Devonviolet Acres

[Bruce]

Good, nothing wrong with white butter, something is wrong with orange cheddar.

 

[Mini Horses]

There is white cheddar. I love that they act like it's new and different....not what is real.

Yep, my cheddar will be white also.

 

[Devonviolet]

Wow, @Mini Horses! I'm so glad you finally got your separator working!

Yes, on all counts:
1. It IS a bit of work!
2. It DOES get easier! [ Although I must add that my sweet DH jumps in with all four and washes, dries and puts it away.]
3. The cream is white and doesn't need coloring to taste better.
4. In the end it really IS worth all the work.

You said that you are planning to use your cream to make cheese. What kind will you be making? I know some cheeses are better when cream or at least higher fat milk is used. Most of the cheese I make turns out great using my LaMancha high fat milk. Of course ice cream MUST be made with cream, and cream cheese and sour cream. So many uses for goat milk cream and so few hours in a day!

And in answer to your question about making butter . . . Yes, I use my Kitchen aid stand mixer using the wire whisk beater.

I usually put 1/2 gallon of EXTRA heavy cream in and start it on medium speed, so it doesn't splash all over. Once it starts thickening & looking like whipped cream, I turn the speed to high. Eventually it starts to separate, but I keep going for a while, so more "buttermilk" is in the bowl. At that point, I pour the buttermilk out, into a quart jar. If memory serves me, I get about 2 cups. That goes in the fridge for a future treat.

Next, I put ice into a bowl of water and using a sieve (to keep ice chunks out of my butter) I pour about a cup of ice water into the butter & turn the mixer back on high & mix for a while. "Rinse & repeat" about 4 times, until the water runs clear, when I pour it down the drain. Oh, and I use one of those 1/2 circle pasta strainers, to krep the butter in the bowl, when I pour the water into the sink.

Once I am satisfied that the whey is rinsed out, I run the mixer & drain the liquid a few more times and then add the salt - I think I add 1 tsp per 1/2 gallon of cream.

You asked if I make sticks or put it in a bowl. I tried rolling it in wax paper, but found it easier to put it in plastic leftover bowls with lids, that we get at Wal-Mart. The store brand has a flat, rectangular shaped one that nicely holds a pound of butter. We put the bowl on the scale & "tare" it out before spooning in the butter.

 

[Devonviolet]

We had excitement in the chicken coop and then in the chicken yard tonight.

I was feeding Falina & DH came to tell me there was a king snake in the far end nest box.

I followed him into the coop. After multiple attempts (one of which involved a scream and a near missed bite ) we managed to get control over the snake. We moved it out in the chicken yard and snapped its neck. Next we put the dogs in, so they could have at it.

After several minutes of barking, violet picked it up and dragged it to the goat yard, where the barking dance continued.

 

[Baymule]

Looking at the pictures, it looks more like a rat snake. I bet the dogs had fun! Paris kills every snake she finds. She slings them to pieces, then kills each piece over and over. LOL

 

[Devonviolet]

Looking at the pictures, it looks more like a rat snake. I bet the dogs had fun! Paris kills every snake she finds. She slings them to pieces, then kills each piece over and over. LOL

Yes, the dogs sure seemed to enjoy telling that nasty, ol' snake what for!

Huh! I always thought King Snakes and Rat Snakes were the same thing. I looked online and found the following image, that looked just like our snake, which I forgot to mention was about six feet long. I also forgot to mention that we have been wondering why we haven't been getting many eggs lately. Maybe this guy has been gorging himself on our eggs. He did have several large bulges along his length.

The photo was identified as a Texas Desert King Snake.

is this what you are thinking a Rat Snake looks like?

 

[Mini Horses]

Thanks for your details on what is working for your butter making. Yes, the entire process is "a job but worth it". This is especially so since the goats are there, producing, being fed and paying for their keep. (Self-sufficiency) I have a book, Home Cheese Making by Ricki Carroll, which has a lot of recipes, instructions & explanations for why/how to make the product you want, the effects of temps, length of cooking, and all that. And, recipes for various mixes, uses, etc. Good info!

Of course ice cream MUST be made with cream, and cream cheese and sour cream. So many uses for goat milk cream and so few hours in a day!

Ahhh, yes....CREAM for ice cream, at least in addition to any whole milk. Use up milk and eggs at once. Some cheeses from whey suggest a small addition of some cream.

looked just like our snake, which I forgot to mention was about six feet long. I also forgot to mention that we have been wondering why we haven't been getting many eggs lately. Maybe this guy has been gorging himself on our eggs.

Dang, sounds like the one I had in my coop 2 summers ago. Yes, same things...fewer eggs and then there it was. They get to be very large. These guys are slightly different color in different areas but, same deal. Here they are like #1 when younger and the markings fade quite a bit as they age. White belly seems to stay . Mine was belly up on the road when I got done, waiting for vultures! Have had another smaller one, maybe 3.5'. Met the same fate -- my machete. A lot of people say catch & release -- they do good things. OK, I agree but, they weren't doing good things in my coop. I'm certain they had plenty more relatives staying in the surrounding fields doing good & they should have stayed with them!

 

[Devonviolet]

A lot of people say catch & release -- they do good things. OK, I agree but, they weren't doing good things in my coop. I'm certain they had plenty more relatives staying in the surrounding fields doing good & they should have stayed with them!

EXACTLY!!! DH used to leave these snakes alone, when he found them in the feed shed, figuring they were eating the mice trying to get to our feed. Then we started finding them in the coop, with eggs bulging in their bellies. Last year, he found a big one curled up in the duck nest, that our turkey hen was using to brood duck eggs. It got away that time. No way to know if it was this one, but it could have been. Now, at least this one won't be feasting on our eggs!

 

[Devonviolet]

We were out browsing, this morning, after breakfast, and I got some cute pics, of the girls, browsing too.

Here is Hope on the pile of firewood.

Here she is again from the other side. They LOVE climbing as high as they can get.

Here is a shot of both of the girls. Faith isn't quit as good a climber as Hope.

Here are Mom and girls on the edge of the farmer's freshly cut field.

And finally, Hope nibbling on a dropped cluster of leaves, from a near by oak tree.

We are just thrilled with how well the girls are learning to browse, from Mom!

 

[Mike CHS]

They are pretty and obviously nimble of foot.