Adventures In Making Butter

For the holidays I got a gift card to William Sonoma. Well this past weekend M and I decided that we would go spend it on some things we need around the house. Okay in reality we didn't want to spend any money because we are trying to save it all and were going stir crazy so we went to William Sonoma (a store in which I love but just normally can't afford all the goodies in there).

So anyways, I went around that store like six times. M dragging behind me just saying pick something already. (Nothing like going around the same store 6 times to make you want to go back home and not care if you are stir crazy anymore, trust me.) I picked out some measuring cups we needed (the liquid measuring cups. I only have dry ones) and we still had a lot more on our card to use up. So I saw in the little homesteading section they had a butter making kit. I thought to myself that looks fun and put it on the register along with the measuring cups. Went to the store bought the other ingredients I needed and we headed on home.

Of course now I have psyched myself up for it. I am getting excited so the moment I get home I bust open the kit and follow the instructions. My patience just is not the best when I am really excited about something so the 30 minutes or so until the cream got to room temperature for me to start shaking away was nearly deadly.

15 minutes later of shaking vigorously. Let just say my arms ached for days. Then after I went to rinse off the butter in the ice water I realized I hadn't shook it long enough or waited long enough to let the cream warm up. So 15 minutes of one of the best arm work outs of my life and I didn't even get butter. Nope. It turned into a pile of liquid mess that ended up going down the garbage disposal.

I know the lessons now but geez. Making sure your whipping cream is very much at room temperature before you start shaking otherwise that 15 minutes will probably be closer to 30 minutes. I know I will try it again (after my arms recover) but it was an adventure to say the least. I am glad I tried it and even though I blew it I am excited to try it again.

Have you ever made butter? How did it turn out for you? I would love to find out.