The Cream Always Rises to the Top!

One of the extra special things about milking cows is the cream.  If you look at the gallon jar below of fresh milk that we put in the fridge, you'll see a line about one third of the way from the top.  Everything above that line is cream that has risen to the top.  You can shake it up and drink it all - whole milk.  Or you can skim it off and drink the 'skim' milk.

We normally shake it up and drink whole milk - so sweet and delicious.  But, we also skim some off for coffee or for making whipped cream to put atop desserts.  I captured the process of the milkmaid, Tricia, making fresh whipped cream for our pumpkin cheesecake on Thanksgiving Day.  After skimming the cream off the top of the milk, Tricia poured it into a bowl.

She put the whisking (or whipping attachment, I assume) on the stick blender and turned it on.

In less than 15 seconds, the cream begins to thicken up.  Tricia has often said the stick blender is one of her favorite gadgets.  In the past we've poured cream into a quart jar and allowed it to come to room temperature.  Then we shake it for 4 or 5 minutes to make cream.  Needless to say, the stick blender speeds up the process.

And in two shakes of a billy-goat's tail, it's done.  The cream is ready to be put on top of the cheesecake.

All that's left is to taste it...

Delish!  The cream rises to the top.  From milk to cream to whipped cream in less than a minute!