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Playing Favorites :: Butter Bell
Friday, February 4, 2022 at 02:44PM 
Your butter is ready.
I don't remember where I saw it or why I wanted an Original Butter Bell Crock, but at some point in the last year or so, I added it to my Amazon wish list.
(We've all built these lists and they have made Christmas and birthday gift buying so much easier.)
(Perhaps not as creative, but at least you can get your peeps something that you know they want.)
Years ago, before all this internet stuff, I used to dread Christmas shopping.
Here was my method: Go to the mall and walk around until my back and legs ached, buying sweaters and robes and slippers and pajamas and earrings and necklaces and wallets and scarves and socks and neckties and aftershave and books and backscratchers and ballpoint pens and keyrings and toys and various other doodads that I hoped the recipients would like.
It was tedious and unimaginative and, at times, straight-up boring. It could be stressful. I'm just telling it like it is.
Now, from the comfort of my chair, wearing my pajamas and robe and slippers, no need for a wallet or keyring, I can get all of the shopping done in one evening.
Cowardly maybe, but effective. And I have no plans to change. Can't go back.
You can carve a pretty design in the top but I don't.
Anyway, I put the butter bell on my list because it looked like something I would like to have and use.
It is marketed as a way to keep your butter fresh out on the counter, not in the fridge where it will be hard and difficult to spread.
But that's not why I wanted one.
I have always kept my butter out on the counter, at the ready, in a commodious and attractive oblong-shaped dish made of cut glass. In a house that is always cool, the butter stays plenty fresh.
In summer I move the butter dish a bit so that morning sun does not fall on it. In winter it sits where the sun can touch it and it's always the correct consistency for spreading.
(There is a rule in our house: Do NOT leave crumbs or anything else in the butter. Take what you need for both pieces of your toast or your baked potato or whatever, and don't go back unless you use a clean knife.)
(Still, a butter dish will get greasy looking and at least once a week you have to either take a paper towel to it or pop it into the dishwasher.)
So I had no real need for a butter bell. I was just intrigued by the concept, and I did like the fact that you would no longer see the butter, and yet it would be there, at just the right consistency.
We work together.
And this year, someone bought it for me. I won't say who because that's irrelevant.
But I was thrilled to see it amongst my gifts. I love white dishes and the fleur de lis design is a favorite of mine. In addition, the bell's weight and size is so charming. It keeps a low profile and is easy to use.
Here's the process: You let a stick of butter soften a tad bit on the counter and then you unwrap it and, using the paper it was wrapped in to keep your fingers out of the butter, press the entire stick into the bell.
It just fits.
You put about a third of a cup of cold tap water into the bell's bottom half and place the bell upside down into that jar.
The handle on top of the bell is perfect for grabbing and it also sits by itself on the counter while you're getting your butter.
It's super easy to clean, either with a paper towel wipedown or in the dishwasher.
Cute, and useful too.
I still keep a cold stick of butter in my cut glass dish in the fridge, and grab it when I need to throw some butter into a pan to make eggs or whatever.
The butter bell will probably strike some as unusual or unnecessary, and maybe you wouldn't like it, but I love it.
TG has not complained. That could be because A. he likes it too, or B. he has no opinion one way or the other.
Either way, we're good.
What say you? Please do share your thoughts. Be honest! No need to butter me up.
And that is all for now.
=0=0=0=
Happy Friday :: Happy Weekend
Reader Comments (15)
I have heard of these butter bells, so it was so interesting to read how you use yours, and how it works!
This was so interesting to me! I feel as though I’ve heard of butter bells. Do they date back to colonial times? I’m wondering if I’ve seen them while touring historical places. I’m glad to learn how they are used; is the water to keep the butter moist?
We inherited a butter dish from my in-laws that they picked up on travels. It says Heise Germany on the bottom. It’s a plate with a Dutch girl with a big hoop skirt as the lid. I haven’t used it yet. My in laws had it on display on a shelf up high in their dining area.
