I found it helpful
to use the wrapper from the
stick of butter, which I had already dropped into the bowl I would melt it in over the water on the stove, being concerned concerned about making it too hot in the microwave for the recipe,
to smear a large pinch of butter without making a mess of my fingers or wasting a
paper towel and butter that would be absorbed (
probably used between 1/2 and 3/4 tbsp, but I did not measure).