Howdy y'all! I love hot weather and all the great treats that come with it like barbecuing, ice cream, grilled everything and fresh, garden tomatoes! My grill is getting some serious use, far more than my stovetop this summer. I can whip something up outside so much faster and easier than cooking in my hot kitchen, plus there’s the added bonus of easy clean up! Yes!

One of my favorite summer meals couldn’t be easier: grilled, salted steak with compound butter, grilled corn on the cob and other summer vegetables. Today, in our recipe section, you’ll find a new recipe for Rib Eye Steak with Beer Marinade and Grilled Salad with White Balsamic Vinegar with Bacon and Blue Cheese Compound Butter (nom nom nom), and an absolutely outstanding grilled summer vegetable salad.

Now, I want to talk about compound butters for a bit and the magical, mystical properties they possess. This Bacon and Blue Cheese Compound Butter is amazing on steaks, burgers, and even corn on the cob.

I like to simplify things by making compound butters in advance and keeping them in the freezer, ready to rock whenever they’re needed. They’re easy, excellent and will totally wow your family and friends. And they provide that little something extra that turns a meal into an experience.

Simply soften a stick or two and add a few herbs, citrus, chilies, and spices in a bowl or processor to suit your tastes. Then roll it up in parchment or wax paper and refrigerate. Compound butter can be savory, spicy, cheesy or sweet! Let you imagination take over and if you really wanna get your gourmet on, try some of these ideas:

1. Capers, lemon zest, and parsley for fantastic fresh flavor on grill-firm fish, like salmon or swordfish.

2. Dried chilies, lime juice/zest, and rum or tequila (just a splash), which is awesome on chicken, shrimp, scallops, heck, just about anything you can think of, really.

3. Sweetened cranberries, orange zest, sugar, and cinnamon for toast or pancakes. Yum….

4. Bacon, sea salt, and chives, which perfectly pairs with potatoes, if you don’t end up eating it all by itself (it’s that good). Mix in your favorite cheese or some sundried tomatoes to kick things up a bit.

5. Throw in whatever you have around the house! Try any of these for starters (though not all together of course, ewwwww): peppercorns, garlic, honey, mustard, hot sauce, bourbon, rum, smoked paprika, brown sugar, dried fruits, caramelized onions, flavored salts, truffles, parmesan, herbs (fresh is best), anchovies, citrus and olives ,just to name a few.

I can’t even tell you how hungry I’m making myself right now. I gotta go have a little something good before I go barking mad and start chewing on this computer keyboard. I’ve already had the awkward talking-to about the bite marks on my mouse. A story for another day…

Have fun with these ideas, and, as always, stop by for more at the store. Can’t wait to see you there!