I love my morning toast with butter, but because it's rich in both saturated fat and cholesterol, the indulgence always makes me feel a little bit guilty.

So I was pretty excited to hear about Dr. Dan's Spread of Life, a new, locally produced spread that combines the good taste of butter with heart-healthy olive oil.

While it sounds like a modern concept, the idea dates back more than 40 years, when "Dr. Dan" Peters, an phthalmologist who lives in Cranberry, was growing up. His "health nut" mother was always trying out new dishes on her family, including a flavorful butter-and-olive oil blend she served with bread. One taste, he says, and he was hooked.

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The doctor is mum on the exact butter-to-olive oil ratio.

At $4.29, the 7-ounce tubs are a bit pricey, even for something made with all natural ingredients. It is, however, pretty darn delicious and versatile; you can spread it on bread, cook with it or slather it on veggies. And at about 27 calories per teaspoon, it's also kind on the waistline.

Dr. Dan currently has six flavors -- original, pesto, roasted garlic with herb, red chili pepper, jalapeno and cinnamon -- and more are in the works. The spread is currently available just at McGinnis Sisters in Monroeville (412-884-2323) though Dr. Dan hopes to expand sales to more stores later this year. His Web site is www.thespreadoflife.com.