Friday 30 December 2016

Visit to a smallholding and making butter

Another good day relaxing here. This morning we had been invited to bring the children to a local friend's smallholding to meet her alpacas, sheep, peahens/cocks, geese, chickens and ducks. The kids loved it and I came away with a new cock to go in with the girls. My feet were mighty cold by the time we got home though and it took a good while to warm up.





This afternoon I got to play with one of my Christmas presents and churned some butter. It was really quick, I just won't tell James that to buy the cream makes it twice the price ;-) 
It does also produce buttermilk which I'm hoping to make into scones tomorrow.





I also oiled the new doors that were hung in the upstairs extension, they'll need a second coat but at least now they're somewhat protected from sticky little fingers and I feel I've got something productive done.

Yesterday as I was doing some jobs I could hear some very sweet singing and I called James upstairs to see baby girl singing her heart out on the windowsill in her new room (that we're currently borrowing). She was at it for ages but I caught 30 seconds and I thought it was so cute.


7 comments:

  1. I have the butter churner and been using it for a while. I always buy pots of reduced double cream where i can as it makes it more economical. I also add herbs and then roll and wrap in greaseproof and clingfilm and pop in the freezer. Then when i need some herb butter to pep up a meal i just cut off a couple of slices and pop the rest back in the freezer. I use the buttermilk for scones and pancakes. Any fresh excess herbs i freeze as well. Children can teach us so much more about happiness. Happy new year to you all Pattypan

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  2. I have the butter churner and been using it for a while. I always buy pots of reduced double cream where i can as it makes it more economical. I also add herbs and then roll and wrap in greaseproof and clingfilm and pop in the freezer. Then when i need some herb butter to pep up a meal i just cut off a couple of slices and pop the rest back in the freezer. I use the buttermilk for scones and pancakes. Any fresh excess herbs i freeze as well. Children can teach us so much more about happiness. Happy new year to you all Pattypan

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  3. Look out for the reduced cream not long life stuff, Happy new year to you and your family

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  4. If you run out of steam when making the butter by hand you could use your food processor, if you have one. But well done you for making your own butter, plus you get the butter milk. I make a buttermilk cake out of mine ( will send the recipe to you if you would like). Meanwhile, wishing you and your lovely family a great and successful 2017. Vx

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  5. I love the butter churn! Now you need a goat! LOL

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  6. like dawn we pick up reduced cream when we see it, although I'm a bit of a caveman(irony) and just shake it in a jar, your gizmo looks like it would me much easier lol

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  7. There's an outfit that sells all kinds of things for homesteaders. It's called Lehman's. They put out a really good catalog. I buy mostly hardware from them but they have cooking things too. Even if you don't find something you like, you will enjoy the catalog. I will check and see if they ship overseas. If not, and you want something, I will send it to you. Not just from Lehman's of course, but anything I can do to help let me know. I keep the reference on drugs you sent me right on the shelf with my other survival oriented books.

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