Have a fab weekend! XO
@Ginny ... It's truly fun and so pretty! xoxo
@Bijoux ... good question! According to the L. Tremain web site, they date back to 16th century French cooks! Fascinating! I'm not quite sure of the function of the water; in my opinion it would make no difference if the water wasn't in there but I do it anyway, hahaha. Butter does not linger long at our house. Your butter dish sounds charming! xoxo
We use the Amazon lists at Christmas too and love them!
I've looked at these butter bells before and though about getting on but didn't know anyone who had one. Now I do - and it's going on my Amazon list. Thanks!
LOL, I have never heard of a butter bell!! But I like the concept of it! I try to avoid having butter around because that means one must have bread or something else to put that butter on and that might mean calories I don't want (but who can resist freshly made bread with butter??) So glad you were gifted one!! I kind of avoid the whole Christmas shopping routine. Lists or not. Call me lazy but the list we buy for is small and most (all) are happy with the green stuff we stuff in a card :)
Happy weekend to you too!
betty
You little troublemaker!! 😳😣. Now I need …desperately…a Butter Bell!!😂🥰
The water serves as a barrier against oxygen hitting the butter and forming mold. Fresh butter has that problem so, you keep it where air can’t get to it…wha..La.
I also keep butter on my counter in an antique glass Pyrex covered butter dish.
I’ll have to find a rosette design…
Thanks Sweet Lady!
Hughugs
Donna
That is a great idea! We keep our butter ion the counter n a Butterie dish, you know the ones with the flip top? Anyway, in the Summer the butter is extremely soft so putting it in cold water like that just makes sense! I will put this on my Amazon list!
@Mari ... I think you would like it! It does take a bit of getting used to, but it's so cute that you can forgive the small learning curve! Cheers to Amazon lists xoxo
@betty ... oh so you're one of those! Money only, haha! We do stick a gift card or two into stockings, but we still buy presents because I just can't forsake that yet. It's such fun to see your beloveds open their gifts! As for butter ... girl you gotta have butter on hand. Just in case. xoxo
@Donna ... haahaa yep, now ya need one! Thanks for the info; makes perfect sense to have the water in there, now that you mention that. I really like this system and I think you would too, if only, as I said to Mari, for how cute and different it is. xoxo
@Jeanette ... would you believe that until today I had never heard of a Butterie flip-up butter dish? That is INGENIOUS! I don't need one, haha but if I did ... xoxo
It is adorable!!!!! Whether it works or not, and it does, it is a sweet kitchen accessory.
We have a "butter dish," also white. But not nearly so cute, as your bell.
What I really want to know is.... How do you enforce the Rule of No Crumbs In The Butter? With a steely eye, on all, who are using it, perhaps.... But your meal would grow cold, while you were doing this.....
Then again, a couple of those sessions, and you would have family trained. Until another "Grand" came to the table. -grin-
Gentle hugs,
Mari-Nanci
Hi,
I have never heard of it. I do love soft butter. ;-) I too leave my butter out year around.
I also enjoy doing my Christmas shopping in the comfort of my home, pj's, slippers and sipping hot tea.
