Shake, shake, shake! Shake your BUTT-ER!!

I'm very excited that we've have the opportunity to purchase a cow share. We get a half gallon of raw milk weekly, along with a dozen eggs from our fabulous farmers Ms. Emily and Mr. Daniel at Tuckahoe Lamb and Cattle.

Last week for whatever reason, we didn't drink our milk. Saturday morning I stood staring at a gallon milk. We decided to make a go at butter.  Being a former preschool teacher, I've made butter from heavy whipping cream before. So using a spoon I skimmed the cream from the top of our milk and placed it in a mason jar. I set the jar on the counter top for an hour while I began making our roast for lunch.   After an hour in the ever warming kitchen, the cream felt the right temperature. I've always been a hands on temperature reader for most things, even meat at times. 

I began shaking the jar. Miss Moo came in and asked to help. We shook. We danced. We made a butter making song.  We shook some more. I was amazed at how quickly this butter came together. I recall being in the classroom for what seemed like an eternity shaking little jars of cream to assist my Pre-K's in the butter churning process.  I also recall having to form my butter into a ball before rinsing it in the past.

Here is my butter just out of the jar.

After rinsing and salting, I stirred it and formed it back into a ball.

I then remembered that Nana gave me a small pineapple butter mold.

Nana and I are a little nuts about pineapples. Well, perhaps that isn't worded strongly enough. We are a bit obsessed with pineapples. They are all OVER her kitchen and creeping their way in here. I LOVE the southern quality of the pineapple and just how happy they look!

Next, I shoved that little gal in the mold and threw her in the fridge!

After lunch, and with the girls safely tucked away in their sleepy naps, I pulled my butter out to see my pineapple :)

Pottery by John Bryant of Old Tavern Clay.

Can you see it?? Are you sure? Maybe if you squint?? Oh, good!!

Perhaps the mold wasn't the best idea considering I made a very small amount of butter. But the point is that I made it, it was easy, fast, and fun for Miss Moo.

I'm trying to find ways to allow her to help in the kitchen more. Miss Roo is much more of a challenge during meal preparation now that she is walking, running, and "helping" me. I spend a lot of time doing things quickly or ahead of time to avoid stepping on or over Roo.  Moo does want to help, but in many cases shows interested during the last few steps of meals which can be quite boring for her and frustrating for me. So, butter making was a great kid activity and simple. You might consider making some with your little helpers. It's as simple as a jar, a dance, and a song!