A homemade butter recipie

I think that I am going to try this the next time we need butter...seems simple enough and is much better for you than the margarine we currently buy...not sure why I buy it though...just out of habit from childhood I suppose??

1) Let the cream first come to room temperature, or right around 72 - 74 degrees F (22-23 C). Simple set the cream in a container on the kitchen counter, put a dairy thermometer into it, and check on it every 30 minutes or so until the temperature rises. This step lets the cream ripen a bit, raising its acidity, thereby making it easier to whip and full of flavor.

2) Put the cream inside of a food processor, secure the lid, and start running the machine.

3) The cream will begin to go through several butter-forming stages: first sloshy, then stiff, then finally dividing ranks and forming separately into butter and buttermilk. Machine times for achieving these stages will vary, but will generally take between 6-9 minutes.

4) Using a spatula, remove the butter from the machine. Place the buttery mass into a sieve that is on top of a medium-sized mixing bowl. Leave for a few minutes, alloing the liquid (which is buttermilk) to drain off.

5) Transfer butter into a medium sized bowl. Star runing cold water into the bowl. Empty the water out, repeating several times until the water is clear in the boal. Strain off any remaining water.

6) If you want to include salt, stir it in now with a metal spoon. Otherwise, put the butter mass on your cutting board.

7) Using either clean hands, a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, begin pressing the butter repeatedly, allowing any liquid inside of it to drain off. Contiune pressing until no liquid is visibly coming out when pressed.

8) Storage depends on when you plan on using your butter. You can either store it at room temperature in a butter crock; chill or freeze it in wax or parchment paper; or store it in a container in the frefrigerator or freezer.

The site provided above also has the recipie via shaking the cream instead of using a food processor...so if you want to know what your ancestors who didnt' have a butter churn did, I guess this is a good way to find out =) I personally tried doing it that way when I was in elemarary school...and I don't care to do it again =)