One of the best things you can develop is a pantry, of base dry ingredients, so you can pull meals together without worrying about being out of perishable items, or worse they are so pricey you can’t justify buying it (locally butter is now $6 a pound and up).
Butter powder is a great ingredient to up the calorie count in recipes, adds flavor and what many don’t know is you can make actual butter out of it. Easily. With just the powder and cold water. Even when the power is out. No opening up the refrigerator, letting out valuable coldness. (It’s great sprinkled on popcorn I might add…..if you cook it in oil, you get the buttery flavor.)
I typically buy Hoosier Hill Farm Butter Powder to stock in our pantry. It has a good quality and holds up well in storage. However, do not follow the directions on their packaging on how to make butter. You will have a liquid mess if you do.
Instead, I followed the directions on Augason Farms powder.
To make butter, add ½ cup butter powder to a bowl. Add in 1½ Tbsp cold water. Let it sit for a couple minutes (it doesn’t absorb immediately), then stir and stir until the butter starts to come together. Just keep stirring and suddenly it will be a solid (so don’t give up!). At this point it is ready to use. Seal tightly till needed. It can sit on the counter, and doesn’t require refrigeration. If you can chill it, it will be firmer of course.
Once firmed up, you can use this butter even in recipes (for example, making homemade biscuits) or use it on bread/rolls, tossed with veggies, or to saute ingredients in.
~Sarah