Christmas Bread Spreads

All the homemade breads around the Christmas holidays just cry for some special butter toppings.  Here are some special spreads you can prepare now.  They are best if chilled for one hour before use.

Nutty Butter:  Mix 1/2 c finely chopped almonds or walnuts with 1/4 cup softened butter.  Add 1/4 c apricot or peach preserves.  Yields 1 cup.

Citrus Butter:  Mix 1/2 cup softened butter with 1 tbls powdered sugar and 1 tsp finely shredded orange peel or lemon peel or zest.  Yeild:  1/2 cup.

Breakfast Butter:  Mix 1/2 cup softened butter and 2 tbls honey or maple flavored syrup.  Yield is 1/2 cup.

Onion-Parmesan Butter:  Mix 1/2 cup butter, 2 tbls grated Parmesan cheese; and 2 tsp sliced green onion.  Makes 1/2 cup.

Herb Butter:  Mix 1/2 cup butter, and 1/2 tsp each dried thyme and marjoram, crushed or 1/2sp dried basil, crushed.  Yield 1/2 cup.

Pimiento Butter:  In a blender, combine one 4 ounce jar sliced pimientos, drained; 1 tbls anchovy paste, and 1 clove garlic, minced.  Blend well until pimientos are pureed and misture is now smooth.  Stir mmixture into 1/2 cup butter.  Yield:  1 cup.

Your buffet of butter spreads is going to be a great compliment to those warm or room temperature breads.  YUM!