What better way to explore our recipes project than trying to make butter on the hottest day of the year so far? That’s exactly what we did at Grow Outside CIC when a group of residents joined us at the community allotment for a butter and bread-baking workshop that turned out to be equal parts learning and hilarity.
Our day began with a warm welcome at the community allotment, a beautiful green space bursting with life, we had a cuppa and grabbed a pastry before taking a short tour of the site with a pause to explore the site’s compost toilet!
While our breads were proving in the yurt (which was, by this point, hotter than a bakery oven) it was time to do some butter-making.
Or at least, that was the plan.
Armed with jam jars full of cream and the best of intentions, we set about shaking them to turn cream into butter. But with the heat working against us, the cream stubbornly refused to transform. Instead of frustration, the moment sparked laughter and creativity. With Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off blasting from a speaker, the group broke into spontaneous dancing, shaking jars in time with the music and turning the space into a makeshift disco. It wasn’t the butter we were expecting—but it was a memory we won’t forget.
Thankfully, two of our brilliant participants saved the day by whipping up a fragrant herb oil for us to dip our freshly baked bread into. As we sat together, sharing slices and smiles, we opened up a rich conversation about food memories and family traditions.
Prompted by a few gentle questions, we reflected on how food connects us to memories. We found ourselves deep in discussion about school dinners—pink custard, chocolate sponge, and lumpy gravy. Talk turned to how families managed to stretch meals, particularly in large households.
Stories were shared of bread taking the place of meat, of gravy dinners, and of the deep importance of puddings—not as treats, but as necessary, filling fare to keep energy up after a long day’s work or school.
We left the day feeling full—not just from the bread, but from the stories, the joy, and the sense of community. We’re already looking forward to bringing this joyful, heritage-rich experience to even more people in the parish.
