Butter: A Rich History

From its accidental invention in a long-ago herder's pouch to its ubiquitous presence in the world's most fabulous cuisines, butter is boss. Here, it finally gets its due. Award-winning food writer and chef Elaine Khosrova serves up a story as rich, textured, and culturally relevant as butter itself. From the ancient butter bogs of Ireland to the sacred butter sculptures of Tibet, this kitchen staple has had a surprisingly vital role in history, politics, economics, nutrition, and even spirituality and art. Khosrova also includes the essential collection of carefully developed core butter recipes, from beurre manié and croissants to pate brisée and the perfect buttercream frosting, and she provides practical ho-tos for making various types of butter at home.