A Butter, Because It's Not Dry January For Your Bread - No. 9
And a tool you should all have in your drawers.
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Happy New Year everyone! I don’t know about you, but my 2022 packed so many changes, experiences, and stories that I feel it was three years in one. I moved five times, had at least three different jobs, worked through a nutrition certification, traveled Mexico and Peru, and found little parts of myself that I had no clue existed. It simultaneously went fast, and SO slow that I wasn’t sure it would ever end. If you told 2022-me that the most exciting thing that would happen to me in 2023 was going to be getting a lemon strainer…I might have believed you. I’m not that exciting. So here we are on January 10th of 2023 and I’m already calling this mini strainer the most exciting thing that will happen all year. I can’t remember what life was like pre-strainer. Colors are brighter, smells are sweeter—all my senses are simply electric at this point. 2023 is the futuristic world I’ve been dreaming of. One where I don’t have to fish lemon seeds out of my salad dressings, my dips, and I don’t burn the tips off my fingers fishing them straight out of a hot pan, because yes, I regularly did this in 2022 without looking for a solution. What does that say about me?
Who cares. If you’re reading this and don’t have one...order it now. No, I’m not being sponsored. But OXO, if you are suddenly flooded with thousands of orders from my readership, I would love to be sent a bag of anthropomorphic lemons that can cheer me on anytime I use the strainer. They can be like cute little pets. I’d allow them to bring signs that say things like, “GO VAL GO!” “you’re doing great!” I’d encourage them to use their creativity. But some will inevitably rebel against me and start making signs that say things like, “please don’t throw my seeds in the trash, they’re my last hope at procreation!!” In all seriousness, this is the only type of payment I’d accept.
Okay, enough nonsense for today. Let’s talk infused butters. This is a simple thing I’m using lately that not only saves me time every time I cook but also has seriously improved dishes that I wouldn’t have otherwise included garlic in. To find out if this simple garlic butter is the perfect hack for you, I’ve created this little quiz, because who doesn’t miss taking those?!
Do you love garlic? (yes | no)
Do you begin most of your cooking with butter and toasted garlic in the pan? (yes | no)
Do you hate getting sticky garlic fingers every time you cook? (yes | no)
Do you take forever peeling the skin off your garlic? (yes | no)
Are you looking for a way to upgrade your grilled cheese or panini? (yes | no)
Do you often dream about cute high-quality produce? (yes | no)
Do you like dogs? (yes | no)
Are you single? (yes | no)
Do you like being asked way too many questions that seem to have no point? (yes | no)
If you answered yes to all of the above, this butter would change your life. Possibly forever. If you answered yes to all of the above AND #8…Leave a comment.
Smooth & Silky Garlic Butter
A super quick and easy garlic-infused butter with extra nuttiness from toasting garlic in a little sesame oil before blending.
Ingredients
1 stick (8 oz) unsalted butter
10-12 cloves of garlic
1 tsp sesame oil
3 tbs nutritional yeast
Flakey salt to taste
Instructions
Allow your butter to soften to room temperature. You can do this by simply putting it out on the counter a couple of hours before you decide to infuse or by placing somewhere warmer to quickly soften.
Smash your cloves of garlic with the side of your knife, just enough to allow flavor to release while toasting. Toast cloves in a pan with sesame oil over medium heat until browned.
Toss all ingredients, including the remaining sesame oil into a food processor. Pulse until smooth and fully integrated. Store in the fridge, treat with love like you would any butter.
Love this simple recipe? Use it as a guideline and replace the garlic with any fresh herbs or spices that you already enjoy cooking with.
Yes’s all around and will have to try this one!
Yum, sound delish! :)