Mmmm Butter

There's nothing like the taste of butter.It's smooth, creamy and sometimes slightly salty. Yes, it;s bad for you but so are a lot of things and a lot of foods for that matter.We still eat them. Butter is different, It's a much needed ingredient in a lot of cuisines, especially French and Northern Italian. Unlike some other bad for you ingredients, it add richness and complexity to all sorts of dishes from breakfast to dessert.


Butter is the perfect element to fry food. However this does come with a warning. Use it in moderation. Too much butter cna make any dish from eggs to that French bistro treat the croque monsuier too soggy. Use a small pat or knob . You can add more if it seems the process needs it. Butter is a wonderful component in sauces.It gives Hollandaise its creaminess and gives pasta con burro its' delicacy. You can also use it for flavoring in some roues but again be gentle with its use.

Butter is also important in baking. Pound cake practically calls for it. There are also some scratch cakes that demand butter because it's necessary for the cake's texture and consistency. Icings need butter. A good butter cream is nothing when it;s made with a substitute like margarine or even - gasp- lard. It gives frosting a creaminess and much needed spreadability.It also creates a consistant texture so the cupcake or cake has smooth surface.

Is butter so bad? Not really. Just use it with wisdom and moderation. You don't have to scrimp on somehting that will add to your cooking. Just treat it with respect.