prefab in maya as a button on a shelf?

Sorry for the newb question but is it possible to create a object in maya then save that object as a button on the shelf? So that if I wanted to create a new scene (in maya) and add an object that I had made previously it would be a single button click on the shelf. Kind of like a prefab ... but in maya. Same as clicking the cube or something.

Even saving each object out as a seperate object and having a button that adds them to the scene (in maya) would be fine, I just dont know how to do any of that. I know how to make button and even mel script buttons, so I am not going into this blind or anything.

 

sure. use 'file -import'