Butter is better in a butter crock

Say that ten times fast!

I believe that butter is better than margarine. Really, who doesn't love butter? I'll always be for the food that has less chemicals and less synthetics.

Yada yada about margarine being better for your heart. It probably is, but overall I believe its not the best choice.

I know this might be shocking coming from a nurse who specializes in care of people having heart attacks (Did I mention we're kicking butt on that? Our door to intervention time is far less than the National Standard- and only about 7% of hospitals in America can say that!)

But I'll tell you what- it wasn't JUST the butter that gets my patients a ticket to the Cath lab. I could go on, but that isn't really what I wanted to share.

Americans are still lazy and we eat way too much. That's my theory.

I know, I said I wouldn't go on. Sorry. Where was I?

Okay, because I love butter, of course I had to share one of my favorite kitchen gadgets with you. Its called a butter crock.

The most frustrating thing about butter is how darn hard it gets in the fridge. I'm a toast person. I really like my toast in the morning. And nothing frustrates me more than having hard butter that is un-spreadable.

I made an investment in this cute little crock. It has changed my life. Okay maybe not my life, but at least my breakfast.

It keeps butter soft without going rancid. This is a "technology" that has been around for centuries, but with the use of refrigerators and cooling systems, we have forgotten about how to use more simple methods of preserving.



There are 2 bowls. The smaller bowl is filled with butter. The larger bowl is filled with about 1 inch cold water.



Invert the small bowl into the larger one, and your create a water seal.



You know how caves are usually about 50-60 degrees? The darkness helps maintain a cave-like temperature. The water seal inhibits air flow and bacteria growth. Think of this as a miniature cave or cellar on your counter top.



The water must be changed every 2-3 days, and in the summer its best to change it everyday. On really hot days (when the house is 75+) I add an ice cube to the water.

You can find these gems at Williams & Sonoma for around $30. Gulp! But I found this one on etsy.com for around $15. Oh, how I love etsy....