Thursday, October 22, 2009

bottled butter (for food storage)

Boil lids and ring in water and keep hot. Wash and dry 1/2 pint jars.
Melt 1 lb. of high quality butter (cream O Weber, Meadow Gold is what was suggested, but I don't see much difference in butter quality). Melt in pan, let it start to boil, and simmer 5 minutes. Fill 1/2 pt. jar to 1/2 inch from the top, make sure jar edge is clean, and put lid and ring on, tighten firmly. Let cool til jar feels just warm, then shake. Put in fridge till cold, but shake every 5 minutes or so, while it cools, til the separated butter mixes. It will automaticlly seal with no processing. It will last on your shelf for up to 5 years. We had this demo at our RS super Saturday, and we got to tried a bottle on our hot bread. It was the consistency of butter that has been left out to soften, and had no wierd taste or texture. I lb of butter makes about 5 1/2 pint jars.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Rosemary Shortbread

Makes: 16 cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons mild honey
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 300°F.
Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and rosemary in a bowl.
Mix together butter, honey, and confectioners sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at low speed, then add flour mixture and mix until dough resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Gather dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Knead dough until it just comes together, about 8 times. Halve dough and form each half into a 5-inch disk.
Roll out 1 disk (keep remaining dough at room temperature) between 2 sheets of parchment into a 9-inch round (trim as necessary). Remove top sheet of parchment and transfer dough on bottom sheet of parchment to a baking sheet. Score dough into 8 wedges by pricking dotted lines with a fork, then mark edges decoratively. Arrange rosemary sprigs (if using) decoratively on top of dough, pressing lightly to help adhere, and sprinkle dough with 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar.
Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Slide shortbread on parchment to a rack and cool 5 minutes. Transfer with a metal spatula to a cutting board and cut along score marks with a large heavy knife.
Make another shortbread with remaining dough.

Possibly the most delicious thing I have ever eaten!