Getting Back To Basics: Make Your Own Butter... ORGANIC

Yes, it’s fat and most definitely butter should be enjoyed in moderation. However, if this golden condiment is going to top your potato or smear across a slice of fresh bread, shouldn’t it be handmade by you?
Learn to make your own butter following these simple steps.

1. Ingredients and Tools Needed for Butter
As with any homemade dairy product, it’s always best to start with organic from a local farm. Any cream will do, but fresh product produces amazing butter. You will need one cup of heavy cream for every half cup of butter you want. Make sure the amount of cream you use comes up the jar only half way. The cream needs a lot of room to dance with the marbles. A larger baby jar is a good size for a cup of milk. And yes, you will need a few glass marbles along with a pinch of salt, a clean dish cloth, a spoon and a cup of ice cold water.

2. Add Ingredients
If you have children, this is a fun science experiment they are sure to enjoy. It’s always such a joy to teach children the food chain allowing them to follow the trek from cow to kitchen. Use precautions if glass is chosen over plastic jars and simply discuss safety when handling glass. Make sure the jars are shaken just enough to whip the cream, but not enough that they can fly out of your hand. Add your heavy cream to the jar along with two glass marbles. Screw on the lid and begin shaking.

3. Shake it Up
Shaking can take anywhere from ten minutes to thirty depending on the size of container and amount of cream. The baby jar size will take about fifteen minutes. You will feel the butter start to acquire a heavy feeling. It will become thicker and then whipped cream, like the dessert topping. It will then break up and look like traditional butter. As it changes, watch for the milky liquid that separates. This is buttermilk.

4. Pour out the Buttermilk
Once you have buttermilk, pour it out but don’t throw it away. Buttermilk is great added to pancakes and batter frying. To make sure all of the buttermilk is removed you will add about a tablespoon of ice cold water, return lid and shake. Pour out the water which removes any residual buttermilk. Continue a few times to makes sure the water runs clear. Scoop the butter onto the dishcloth and use the spoon to smooth around the butter ensuring all liquid is removed.

5. Add Salt to Taste and Enjoy
Return butter to a storage container and add salt to taste. At this point the butter can even accept herbs or other seasonings. Dried chives and rosemary are an excellent choice and can be given as a gift with a fresh loaf of bread. For a sweeter choice, add cinnamon and sugar for serving on toast or melting over fresh popcorn.