Madyson Versteeg is a service member in Billings.
The first day of spring—the Vernal Equinox—inevitably brings
with it a sense of renewal and hope for growth.
Since January, we have been sifting through seed catalogs,
drawing out garden plans, and planning garden work days for the coming spring.
Toscano Kale, King Richard Leeks, and Bull’s Blood Beets have become common
vocabulary. We shared pictures of fruits and vegetables fresh from Johnny’s
seed catalog and identified seeds straight from their packets.
We’re ready for spring but first planting is still weeks away.
So, I spent the last few days waiting by making bread and butter!
As we not-so-patiently waited for that first spring day, we got
some jitters out by shaking things up; shaking cream up, specifically, to make
butter. Late winter seemed like the
perfect time to get some last minute cooking in before getting back out in the
garden.
The kids excitedly asked what we were going to do in class that
day, “are we going to plant seeds?” “Can
we plant some cucumbers?”
Faces fell when we told them not yet and to be patient for the
natural change of seasons. However, they
immediately perked back up when we told them we would be making bread and
butter instead!
How to make butter:
●
Fill a glass jar with a lid up half way with
heavy cream.
●
Add salt if you’d like.
●
Twist lid on tightly.
●
Shake vigorously until cream becomes
solid—butter!
The kids paired up and took turns shake-shake-shaking their
butter jars, dancing out the last of their winter impatience.
The bread was also a hit. It’s a no knead version requiring
relatively little time and it’s very tasty.
We explained the significance of yeast, how it’s alive and helps to
create tiny pockets of air within the dough, making the bread rise and fluffy
in texture. To our surprise, the ten little bakers were really concerned about
the little grains of yeast, peering at them closely, wondering if they died in
the oven, and collecting spilled yeast off of the table to take home and
rescue. They only succumbed to putting
the yeast in the bread for its inevitable death by oven when they were assured
that the yeast could not feel pain. What a relief!
The bread we pulled out of the oven was light and fluffy, and
when cut up, was devoured ravenously with the handmade butter. All reminisces
of the dead yeast quickly forgotten.
This last day of cooking was the perfect preface for all of the
planting and gardening that is to come.
It is just the beginning of getting our hands dirty with food though.
Soon those hands will be kneading soil and spring itself will rise with the
help of all the little life that help things grow.
What a well-written piece, Madyson. Thanks for sharing about your bread and butter experience with the kids. You have a way of bringing out their energy and curiosity with your prose. Thanks!
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