Thursday, April 7, 2011

Fresh Homemade Butter

This butter mold and paddle belonged to my Mamaw Ola Mae.  It's a special piece of my family history.  I'm so thankful that my Aunt Carol gave them to me.  I would love to find an old glass jar butter churn.  I've seen plenty at the antique stores in Amelia, Va. but they can be kind of pricey for a really nice usable one. I'll put that on my wish list.

Butter has to be one of the simplest things to make.  Sure you can buy a tub or box of butter in the grocery store but making homemade butter with your kids is so fun. It makes a wonderful gift too. It's easy to mix in honey or jam for an extra special treat.

Whip as much heavy whipping cream as you want. You will watch it turn to whipped cream, then curdle, and them magically the butter solids separate from the buttermilk.  The butter fat will cling to the mixer, leaving the buttermilk in the bowl. (You can use a stand mixer, hand mixer or even a mason jar with two marbles and shake.)

Remove all of the butter and rinse under cool water to remove any buttermilk.  The butter will last longer since the buttermilk spoils fast than the butter fat.  Fold the butter over itself to squish out all liquid. Now it's ready to eat!  It will be firm like real stick butter. You can now add salt, honey or jam to it and whip it up.

Store your butter and buttermilk in the fridge.  You can drink the buttermilk or use it in cooking.

11 comments:

  1. i've never made homemade butter before, but now i really want to!

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  2. Do it! It's so fun. Very satisfying to use your own homemade butter. ;-)

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  3. Your post reminded me how easy and fun making butter can be. I haven't made it since jr.high, and now I am really looking forward to the experience with My Girl.

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  4. Oh I'm so glad this post inspired you! It's a wonderful tradition.

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  5. Yum... We dream of having a house cow that we can milk, so we can make our own butter and cheese and things. How lovely!

    Katie x

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  6. So cool, I remember doing this, cheers from New Zealand, Marie

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  7. wonderful! i think i will try this :) thanks for posting it

    http://bottleblack.blogspot.com

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  8. Love this I have always wanted to make butter! Thank you so much for sharing. :)

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  9. I'm so glad everyone is excited about making homemade butter! I would love to have a Jersey cow so I can make butter, sour cream, yogurt, etc!

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  10. Oh wow! Thank you for sharing this! I'm going to make homemade butter!

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  11. Yum. This looks and sounds yummy.

    Darryl and Ruth :)

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