Bridal Shower Food : Anchovy Butter or Spread

Anchovy Butter is delicious on canapes, crusty bread and toast, it also makes a nice starter. If the quantities below are too small then simply alter the recipe to suit your needs. For example six ounces of butter to eighteen anchovies or eight ounces of butter to twenty-four anchovies. Alternatively, you can use fewer anchovies if you find their flavor a little strong.

Ingredients

• About twelve anchovy fillets, drained
• Four ounces of butter at room temperature
• Cayenne pepper, mace and nutmeg.

Procedure

Put the butter into a bowl and beat until creamy. Now drain the anchovies and dry them on paper towel. Pound the anchovies - you can use a pestle and mortar for this - to a paste.

Transfer the anchovies to a bowl and gradually add the butter, stirring after each addition. Now rub the whole lot through a sieve.

You can use the Anchovy paste as it is, or you can add a little, cayenne pepper, mace and nutmeg, to taste. Or alternatively a little made mustard and a little cayenne, this is especially good on toast.

If you prefer, this recipe can be made by putting everything into a blender and blending until smooth.