I wanted to share a new cookbook/ storybook highlighting Butter with you. The book is called The Butter Cookbook: A Complete Guide to the Ultimate Ingredient- Because Everything Is Better with Butter. I received this book in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate link. If you click on the link and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchase.
If you were to ask me and my grandma Dorie when you’re from the South and your making those Down-Home Slap Yo., Mama meals, all you need is butter. More butter, more butter, more butter! LOL. Especially when making a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. No, Mayo for me Butter please. Don’t ask David. He thinks I use too much butter. But that’s a cardinal sin in my book! You can never have too much butter. Or can you?
If your family is like mine then Butter is one of those fundamental ingredients most of us use without stopping to think about how much it transforms our cooking. It makes pastries flaky, sauces silky, and a simple piece of toast into a delicious breakfast. Oh, man, and don’t even get me started on French Toast!
That’s why The Butter Cookbook: A Complete Guide to the Ultimate Ingredient caught my attention. Because if there’s one thing this Southern woman appreciates, it’s good old-fashioned butter! Just regular Butter, not Salted Butter and no fake Butter just real Butter for me.
In the book we meet celebrated butter maker Monica Carzavan, owner of Lard Ass Butter (yes, you read that right!), and she shares her expertise in this book from Smith Street Books. She explores everything there is to know about this kitchen staple, from simple unsalted butter to ghee, fermented butter, flavored butter, and everything in between.
Me? Just give me good old-fashioned butter. No fancy seasonings necessary. LOL Which is why if you seen my Butt you might refer to me as Lard Ass and that’s okay because I came by it naturally from my love of Butter which isn’t going to stop anytime soon. How about you. Do you love Butter?
In this cookbook. storybook is more than 70 simple, savory, and sweet projects, along with a guide to churning your own butter, this book promises plenty to explore. And the thought of making my own butter? Oh my goodness! I might have to give that a try. This book confirms what many of us already know: everything tastes better with butter. Without a doubt!
I like the front cover. It’s simple, featuring a small picture of a piece of toast with butter and a knife. Nothing too pretentious, just a little reminder of something my family already loves. How about your family? Once you open the book, there’s so much more to discover.
The table of contents takes you through the long life of butter, the story of butter, making your own butter, and using butter in the kitchen. From there, the chapters cover snacks and drinks, vegetables, pasta, rice and grains, chicken, beef and lamb, seafood, baking, and sweet treats.
And yes, seafood! At first, I thought, who the heck uses butter with seafood? Then I remembered lobster and butter go together like they were made for each other. So, yes, I’ll give that one a pass! The book also includes a directory of artisan butter producers, acknowledgments, further reading, and an index.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it isn’t just a collection of recipes. It takes you back through the history of butter, and I enjoyed learning things I hadn’t thought about before. The section on butter through the ages explores the different ways people have made, used, and valued butter throughout history.
There’s also a look at fermented butters around the world, including cultured butter and fermented ghee. As you continue reading, you discover sections on symbolism and ritual, bog butter, and even butter’s role as currency. Who knew there was so much history behind something we spread on toast?
And then there are the pictures and illustrations! Some are black and white, while others are in color. They’re lovely and give the book a personality of its own. I especially enjoyed coming across her making her own Butter and learning about a butter Elvis. OMG! I bet Elvis would have thought he had died and gone to heaven if he knew somebody had made him out of butter. Of course, he’s already in heaven, so maybe he’s up there laughing along with us! LOL
Of course, a cookbook wouldn’t be complete without recipes, and this one has some that caught my attention. How about miso butter fudge? Or vanilla cupcakes with buttercream icing? Oh my goodness, doesn’t that sound good? Then there’s chocolate buttermilk cake. I think I’ll have two slices of that with a glass of milk, please! How about you?
David would probably head straight for the burnt butter apple turnovers. We might have to agree to share the kitchen, although I reserve the right to decide how much butter goes into everything. LOL if your going to complain I’m using to much butter just go to your room and no, dessert for you.
The variety of recipes makes this book interesting for more than one kind of cook. Whether you’re interested in savory dishes, baking something sweet, or learning a new way to use butter, there’s plenty to explore. Which makes this cookbook a nice addition to parents homeschooling there children and teaching them to cook.
What I appreciate most about The Butter Cookbook is that it feels like a storybook about butter as much as it does a cookbook. You can read about its history, learn about different varieties, discover how butter is made, and explore recipes along the way. The further-reading section and index also make it a useful book to return to when you want to learn more.
If Charlie and I were still homeschooling, I could easily see us using this book for a little kitchen-table learning. We could study the history of butter, learn about the author and the butter-making process, and then try making some of the recipes together. That’s one of the things I love about books: sometimes they give you more than a good story or a new recipe. They give you an opportunity to learn something together and make memories along the way. I can’t wait to try some of these recipes in my own home!
Now, I know your wondering f I add this cookbook/ storybook to My Christmas Gift List? Absolutely! The Butter Cookbook: A Complete Guide to the Ultimate Ingredient would make a fun gift for someone who loves cooking, baking, food history, or discovering something new in the kitchen.
The U.S. price appears to be around $40, although I’d recommend checking the current retail price and availability before purchasing. This book will be joining our 10-Minute Reading Challenge and our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List as I help Santa load his sleigh.
Because really, what Southern woman wouldn’t want a whole book devoted to butter? And David, if you’re reading this, don’t worry. I’ll try not to use too much butter. No promises, though! Until next time, remember to be Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed but before I go here is some info on the book and the Author as well because sharing is caring.
About the book:
Dip into the world of butter, from its history to its present, and learn about how to make it, how to use it, and most importantly, how to enjoy it.
A book for butter lovers, whether they want to learn about how it came to be, how it’s produced today, or how to make their own basic, infused, and flavored butters at home. The Butter Cookbook’s 30 recipes elevate the basic dairy product to a recipe-transforming ingredient while educating readers on everything there is to know about this kitchen staple.
Monica Cavarzan shares her expertise with readers from a childhood spent growing up on a dairy farm and her time spent running Lard Ass, a producer of cultured butter in regional Australia. An expert on how to make good butter great, her first book contains a lifetime of knowledge collected across Australia, France, and the United States. Churn your way through the book and indulge in this deep dive into all things butter.
About the Author– Monica Cavarzan grew up on a dairy farm and is the founder of Lard Ass, an artisan butter producer based in Ocean Grove, Australia, producing traditional-style French butter with Australian grassfed cream. Manufacturing both salted and unsalted cultured butter, they specialize in flavored butters.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
Greatful Moments
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
