Spreads & Syrups
Make it Extra Special
Although many foods are quite tasty on their own, some items can have their flavors enhanced through the use of gourmet spreads.
Gourmet versions of spreads like cream, butter, jelly, marmalade, and jam, really jazz up plain foods like breads and crackers. When using spreads while cooking a gourmet meal, there are several types available to compliment just about anything. Some varieties include meat spreads, seafood spreads, fruit spreads, cheese spreads, and even honey.
Butter is commonly found and used in nearly every household. Gourmet butter varieties tend to be more flavorful, rich and contain more butter fat than typical commercial versions, and hence, are preferred as a key ingredient for gourmet cooking. Gourmet butters can be infused with flavors such as aromatic truffle butter or herb butters. Many gourmet butters are made from cow, sheep, and goat's milk but can even be made from other animals including camel and buffalo.
Gourmet honey is a popular sweetener and is used in many recipes for foods and beverages. Honey color can range from dark to light and often imparts the flavor of the type of flower that it is produced from. Popular varieties include clover honey, alfalfa honey and orange blossom honey, while pricier gourmet honey varieties include lavender honey, blueberry honey and tupelo honey.
Different cultures in different countries have different spread favorites. For instance, those who live in the UK and other English speaking countries often use hearty dark yeast-based spreads that are referred to as vegemite and marmite.
Also popular in European countries are rich, creamy sweet spreads for breads including chocolate, chocolate hazelnut, white chocolate, caramel, coconut and praline. These are just a few of the many varieties available, but only a few brands are making their way into the US market.
Gourmet spreads are a great way to add some fun to every day items both at home and at a party. You can either make your own or buy them already prepared. The ingredients you use are only limited to your likes and dislikes, as well as those of your guests.
You can also find many of these as low sugar spreads and sugar free spreads. Sugar free spreads are ideal for people watching their weight or sugar intake. You can also make your own homemade spreads or buy them already prepared at your local grocer or online.