Homemade Butter!

Pin It One of my homesteading skills I wanted to learn this year was to make homemade butter. Well it was successful!


I used organic heavy whipping cream for this project.



I used about a quart of cream and poured it into my mixing bowl and began to mix.

The cream transformed into fluffy cream "pillows" and then stiff peaks These then broke down into soft cottage-cheese-like curds as blobs of butterfat separated from the milk.

The butter began to stiffen and lump together and the watery milk pooled in the bottom of the bowl. It took about 10 minutes for this to happen.

I then stopped the mixer and carefully poured off as much milk as I could. I refrigerated it and will use it for baking.

I then used a rubber spatula to press the butter against the sides of the bowl. I then added 1/2 cup of ice water to the butter and used the spatula to press the butter and water against the side of the bowl. This step is called washing, it keeps the butter from spoiling.

I then kept pouring the ice water and repeating the step until the ice water was clear.

I continued to knead the butter against the side of the bowl until all the liquid was pressed out.

I lightly salted the butter.



Here is the finished product. It tastes delicious! The difference is unbelievable! Luke said I need to now make homemade bread to go with it. =)

Give it a try. It is so easy and you will not believe the taste.

Fact or Folklore?

Pin It Last week, I received a copy of this magazine in the mail on a trial basis.

It is a lovely magazine that captures the true heart of a farm girl. It has so many wonderful sections such as crafting, cooking, gardening and general work that is done around a farm. It also has a lovely website that can be found here.... http://maryjanesfarm.org

There was an article in the February/March issue that I received which I found very interesting.

Here is an excerpt from it...

...When the 1918 flu pandemic killed 50-100 million people between 1918-1920, there was said to be a doctor who visited many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. The doctor came upon one household where everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the family was doing that was different, the wife replied that she had placed a dish of unpeeled onions in each room of the home. The doctor asked if he could have one of the onions to observe under a microscope. When he did, he found traces of the flu virus in the onion. It had absorbed the infection, keeping the family healthy.....

The article continues on to explain that many small businesses are doing the same. They are placing onions around the workplace and have very few to no employees with any illnesses.

At the time when I read this article, I had been suffering with a very bad toothache. Nothing seemed to help the pain subside. After reading this article I thought 'why not try it?'.

That evening I cut off both ends of the onion as described in the article, placed it in a bowl next to my bed on my beside table. I could faintly smell the odor of the onion but nothing that was too unpleasant.

To my surprise by morning, the onion was black. My toothache was gone and has not returned since that night! Now, I don't know if it was the onion or a coincidence but I will definitely be trying it again when needed!

The article also states that it will work on individuals that are suffering with such things as pneumonia and colds.

Amazing! Fact or folklore? I don't know but I believe it!

An Award! Thank you Grannys Garden!

Pin It

I received an award today. Thank you Grannys Garden! Granny and Pa are fantastic people and I love reading her blog so much. You can see it here..

http://grannyandpa.blogspot.com

I wish to pass it on so here are the rules.

1. Post award

2. Pass it on to 12 bloggers that brighten your day.

3. Link to nominees.

4. Link back to givers.

Here are my twelve.

1. http://amysreallife.wordpress.com/

2. http://blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com/

3. http://ninnysnotesblog.blogspot.com/

4. http://countrydream1.blogspot.com/

5. http://katididscreations.blogspot.com/

6. http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

7. http://ranettesdailystitch.blogspot.com/

8. http://bertthebadchicken.blogspot.com/

9. http://outbacktania.blogspot.com/

10. http://toddlertalesdaz.blogspot.com/

11. http://foodfortheflowerstogrow.blogspot.com/

12. http://mylittlemogo.blogspot.com/

Thanks again Granny for the award and these blogs are such a joy to read.

My Sewing Has Gone to the Dogs

Pin It A friend of mine Bev came up with this brilliant idea. Doggy (and kittie) mats for their food and water bowls.

What a great idea! They can be easily washed so they aren't all grungy and I can make one for every season or holiday!



Here is the detail on the ears. She did hers a little different so I want her to see up close how I made mine. It was Luke's idea! LOL



Here is the finished project. I used an oval platter to cute out the face and used a smaller oval box I had to make the ears.

Now Sammy can eat in style. =)

Have a great day everyone!

Did It!

Pin It One of my goals this year was to make a quilt. Well I am done! Woo hoo!



I am really excited as it turned out so nice and talk about warm! I cannot believe how warm it is. No wonder our ancestors used them.

I am now thinking of trying a denim rag quilt...so I will have to get busy cutting the squares.

More snow hit us last night and the day will be busy shovelling and clearing the driveway and stairs. Our driveway is about 1/4 mile long so it is no small feat.

I keep dreaming of spring with warm sun and green grass.

Have a great day everyone! =)