Our "Attempt" at Homemade Butter

After our homemade Ice Cream in a Baggie success I was feeling pretty domestic and thought I would give homemade butter a go. After all how hard could it be? I think we did this in elementary school.

Looks simple right?

I had some half & half in the fridge that needed to be used so the idea sounded genius. I filled a small mason jar about half way with the half & half, added a marble, put on the lid and shook...... and shook..... and shook some more. I passed the jar around to each of the boys and we all took turns doing laps around the kitchen shaking with anticipation which soon turned to doubt. The kids were over it, all of our arms were burning and we had no butter. I even made one last ditch effort and dumped the jar of half & half into the mixing bowl and put my mixer to work for a good 10 minutes. Still nothing.

Well come to find out, you can't make butter with half & half stupid! Heavy Cream is the magic ingredient. Duh! I did get something out this experience though..... A damn good arm work out!