"Come Butter Come"

Yesterday was art day for my kiddos, that being said, we did art! We made homemade butter! It was so much fun. First, I read to them a story about Johnny Appleseed. Unfortunately, it was a LOong story of all the various things he did in his life time. To me, I found it very interesting, however, the look of my children's glazed-over eyes signaled to me that they weren't enjoying it as much mother was. After the story was finished I decided to make butter, with hopes of demonstrating to them how one can experience joy in being resourceful. Like Johnny Appleseed, who wore a coffee sack as clothing and a pan-with-a-handle for a hat, we also used the materials we had at home to make butter. This is the recipe and trust me, it's GOOD!

Materials Needed:
*Whipping cream or heavy cream (not ultra-pasteurized)
*Salt
*Wide mouth quart jar with a tight fitting lid...(any jar with a tight fitting
lid will work)
*Colander

Instructions:
Allow the cream to sit at room temperature for a few hours. Fill your jar half full with cream and screw the lid on tightly. Holding the jar by both ends, shake it vigorously for about 15 or 20 minutes. Extra shakers could be a big help here (i.e. family members) could be a big help here! After a while the cream will begin to separate and the butter will come. When you are finished, the butter in the jar should be about the mass of a baseball (remember to not go past 20 minutes).

Pour off the liquid (this is the buttermilk which you can save-my children loved drinking it), and rinse the butter curd in a colander under cold water to remove any milk. You should rinse until the water runs clear. After this, I highly recommend that you add a pinch or two of salt for flavor. Mold your butter or pack it in a small cup and refrigerate. You now have homemade butter to enjoy, and everyone gave their arms a workout in the process.

In past generations, the job of turning the butter fell to the children. As they worked, they would often invent rhymes to make the process more enjoyable. The rhyme which follows is actually a very old churning rhyme which children long ago chanted.

Come butter come.

Come butter come.

Peter standing at the gate,

waiting for a butter cake.

Come butter come.

Turkey anyone?

Our plans for this Thanksgiving were to go visit Hubb'y parents. My parents plans were to
drive down for the Jackpot dinner buffet. They never do that and thought that since most of us
kids were not going to be in town, they would indulge themselves. Im sure they were dreaming
of all the wonderful foods that the restaurant is known for. And I'm sure mom was stoked about not cooking. Well, it just so turned out that our plans to go see Hubby's parents fell through. By Tuesay night we finally realized that is was not going to happen. Still, we endeavored to be thankful. I called my mother to tell her that we weren't going and asked her if we could go with them to Jaackpot. I too, had no desire to cook a huge meal. Not at the last minute. My mother responded with a silence and then all I could hear was her yelling to one of the girls to bring her a notebook. She proceeded to ask me what I wanted to bring because she was going to make a Thanksgiving meal for all of us. As she began writing down and planning the menu, I could't help but feel blessed that I truely had THE MOST WONDERFUL MOTHER! The menu, as usual, was pretty extensive! When our family cooks, we cook, holding nothing back!

That Thanksgiving we had a wonderful time. My Uncle and Aunt came and ate with us. My Aunt is known for her delightful relish trays! My mother and sister made the turkey, stuffing, potatoes n' gravy, and many other things. I brought rolls and an awesome, delightful, sinful, pretzel salad. Jesus himself would be brought to tears because of how good it is. I made it big enough to take home for when I felt like eating my emotions. What can I say, food comforts me. HA! Needless to say, I am extremely blessed with all that I have been given. I have a nice house, a car, a hubby who works harder than anyone I know, and 3 beautiful, goofey-messy kids!