Make Your Own Butter

Are you as sick of hearing "Mom, what can I do?" as I am? Next time you hear those 5 annoying and unavoidable words here is a fun and yummy thing to do ...make your own butter:

Here's all that you need:

• a jar with a tight fitting lid (mason jars work great)
• whipping cream (if you let it sit out for a while to take the chill off you won't have to shake as long)
• salt

Here's what to do:

• Fill the mason jar about 1/2 full with the whipping cream
• add some salt to taste (about 1/2 to 1 tsp)
• Put the lid on tight so that the cream doesn't leak
• and shake for about 10 to 15 minutes

•  The cream will go through 3 stages while you are shaking. First it is all runny, then it thickens up into whip cream, and finally it separates into butter and buttermilk. When you hear a solid thunk, thunk, thunk as you shake you will know that the butter is done:
• Drain off the buttermilk (I saved mine and made delish buttermilk pancakes with it...recipe below).
• Enjoy your homemade butter...yum!

Buttermilk Pancakes

•  1 cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 Tbsp melted butter

Mix dry ingredients then add egg, buttermilk, and melted butter. Stir until combined. Cook on sprayed griddle and serve with your homemade butter.

Enjoy!

Outside Movie Theater

Eric has turned our family movie nights into an outside neighborhood theater. He built this awesome screen that hangs from out deck -

It is so fun to sit outside in my backyard with family, friends, and popcorn to watch a flick. Aaron has even planned to have an outside movie for his birthday party...good times!

Here's how Eric made the screen:

• get a 10 x 15 foot white tarp
• create a frame out of pvc pipes that is slightly larger than the tarp with pvc going down the middle for added support. Eric also added legs to take some of the weight off of the deck and so that it could be free standing.

•  connect the tarp to the frame with bungee balls at each of the tarp's grommets

• attach the screen to the deck with eye bolts and carabiners   

And you could have an outdoor movie theater too! Have fun!