Butter is a perfect ingredient. In both cooking and baking, it can be foundational or a finishing touch. It’s a flavor powerhouse, a sauce emulsifier, a taste enhancer, and above all else, a bringer of joy. In this charming kitchen companion, you’ll discover:

• Butter’s curious history
• Tips for buying butter, fun ways to serve it, and its ability to transform the most humble foods—a pot of rice, a day-old muffin—into something revelatory
• How to make butter at home, then whip, clarify, or compound it to elevate your everyday cooking
• Ten recipes that showcase butter’s multitudes, from Butter-Basted Scallops with Beurre Blanc to Butterscotch Pudding, each one teaching easy yet essential techniques, including browning and emulsifying
• Collectible butter accessories
• And more!