Monday, January 30, 2023

T Stands for making butter

 Hi Everyone!

Today is Monday and I am getting this post ready to join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for the T-Party. For me T stands for completely wiped out.  We had to drive to Salem today. Ya know the 6 hour round trip drive and grocery shopping along the way. Normally we are just a bit tired from the day. However, I am having one of the worst lupus/sjogren's (SHOW grins) flare that I have had in 15 years. If you don't know what sjogren's is, it is an autoimmune that affects the saliva and tear glands. It can lead to other complications but right now lemon drops are my best friend along with eye drops. I have been getting quite a few emails asking about lupus and what regime I do to keep myself healthy. ( I belong to the lupus foundation and other lupus groups. No NOT on FB.) I do NOT take lupus medications. So, for anyone who is interested, I have decided to write up an explanation and post it on Wednesday. 

For now I want to show you how to make butter. Ohhhh so much flippen fun!
With the cost of everything going up especially butter, I worked out the cost and it is cheaper for me to make my own butter. This is not a new thing for me. I actually made butter when I was a kid with a wooden hand churner with my Nan. She told me then that the churner had belonged to her mother. I tried to find a photo on google of the one we used but couldn't find it. I remember that my siblings and I would take turns. Oh, and there was no stopping as we switched off. I remember the cream being so rich and thick. Not like what we get today.
Later in my life I made and sold bread and homemade butter. I made with a mixer. Much easier. LOL Today I use a Kitchen Aid. Fun work and very little time.

 Step 1 get heavy whipping cream. I bought this locally but got a better deal at costo today. Watch for sales and ask the dairy worker if they have out dated cream in the back. It is still good.


 

 Sept 2  Every thing needs to be really cold. I put my paddle and mixing blow in the freezer for about 15 minutes. The cream I keep in the coldest part of my fridg.



 Step 3 when everything is very cold pour the cream into the mixing bowl.
Mix on low, so the cream doesn't splash.  
 
 Step 4 as the cream thickens you can up the speed to medium and then to high. When you see the cream looking like this you can stop add some sugar and vanilla and you have a topping for dessert. 

 
 Step 5  once the whipped cream starts to curdle lower the speed to medium. This is when the fat is separating from the buttermilk. Get a large bowl of ice water and set it aside. 

 Step 6 Continue to mix at medium until the butter milk starts to splash. Turn down to low. Continue until the fat makes a solid piece.



 

 Step 7 Separate the butter from the buttermilk. I squeeze the butter to get as much of the milk released. Now put the butter into the ice water to wash any excess milk. When the water is cloudy discard it, add more cold water to the ice and wash again. You don't want any milk in the butter.

 

 Step 8 dry form the butter and dry it off with a clean kitchen town. Paper towel tends to stick to the butter. 

 

 Last step. Use wax paper to wrapped the butter to store it in the fridg or freezer.  Keep some out to use though. It is the best on homemade bread. I do date it before I freeze it.


 

 Some notes; Higher fat whipping cream produces a larger amount of butter. So heavy cream or thickened cream with 40% fat or above will be an ideal option. If you don't have a kitchen aid  you can do the same thing with a hand mixer or a food processor.  I do make my butter with no salt. But if you want salted butter add a bit just as the whipped cream is starting to curdle. About 1/4 t per pint of cream.  1 pint of cream makes about 1 cup of butter or 2 cubes.  Plus you get buttermilk to use in recipes or just drink it cold.
If you have any questions leave them in the comments. 
I hope you will try this and if you do let me know.
 
So I need to show a drink before I close this.
I think this will let me in.
The cream I bought today.
or if that doesn't work,
I am drinking lots of lemon aid.
Not my photo, but doesn't it look good?
 

 
Wishing all of you a very nice evening.
 
Nicole

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Friday Face OFF 1/27/23

 Hello Everyone!

I have spent the last week trying to keep calm, get lupus under control, trying different things to reduce the numbness in my face and of course trying to get some sort of medical attention. I was able to get an appt. with my spine doctor so he can address the changes in my cervical spine. I was waiting to see if my PC would phone about my brain scan. Hmmmm Tuesday they changed my April 20th appt to today, which is Thursday. I have to say that it was a very good visit and I actually saw 2 providers. Everyone is baffled about the facial numbness. I explained all of the research I have done and spoke to a friend of mine who is an imaging tech. Get this, she has numbness on the right side of her face and it started several weeks after her last covid vax. My numbness started a few weeks after my last covid vax. I mentioned that today and she took copious notes and said she would look into it. I discovered if I take a very hot shower and take 1,200mg of  ibuprofen in the Am and the same at night it calms my face. My PA said to stay on that regime. I told her I have appts with my spine doctor, and dentist. She set up an referral for a neurologist if nothing is found from my other appts.  She did mention that possibly the syrnix on my spine may have shifted and its pushing on a nerve. At this point we are looking at all possibilities.
The good news is, all the hundreds of white spots on my brain are almost gone. Hurray for statins. The not so good new is that the 2 masses on my brain have grown. They were found on my brain in the 1990s and have been stable until now. I am suppose to report if I start falling, mix up my words and a host of other things. However, I really can't worry about those. Nothing I can do to fix them. So that's that.
 
 Now for Friday Face OFF. I tried to focus on art this week but only was able to get 2 skulls made. If you want to see the method click here
I am pretty happy with them, especially the horns.

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Now it's time for our featured artist.
This week it's

 

I'm also linking up with Gillena

Now it's your turn to show me  your face.
Simply blog about a face, any face, any medium. Link back to my blog and Mr Linky. Leave a comment and then go see what others posted. How easy is that?
Thank you for joining in.
Nicole
 

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Taking a week off

 Hi Everyone!
I am going to take a week off. I did get my MRI results back yesterday evening and the changes in my brain are significant. They are in my neck too. I just need some time to literally wrap my brain around these changes and find a provider that will go over them with me. So I will be back next week for Friday Face OFF. 
See you them.
Nicole



Thursday, January 19, 2023

Friday Face OFF 1/20/23

 Hi Everyone!

I am not sure how long this post will be. As most of you know I am trying to keep busy because it takes my mind off my numb face. I am so very disappointed in our medical here. It used to be excellent and now I consider it very bad. For me, being busy is moving. Cleaning house, making art, cooking. Today my face was extremely numb. The worst part is around my eyes. I have done research and just when I think I have found an answer, it's not what I am experiencing.  Tomorrow, which is Friday, I will be in an MRI machine. My appt. is at 6:45 AM so I am hoping to find something out by the end of the day. Then I can call on Monday to see if I can, at all, see a medical provider. I have what is called Patient Connect. As soon as results come in I can see them. Wish me luck. Again.

Oh, Mr. M. took me to the store today. I really don't want to drive right now. I got 18 pack of eggs for $3.75 and the egg section was full. I now have 4 cartons. YAY

 I showed this 3 face bottle I stared last week. I did get it finished. I am keeping this one for me. 


 

 


 


 


 



 

The birds I'm going to tackle next week. With a completely different technique.

 



 

 


 


 

Now it is time for our featured artist.
This week it is;
I am also linking up with
 
Now it's your turn to show me your face.
Post a face and link back to my blog. Add your link to Mr. Linky, leave a comment and then go see what others have created.
How easy is that?

Nicole