This will introduce Jen, who will submit articles from time to time.

The other day I was at the store and found some whipping cream that had reached it sell by date, on sale.  Since it was cheaper than buying butter, I decided to make my own.

Pour whipping cream in a jar or sealed container up to half full or less, and put your kids to work shaking like crazy.  It takes about 15 minutes to shake it to butter.  You can tell it’s getting close, when you don’t feel or hear it moving around and it looks pure white.  This is when it’s like whipping cream.  Keep shaking for about another 5 minutes.  It’s butter when you hear the liquid separate from the butter.  I still shake for a few more minutes to make sure it’s all separated.

Drain the liquid and rinse with COLD water, you don’t want to use warm because it will melt away.  Use a spoon to knead the butter to make sure all the milk is out, add more water.  Keep doing this until the water is clear.  Doing this, will help the butter last longer.  Then make sure all the liquid is out and knead some more to get all the pockets of water out.  This sounds long, but only takes a few minutes and the reward is yummy.  Then enjoy on some good bread.  I happen to have had some fresh homemade bread waiting for some good butter.

More on butter making in a future post.

Jen