Mint Chive Butter Food

MAKE CHIVE BUTTER TO USE IN A VARIETY OF RECIPES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, mash butter with a potato masher or just squish with hands. You can even cream butter using paddle attachment of a stand mixer-the goal is to get the butter soft enough to be able to incorporate chives.
• Add chopped chives and continue mashing/squishing/mixing butter until fully mixed.
• Spread out a large (1-foot or bigger) square of plastic wrap across work surface, then scoop mixed butter onto plastic. You are now going to roll the butter into a cylinder inside the plastic wrap
• Tie excess plastic wrap at ends of the cylinder into a knot, or just use little pieces of string to tie off the ends. You can even make a string out of a short section of plastic wrap and roll it into a little rope.
• Chill or freeze until needed.

FLAVOURED BUTTERS

Steps:

• Take 100g of butter out of the fridge for an hour to soften. Flavour is key, so use good-quality semi-salted or unsalted butter. Beat the butter with a wooden spoon until it is soft and creamy, then beat in any of the flavourings you fancy. See each below.
• Tip the flavoured butter onto a square of baking parchment or cling film, roll it around the butter to form a sausage shape, then twist the ends to seal. The butter is now ready to be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge or up to a month in the freezer.

BUTTER MINTS

Steps:

• Butter a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan, and place in the refrigerator.
• In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and butter. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. When the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 3 minutes to allow the steam to wash the crystals that form on the insides of the pan. Uncover, and heat the mixture to 250 to 265 degrees F (121 to 129 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball.
• Remove from the heat, and stir in the peppermint oil and food coloring. Be sure to keep your face away from the steam as the odor is very strong. Pour into the chilled pan. Let stand undisturbed for several minutes.
• Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the edges of the hot candy into the center to soften. Continue folding until the candy is cool enough to pick up with your hands. Butter your fingers, and pack the candy into a ball. Begin stretching and pulling. Continue stretching and pulling until the the candy becomes porous and satiny, about 5 minutes.
• Pull the candy into a 1/2 inch thick rope, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces using greased scissors. Let the candy cool completely, then store in an airtight tin for at least 24 hours before serving.

BUTTER MINTS

Steps:

• Combine butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until sugar is moistened, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until well combined. Return mixer to low speed, add remaining 2 cups sugar, and mix until well combined, 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until light and fluffy, 6 minutes more. Add peppermint extract, milk, and salt; beat until smooth.
• Lightly dust a clean work surface with confectioners' sugar and turn out "dough" onto it. Divide into 5 pieces; tint as desired with food coloring, leaving one piece white. (Keep covered with plastic wrap while working to prevent drying.)
• Roll "dough" into 1/2-inch-thick ropes, then cut into pieces slightly over 1/2 inch long with a paring knife or bench scraper. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Let dry, uncovered, at least 12 hours. Mints can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

MINT BUTTER RECIPE

Steps:

• Cream the ingredients together in a small bowl.
• Transfer it to the bowl or container you will be storing the butter in.
• Cover the herb butter and store in the refrigerator for 3 hours before use. The mint butter will keep for several days. If you don't have fresh mint on hand, dried mint can be used as a substitute. Use the same amount and taste it, adding more if you would like a stronger flavor.

MINT-CHIVE BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir butter in a medium bowl until smooth. Mix in mint, chives, lemon zest, and salt.

CORN ON THE COB WITH LIME-CHIVE BUTTER

Steps:

• Mix first 7 ingredients in medium bowl. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• To boil corn: Bring large pot of water to boil; add pinch of sugar, if desired. Husk corn. Add corn to pot. Return water to boil and cook corn 4 minutes. Drain corn and serve immediately with lime-chive butter.
• To grill corn: Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Remove all but the innermost husks from corn. Fold back inner husks and remove corn silk. Rewrap inner husks around corn. Grill until husks are slightly charred and corn is tender, turning often, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately with lime-chive butter.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH MINT AND CHIVES

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper. Add scallops to skillet and sauté until golden and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer scallops to plates. Add clam juice, lemon juice, mint and chives to same skillet. Boil until sauce thickens enough to coat spoon, about 3 minutes. Pour sauce over scallops and serve.

HERBY FLAVOURED BUTTERS

Steps:

• Take100g/4oz softened butter and beat until creamy, then for...
• Herby butter: stir in 2-3 tbsp chopped fresh mixed herbs (parsley, chervil, dill, marjoram, basil) and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Tarragon and wholegrain mustard butter: stir in 1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon (remember this is very strong) and 1-2 tbsp wholegrain mustard, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Mint and cider butter: gradually beat in 1 tbsp cider vinegar, then 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Chive and shallot butter: stir in 1 tbsp finely chopped shallots and 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Parsley, lemon and chilli butter: stir in 3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 2 tsp finely grated lemon zest, salt to taste and ½ tsp crushed, dried chilli flakes.
• Dill butter: stir in 2 tbsp finely chopped pickled dill cucumber or gherkins and 3 tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• After mixing, have the flavoured butters handy in the fridge or freezer ready for slicing. Roll them into logs in wet greaseproof paper and chill until firm. Rewrap in cling film and twist each end to seal. Will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.