Creating Seasoned Rubs

Seasoned rubs are great on meats and vegetables. However, the premixed seasonings found at the grocery store often contain up to 90% salt in order for the manufacturer to reduce production costs. You can make your own flavorful rubs with much less sodium and more flavor.

Making your own rubs is especially helpful for people with chemical or nutritional issues.  For general health, you probably want to stay away from the chemicals and toxins manufacturers put in their rubs.

Compound Butters

Here is an interesting way to use those wonderful home-dried herbs.

If you go to really nice restaurants or specialty delis, you can find seasoned butters… at VERY high prices.  However, making your own butters are so easy, you’ll smack your forehead with “why didn’t I think of that!”

You can put together a custom-blended compound butter in less than ten minutes.

Basically:

• Mix your desired herbs and spices into the butter.
• Room temperature butter
• Place butter into mixing bowl with paddles
• Add desired spices and herbs
• Mix until well blended
• Roll it in plastic wrap to make a tight sausage shape.
• Refrigerate or freeze to make it firm.
• Then slice and use.

By the way, this is a great opportunity to use that wonderful micro plainer, if you happen to have one.  Use it to zest lemons, oranges, or other citrus into your butter mixtures.