Earning Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badges

Farm Kitchen

21. MaryJane's Better Butter

Beginner

• Before you dive in, learn about the best sanitary practices for handling cream and butter. What is the shelf life of homemade butter, and what is the best way to store it in the short and long term?
• Research the history of butter. What are two fun facts you learned?
• Learn about the different methods for making butter at home. Which one appeals to you the most? (MaryJane's Milk Cow Kitchen book contains information on common methods, as well as factual tidbits and recipes for making delicious butter at home.)

Intermediate

• When you make butter, cream is agitated until the fat solids separate from the liquid. This liquid (sometimes referred to as buttermilk or whey) has many uses in the home kitchen. What are some ways you can use the leftover liquid?
• Why is washing and kneading butter important? How do you know when your homemade butter has been sufficiently washed and kneaded?
• What is the difference between sweet cream butter and cultured butter?
• Now that you've done your due diligence, whip up a batch of butter. How did it turn out? What did you learn about the process?

Expert

• Put your homemade butter to work in the kitchen. Use it in three different recipes, such as compound butter (recipes can be found in MaryJane's Milk Cow Kitchen book), in roux for gravy or sauce, in a batch of cookies, or challenge yourself and learn how to make laminated dough.
• Share what you've learned on the Farmgirl Connection or with two friends.

(The book suggested for this badge is available on loan from MaryJanesFarm; e-mail library@maryjanesfarm.org.)

April, 2024 Edition