MAKE YOUR OWN BUTTER

Making a little butter is a lovely thing to do,especially when you can spread the result of your labours on hot scones or wholemeal toast.

As children we were roped in to the process as it can take a while but if everyone takes a turn the job is soon done and the result is worth the labour. You do not need any expensive equipment to make your own butter,it is easy to make in small quantities in a large clean jar.

You will need.

3 pints Jersey milk (NOT THE HOMOGENISED KIND or if will not work)

a large jar or air tight tin ( the later is not so much fun and you cannot see the butter turning)

pinch of salt

Pour the milk in to a large pottery bowl and leave to stand in a cool place over night.

Skim off the creamy top using the flattest spoon you have.

Pour the cream in to the jar,what is left is buttermilk and this can be drunk as it is,made into a pudding or used in bread making. Three pints should be enough for all three.

Holding the jar tip from side to side so that then cream sloshes about,continue until your arm is tired then give someone else a turn. After a while you will see that the cream is beginning to separate and lumps are forming.

I f your arm is really tired you can roll the jar backwards and forwards across a table or work top, My aunt rolled her jar on the floor with her feet while knitting!

When all the small lumps have formed a large solid mass,pour off the buttermilk and place the lump of new butter on a clean tea towel or several sheets of kitchen roll and pat gently to dry.

At this point the butter need to be kept cold. Using chilled table spoons or cold hands spare the butter unto firm oval shapes and place in the refrigerator at once and use as required. Salt may be added if you like at the shaping stage.

This can be a good means of occupying children on wet school holidays,they can help make to scones and the butter to. I have always found that children love the feeling of achieving something special. Do try it, it's worth the work.