It’s been awhile since I posted an actual project update. That’s mainly because I’ve been too lazy to work on any but this week, I decided I’d had enough of that. And also it’s spring break so I figured my daughter and I could kill spend an hour or two working on one.
I went through my Pinterest board of projects ideas and settled on a fairly simple and relatively inexpensive one–homemade butter. The timing was perfect, too, as I’m finishing up Little House in the Big Woods for next week’s book club discussion and Laura painfully details the butter making process. So it worked for ease, theme, and cost.
Since I don’t own butter churn and have absolutely no desire to ever own one, I used the instructions for making butter in a stand-up mixer (which I only have courtesy of my mother-in-law’s hand me down). I opted out of coloring the butter orange like they did in the book because shredding a carrot and combining it with boiling milk sounded like unnecessary work and more dishes to clean. Yellow butter works just fine for me.
Here’s what I did:
- Ingredients–3/4 tsp salt, 1 quart heavy cream
- My daughter making a rare appearance on the blog as my helper pouring the cream into the mixing bowl
- The butter starting to form and separate from the milk.
- The mess that happens even if you use a towel and cover the mixer because towels have a limit on how much they can absorb.
Not pictured: the whipped cream phase that happens before the cream turns to butter, draining the buttermilk through a colander and rinsing the butter. Not sure why this last one is necessary but the directions said to do it and I did. Also not pictured are my disgusting, greasy hands.
After you mix everything up (takes about 20 minutes and you need to check it fairly frequently), you get butter that sticks to the paddle and buttermilk in the bottom of the bowl. Then you drain the milk through the strainer and it looks like this. Right now, it’s stored in a glass container in my fridge and if you have a recipe that involves buttermilk so I can use it up, please share.
I cannot imagine having to do this with a butter churn. I completely understand how it took them all day to do. Before I was all “how the fuck did it take them all day? This is so easy! How slow did they move?” But now, having done it myself, I get it. I saw the effort my badass stand up mixer had to put forth to get it done. And just letting it go for the 20 minutes or so before I had to rinse, separate and mold felt like it took an eternity. Having to do it with my own strength and patience? Forget it that. My family would never eat butter.But if you have a stand-up mixer or even an electric hand mixer, I’d recommend giving this a try.
Oh, and the butter lasts about 4 weeks. I think. I’ll let you know in 4 weeks.
Have you ever made homemade butter? Did you follow similar directions?
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[…] Overall, I liked the book. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into their daily lives and their family dynamic. I also enjoy the fact that I can read this book with my 7 year old and we both get something out of it. Like the idea to make homemade butter. […]
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[…] goal #3: Make homemade butter. Done! I even wrote a post about it which you should check out in case you missed it. We’ve been using that butter and my daughter even said that she likes […]
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[…] internal traits but as far as accomplishing things, there's not much tangible proof, save for making butter, a mending basket, and using my crockpot (which is like my version of a pioneer […]
What day is book club discussion going to be again? I am going to post mine on a weekend, but is there an actual FB discussion?
I’m dying over the steps in this WITH the mixer. They must have been dead freaking tired on butter day.
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…Humpday Confessions: Every once in a while, you have to say screw it
The book club discussion is this Wednesday but I’ll leave the linkup open for a few days. And there will be an actual FB discussion, also on Wednesday.
I agree. I want to know how she lifted her arms the next day.
I think I made butter once as a Girl Scout by shaking it up in a jar. It took f.o.r.e.v.e.r!!! I’m with you — if I had to do that by hand, we wouldn’t be eating much butter.
Sarah @ Beauty School Dropout recently posted…Would you like some kindness with your Saturday coffee?
The blogger I got the recipe from also did some of it by hand. No, thank you. This way is just fine for me.
i’m way to inexperienced in the kitchen to attempt butter….and the mess! it’s why i’m not a very good cook either; i don’t like the cleanup either 🙁
-kathy
Vodka and Soda
kathy @ vodka and soda recently posted…humpday confessions
The clean up drives me crazy. Usually my husband helps with the dishes but he was not home when we did this. So I was stuck doing it myself. Thankfully the dogs helped with what splattered on the floor.
Homemade butter from fresh cream is messy to make but SO good.
The rinsing step (and it really should be done by rinsing while you press and knead the butter) helps remove the last little bits of milk liquid/whey from the butter. The butter will sour or go rancid faster if there is still buttermilk or whey trapped in the butter. My grandmother used to make us kids do the rinsing and kneading with fresh, icy-cold well-water. Somehow she had us convinced it was just like playing with playdoh! LOL
Kara recently posted…Corned Beef Hash
My grandmothers never had us doing anything like that. I kind of wish they would.
And thanks for the tip!
I didn’t know it was only two ingredients!! Not bad! I can’t imagine having to do it by hand. My arms would get tired. What about buttermilk, biscuits or pancakes?
Kerry recently posted…Creamy Corn and Zucchini
I’m thinking buttermilk pancakes are the way to go. I’m going to have make them ASAP. Not sure how much longer the buttermilk has left…
OMG! LOVE that you made butter in the stand mixer! I can’t imagine using a churn either. I have seen an “easy butter” method that apparently involves a canning jar, heavy cream and a marble….I’m sure Pinterest is full of those recipes. I’m tempted to try…
Scarlett recently posted…Little House on the Prairie Book Club: Little House in the Big Woods