Butter Mint Salad Recipes

BUTTER MINTS

Steps:

• Combine butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until sugar is moistened, then increase speed to medium-high and beat until well combined. Return mixer to low speed, add remaining 2 cups sugar, and mix until well combined, 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high; beat until light and fluffy, 6 minutes more. Add peppermint extract, milk, and salt; beat until smooth.
• Lightly dust a clean work surface with confectioners' sugar and turn out "dough" onto it. Divide into 5 pieces; tint as desired with food coloring, leaving one piece white. (Keep covered with plastic wrap while working to prevent drying.)
• Roll "dough" into 1/2-inch-thick ropes, then cut into pieces slightly over 1/2 inch long with a paring knife or bench scraper. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Let dry, uncovered, at least 12 hours. Mints can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

BUTTER MINTS

Steps:

• Butter a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan, and place in the refrigerator.
• In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and butter. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. When the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 3 minutes to allow the steam to wash the crystals that form on the insides of the pan. Uncover, and heat the mixture to 250 to 265 degrees F (121 to 129 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball.
• Remove from the heat, and stir in the peppermint oil and food coloring. Be sure to keep your face away from the steam as the odor is very strong. Pour into the chilled pan. Let stand undisturbed for several minutes.
• Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the edges of the hot candy into the center to soften. Continue folding until the candy is cool enough to pick up with your hands. Butter your fingers, and pack the candy into a ball. Begin stretching and pulling. Continue stretching and pulling until the the candy becomes porous and satiny, about 5 minutes.
• Pull the candy into a 1/2 inch thick rope, and cut into 1/2 inch pieces using greased scissors. Let the candy cool completely, then store in an airtight tin for at least 24 hours before serving.

BUTTERY MINT CARROTS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Add carrots; cook until crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside. In the same saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the sugar and mint until blended. Return carrots to pan; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until carrots are tender and evenly coated.

FROZEN LIME BUTTER MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Mix undrained pineapple with dry Jell-O.
• Fold in one package mini-marshmallows.
• Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.
• Next day, add shaved buttermints, whipping cream/Dream Whip and optional nuts to mixture.
• Pour into 9x13 pan and freeze.

BERRY MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Place the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in a medium glass bowl. Add mint leaves and orange juice and toss. Place fruits in serving bowls and place bananas slices on top.

BUTTER MINT CANDIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter until creamy. With mixer on low, beat in sugar, cream and extract until creamy and smooth.
• Turn sugar mixture out onto a work surface lightly dusted with confectioners' sugar; knead until smooth and satiny. Divide mixture into thirds: Tint one pastel pink (2 drops red color), one pastel green (2 drops green color) and leave remaining portion white. Cover each portion with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
• Line 2 baking sheets with nonstick foil. Lightly dust work surface with confectioners' sugar. Working with one color at a time, roll out 1⁄4 cupfuls of the mint mixture, using your fingers, into a 1/2-in.-thick rope. Cut rope into 1/2- to 3/4-in. pillows. Transfer mints to prepared baking sheet with a spatula (be careful-mints are soft and will squish easily). Repeat with remaining mint mixture.
• Let air-dry at room temperature for 1 to 2 days until firm enough to handle. Transfer mints to covered containers.
• Can be stored in an airtight container at cool room temperature up to 2 weeks, or keep in refrigerator up to 1 month.

BUTTER BEANS WITH BUTTER, MINT, AND LIME

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 6 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add butter beans and cook until tender, 9-12 minutes, depending on the size of the beans. Drain in a colander; shake colander several times to shed as much water as possible.
• Put butter in a large serving bowl, and pour warm butter beans on top. Toss beans with butter until all the butter is melted. Add lime juice and toss again to distribute. Fold in mint, season with salt and pepper, and scatter lime zest over the top. Serve immediately.

TOMATO & MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Halve the tomatoes and scatter over a large plate. Finely chop the red onion and tear up the mint leaves. Throw the onion and mint over the tomatoes. Can be kept, covered, 3-4 hours ahead. Just before serving, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, season with salt and ground black pepper and finely grate a little lemon zest over the top.

CUCUMBER AND MINT SALAD

Steps:

• Place the cucumber, celery, garbanzo beans, carrots, raisins, and mint in a large bowl, and toss with the olive oil and red wine vinegar to coat. Serve immediately.