Sometimes on those very rare occasions that I am browsing something other than food on the interwebs, it is uplifting to come across an article that improves your daily life. Forbes recently posted an article about the 5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8am. It sounded like something I needed to do to conquer my precious time, often wasted by online distractions like the very article I had just read. I go to bed quite late and wake up reasonably early (read 5:45am). I have never needed much sleep. Juggling working from home and kids in a home studio peppered with sneaky toys and social media distractions is always a tough challenge. So I adapted the five rules this article professed. Exercising. Mapping out my day. Eating a healthy breakfast. Visualising, meditating and positive thinking. Making my day top heavy. The exercising bit was a challenge as I like to do it mid morning and not first thing when I wake up. I am still working on it. I was already doing a big healthy breakfast. But what I found to be the most amazing tip was mapping out my day and making it top heavy. Every single day in the past week I strove to make a cursory written list of everything I realistically wanted to tackle by 3pm and tried to stick to it. I also challenged myself to work harder and faster in the first half of the day to take the pressure off the tail end. After a week, I felt I had to share this because I had achieved a lot compared to previous weeks. I also found that I had managed to create a couple of leisure hours in the evening for myself and my family instead of splitting my time and attention between work and home. Sometimes very occasionally, internet distractions do work wonders!
A productive day can get even better if you throw in 15 minutes churning your own butter. It is so ridiculously simple, you will laugh. All you need is cream and some salt. And of course having a Kitchenaid helps. But any stand mixer, hand held electric whisk, a balloon whisk or a tight lidded jar will do the trick. I made flavoured butter. My flavour was salted maple with flecks of Murray River pink salt flakes. Oh my!
I have included a visual process which will show you how to package your own butter artisan style and give away as a fabulous gourmet gift. This home churned butter will last up to a week in the fridge unless you finish it all off before that. Once you have made a simple butter, try infusing it with your favourite flavours.
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15 MINUTE HOME CHURNED SALTED MAPLE BUTTER
A beautiful golden butter infused with maple syrup is churned in a stand mixer in a matter of 15 minutes for a delicious buttery breakfast treat.
Makes - 110g
Ingredients
300ml thickened cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon maple syrup
pinch of pink salt flakes
Method
Place cream, salt and maple syrup in the bowl of a stand mixer fixed with a paddle attachment. Mix on low (Kitchenaid setting 2) for 4 minutes. Increase speed to medium (Kitchenaid setting 4) and mix for 7 to 8 minutes until the milk solids separate.
Using clean hands gently restrain the solids as you drain out the liquid. Press down on the solids to gently squeeze out more liquids. Gather the butter in the palm of your hand and shape it in a round formation. Place on a 6 inch square of baking paper and flatten the top slightly with a butter knife. Sprinkle with pink salt flakes, wrap the baking paper around it and secure with a jute twine. Store in the fridge until ready to use. Soften at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
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Wow, I cant believe it's that easy! The short storage is a concern thou - does it freeze? Pumpkin, pecan and date scones with the maple butter -devine . I'm thinking coriander and garlic ready to toss with some scallops ..and dozens of other uses.
This exact process won't work with a Cuisinart mixer. Best to use whipping speeds in Cuisinart instruction book.
Never tried this ever. But it looks easy enough for a beginner. Internet distractions can and do prove useful. Thanks.
What an outstanding idea! I'm going to make some this weekend for a brunch treat.
This sounds absolutely perfect, and so genius. After all, you can't have butter without maple syrup on pancakes and vice versa! What a perfect combination. I'm so happy I found your blog through Jen's Facebook just now -- I adore the style of your photography and your recipes are wonderful. Thanks so much for posting this!
What a lovely hostess gift or Christmas gift this would make.
I've made butter accidentally by letting the mixer go too long!
Now, I've got to make that mistake again.
Loved the post and the article even more! A little shout out to you in my current post.
Such a lovely idea. And love the packaging too!
Such a great idea! I definitely want to try this out! How long does the butter keep for after you make it?
What a gorgeous idea! I'm definitely a night owl so I can't see myself doing all that in the morning (sometimes it's a struggle just to get to work!).
What a beautiful idea!
Hey Sneh, I think it's great you're implementing those habits in your busy life. This flavoured butter looks & sounds amazing, have you actually tried (or know someone who has) making it in a crappy stand mixer? Would it take longer? Would it not turn out smooth?
This is a beautiful idea! Making this for a dinner party soon!
Lovely ideas to get things done earlier in the day. It's always such a struggle to get through my to-do list with a 10 month old around, I end up only getting things done while she naps! I made some black truffle butter not long ago (http://www.emikodavies.com/blog/the-truffle-hunt/). Hadn't thought of a sweet butter before, lovely idea.
I'd love to slather this butter on homemade bread!
This is a great idea! Do you know if it would work with thin cream as well?
I need to try this butter. great recipe idea and nicely presented.
Wow. This is just too perfect.
This is adorable! I can only imagine the satisfying feeling of making your own. While I know it been done to death, I want to include some bacon in this butter....
You know I've never even thought of making butter, my grandmother apparently used to make it when she lived on a farm and my Dad used to always reminisce about the clotted cream and homemade butter. I sometimes have some left over cream which I find it hard to find a use for - now I know I can use it to make butter!
Oh cool! very good idea for a gift. Nicely presented & good pictures.
I can imagine so many things I would love to spread this butter on. A fresh baked scone come to mind.
This is amazing! Looks fantastic!
Wonderful tips!
I love this so much!
Thanks for sharing the link I think I need this right now too. It is so SO easy to get distracted (like right now reading this post 🙂 ). And lovely butter combo.
One of life's simple pleasures, making butter 🙂
This butter looks great. I am trying to imagine some savoury additions.