask anyone south of the equator….
Wendy h
AGREED! I have no need for that “weather outside is frightful….” nonsense. I can be merry and eat too many cookies in the sunshine just fine, thanks very much. I could also manage to eat some of this butter on something… at the beach.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
An amazing idea all around. From the butter to the burger. If you put herbs and “veggies” in butter, it’s not nearly as bad for you. Right? ;)
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
GREAT IDEA!!!
Gen
I’d love it on a good piece of bread! I think you can only appreciate butter with some good, slightly warm piece of bread, with a crunchy crust and thick and smooth interior!
laura @ A Healthy Jalapeño
ps: newest follower :)
Evan
Uhhh…definitely put that on top of a piece of steak when it’s sizzling from the oven. Or on garlic bread. Orrrr melt just a little bit over an omelet. Or toss it with steamed new potatoes.
Wow, now I just want herbed butter. :)
Laura @ A Healthy Jalapeño
This looks excellent!!! and I looooove that you take pics in front of your door on the floor! as awkward as it may seem to us, it really makes for the best pictures. Unfortunately my condo gets horrible natural light, even near my doors but the idea is still there for a great pic.
Love it <3
faye
Another fantastic idea, thanks! I have lots of herbs leftover from christmas and was wondering what I could do with them! Problem solved!!