Did you know that pioneers made butter on the march using the motion of the wagons to agitate the cream? The scientific process of creating butter includes agitating whole cream until the fragile membranes that surround milk fat are broken, allowing fat droplets to form and join. More churning hastens the separation of cream into butter and buttermilk. In other words, if you shake, beat, or whip cream long enough, you will eventually get butter.
Try making your own butter, using my simple method.
Think it’s not worth the effort? Sprinkle your artisan butter with some Pink Himalayan salt and some fresh herbs, if you like. Let it age in the refrigerator for a week or two. Bring your butter to room temperature, spread some on a bite of fresh bread, then let me know what you think. Your kids will love helping you with your butter-making.
If you’re looking for some delicious butter recipes, you may want to go to the The National Dairy Council of Ireland. Their website also has some interesting butter history and background.
Butter has been around for thousands of years. We have used it as a foodstuff, medicine, and protective coatings. It has been the basis for expressions (buttering up), movies (Butter), and songs (The Newbeat’s Bread and Butter). Great song if you’ve never heard it!
All of this and more, yet here are two of my favorite butter trivia stories:
Bog Butter – In Scotland and Ireland, people buried butter in peat bogs as a way of preserving it. This practice began in the 2nd or 3rd century, and they are still finding bog butter today! Take a look at this bog butter exhibit in the National Museums Northern Ireland
Land o’Lakes Logo – I have loved this now retro butter packaging since childhood. But did you know that the famous artwork is an example of the Droste Effect? In essence, an image within an image that goes on and on for infinity. They’re even talking about it at the Mathematical Association of America! Land o’Lakes logo
Even Magnolia loves to get in on the action:
Please tell me about your favorite butter stories and recipes!
MixerUpper.com 
That is fantastic! Good for you for making your own butter! Looks absolutely delicious.
Thanks! Its so easy.
What ever happened to your mac n’cheese throwdown?
That hasn’t happened yet. Later in the spring. The Cookie Takedown went well. I didn’t win, but I learned so much about baking that I am glad I did it!
Oh! Didn’t know you were doing that. Sounds fun.
It was! I feel much more confident as a baker after having cranked out 300+ cookies!
Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to bake 300+ cookies? You could’ve helped me with my Christmas baking! 😉
If you love cookies, make sure you check out my breakfast post this week. It will post on Wednesday afternoon: http://www.charlesprogers.com/blogs/archives/category/breakfast-in-bed
Aww, thanks! I could have definitely used the help! Next time!
Will definitely check it out. Thanks for the link!
🙂
awe your cat is adorable
Thanks, Jackie. She’s a real sweetie. Always wants to be in on the action. 🙂
Lovely post! 🙂
You should try it. So simple, yet so satisfying. The butter tastes even better as it ages for a week or two.