@Mari-Nanci ... Well, I rarely put butter on the table during a meal. That's because with equally rare exceptions, I don't serve bread. We do have rolls at the holidays and we had them for TG's birthday, and on those occasions I put two small dishes with a half-stick of softened butter on each, and the rolls are on the table too. Everything else is served buffet style on the other side of the kitchen! When TG and I are the only ones home, say he has a baked potato ... he "fixes it" over to the side, then brings it to the table. It works out! xoxo
@Carla ... Soft butter is the bomb! And sounds like you've figured out how to shop, my friend. xoxo
Hi there Jenny, hope y'all are having a great Winter and that your week has started off nicely! Loved seeing your new lil Babybutterbell---so fun, so cute! Liked reading about the Dutch Baby recipe too--now that is something I HAVE NOT attempted! (we sure do love that egg recipe in the muffin cups you posted awhile back tho---that STUFF IS GOOD! YUM).I really don't like fruit....I know, I know....I am WEIRD, ha ha. LOL I never did like it even as a child. I SURE DO LOVE VEGETABLES THO! Oh my goodness, Immediately soon as I started reading that post a couple of posts back.....soon as I SAW THAT SHED picture, I remembered the "incident" with those particular neighbors, ha ha!! I STILL don't see how they ever got that shed in between those trees!?? Anyway, I saw the picture and thought "uh oh---this probably won't be good!_ LOL!! Sorry for the loss of the trees. Your new car sounds pretty, but I sure can't get used to you being in a car such a light color!!!--after the Raven car. LOL I am sure you will enjoy it though---and you DID GET COOL PLATES for it! Wow, y'all got some big snow there!! Liked seeing the pictures. We didn't get anything like that here, but we did have a cold spell. One morning there were quick flurries---so unusual for here in Charleston, fun to see. Loved reading all about TG's big birthday celebration.....no WAY Y'ALL ARE in the 70s years, or close to it.......y'all both look so young. Sounds like a great time at Texas Roadhouse, we used to eat there when we lived near Myrtle Beach. Yes, I remember the line dancing to the country songs.....it was fun! Loved the picture of him and the girls on the porch that evening, great pic. Your girls always look beautiful, glamourous, sophisticated! The meal later on at home sure sounded good too.....I do love pork chops and may bake a bunch up this week. I do love those Hawaiian rolls you mentioned, THEY ARE SO GOOD. Love his cake!!----fun!! Bet it tasted good too. I will have to order Mr. Front Porch some of the Cremo....spice and black vanilla SOUNDS GOOD!! Is TG liking it? Do you remember Aramis? It's hard to find these days.......but that's my favorite on Mr. Front Porch. Oh gosh Jenny I am VERY VERY EXCITED and happy for y'all that you are going to see your son get his wings!! It's one of my favorite memories in my Mamaheart. You will BE SO SO SO PROUD. Now I'm not sure how they will do it as his ceremony, but at our son's, they had the wives if they were married to come up and pin their newly earned wings on them. I thought that was a nice touch!!! Make lots of pictures for us, okay? Hugs my friend!! PS----congrats on lil Piper........what a sweet lil doggie, so cute!! I know they are going to just love her!
@Debbi ... well hello, my low country friend! Yes we're having a very nice winter season, and I hope you will try the Dutch Baby recipe; it is so good and you can put anything you want on top ... it does not have to be fruit! Nutella would be good, or just a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar, or just butter!!! Can't go wrong. Yes we are enjoying our car and I love the white; I never thought I would but she is such a sweet ride, you have to love her. Sooo smooth and we are looking forward to driving her to Oklahoma where I do believe you are right: the wives DO pin on the wings and that will be a precious moment for us all! and YES we love the Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla and you must get Mr. Front Porch some! We went back to Texas Roadhouse last week and the joint was jumping! Seems all restrictions had been lifted yet again! Now, allow me to clarify ... I am not yet 65 ... it's TG who turned 70, haahaaha! Can't put me in that category quite yet. Have a great week my friend! xoxo
I have a hand thrown pottery French butter keeper with a moose on the lid. I mostly use it when my son who LOVES butter is visiting so he can have perfect soft butter at all times. I also like butter very, very much but I don't eat it daily. There is nothing like buttered toast on a cold morning (sigh). Yours is beautiful and fits well with your kitchen decor. I don't know how I survived before Amazon!
@Barb ... WOW I would love to see your butter keeper! I'm suddenly aware that I could totally collect these, if I had the room. It's not hard to love butter so I can see why your son does! Buttered toast is just about the best thing ever. I love my butter bell and ditto on Amazon! They just raised the price for Prime to $139 but oh well. I remember when it was $99! xoxo