FLAVORED BUTTERS

Offering a variety of flavored butters alongside the holiday bread basket is a nice touch. Even the simplest white rolls are improved by the addition of a sweet or savory butter.

To make these butters, mash a stick of butter--unsalted or salted--with the ingredients listed here. Pack the butter into small serving crocks or pipe it out into dollop-sized rosettes using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Alternatively, pat butter into butter molds available in kitchen or gourmet shops. Top molded butter or rosettes of butter with crushed ice to keep them cold. Butter curlers and melon ballers, found in the gadget section in housewares departments, also make decorative portions of butter.

Honey Pecan Butter: Mix together 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 1/2 cup honey and 1/3 cup toasted chopped pecans

Orange Cranberry Butter: Mix together 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, finely grated zest of 1 orange, 1/2 cup finely minced, dried cranberries soaked inw ater until soft, 1/2 cup finely minced fresh cranberries and 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Cinnamon Butter: Mix together 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 2 tablespoons cream cheese, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 to 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Roasted Garlic and Cilantro Butter: Mix together 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons minced cilantro, 1/4 cup very finely minced roasted garlic and 1/3 cup minced roasted red pepper.

Horseradish and Dijon Butter: Mix together 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard and 2 teaspoons white horseradish

Lemon and Herb Butter: Mix together 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest, 1/4 cup finely minced parsley, 1 teaspoon minced basil and 1 teaspoon minced oregano.

Garlic and Dill Butter: Mix together 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, 1/2 cup cream cheese, 1 finely minced clove of garlic, 1 tablespoon finely minced parsley and 2 tablespoons finely minced dill.