Thursday, July 22, 2010

A worthy side to your steak: Warm Bread with Garlic-Herb Butter

You’re out in the backyard, grilling some steaks. The mouth-watering smell drifts upward, making you think . . . what am I going to serve with my awesome pieces of meat?
   I’ve got a great suggestion: Warm Bread with Garlic-Herb Butter (click here for the recipe on the Martha Stewart Living website).
   The butter, studded with chopped garlic, chives and parsley, melts into the bread, producing a savory, delicious side to your steak.
   This recipe doesn’t require that you actually make the bread, just the butter.
   However, instead of taking a loaf of crusty bread and warming it in the oven as the recipe directs, I take another route.
   I buy ready-to-bake bread, available in the bakery section of many supermarkets, and pop that in the oven. It’s the next best thing to homemade.
   The recipe calls for two sticks (one cup) of unsalted butter. I find this makes a lot, so I halve the entire recipe.
   The butter will keep for a few days if refrigerated.
   To make it, a minced garlic clove and coarse salt are crushed together with a mortle and pestle to form a paste. This is put in a bowl, and chopped fresh parsley and chives, lemon juice and softened butter is added. All the ingredients are stirred together until well combined.
   Serve and watch your guests melt along with the butter!

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