Mercantile Finds & Butter Recipe

Yesterday, I spent the morning shopping at the local Mercantile where they sell local produce, canned goods, handmade candies, crafts and antiques. I found some really exciting foods like, yellow watermelon, sweet corn, red haven peaches, three loafs of fresh baked bread, organic cream and of course handmade chocolates.

I wanted to use the cream to make something special, the bread and sweet corn inspired me to turn this cream into fresh homemade butter.

This butter recipe is super easy, tastes amazing and is a great arm workout!

Getting started:

Ingredients-
pint of cream
salt
cold water

Supplies-
jar with screw on lid
bowl
strainer
storage for completed butter

First step:

Pour cream into jar, the cream should only fill the jar about a 1/3 of the way full. There needs to be enough room for the cream to get "splashing action" which turns the cream into butter.

Second step: shake

Put the lid on tight and shake! It takes some time (up to 20mins) keep shaking continuously, the cream will start to whip. Shortly after the whip stage you will notice a change in the cream texture and start seeing granules of butter. Shake until there is butter and a seperation of buttermilk.

Third step: straining

Strain the butter and save the buttermilk. (buttermilk can be used for cooking or even drinking)

Fourth step: "washing"

"Wash" your butter with cold water to rinse out remaining buttermilk. It will take 2-3 times of rinsing butter before the water will become clear.

Fifth step: drying

Work water out of butter by folding it over a few times on a clean papertowel.

Final step: salting

Salt butter to taste and then press into storage container.

Enjoy! I used my homemade butter on the bread from the Mercantile and on my grilled sweet corn.

After shopping and making butter I was in a cooking mood. I used the peaches from the Mercantile to make a peach vinaigrette dressing for a spinach and feta cheese salad. I sliced the yellow watermelon and grilled a skirt steak I had marinating in the fridge. Impromptu BBQ!

I like to shop at local markets and stores to reduce my food miles, support small farmers, and eat the freshest foods.

As always I hope you enjoyed this easy recipe. If you guys have any questions or favorite Mercantile finds, please share!