Room Temperature Butter

It is very important in successful baking to use softened butter, unless the recipe specifies other wise. Leaving your butter out on the counter for about an hour before baking usually does it, but if you are running short on time I use a little trick to speed up the process...With the butter still in the wrapper (paper wrappers only, the aluminum kind does not work!) microwave the stick standing on its end vertically, on high for 10 seconds (Watch it closely, or you'll end up with a puddle of butter!)then flip it on its other end for another 10 seconds, and viola! Softened butter!