Sometimes when I’m tired or just want to relax, I pour a cold glass of buttermilk. It refreshes like no other drink. My family, sadly, does not share my enthusiasm for buttermilk. But, I inherited the taste for it from a long line of ancestors–southern, that is.
When my mother was a child, the farm at Etta did not have a refrigerator–shucks, there wasn’t even electricity fifteen miles from town in the early 1900s. What they did have was the springhouse. This was a small, wood building built by my grandfather for storing milk, butter, eggs, cream, and, of course, buttermilk.
On a hot summer afternoon, Mom would pour a cold glass of buttermilk, sit on their shady front porch, and enjoy a rest time. I can imagine what she saw. The house faced east and was on a little knoll. The front porch gave a good view and the steps were large, natural rocks. Anyway, it was a great place to sit, sip, and look east toward the barn on the other side of the road, the springhouse, and the pasture on yonder side of the spring branch.
My grandmother used buttermilk in making her biscuits and cornbread–always. Of course, with buttermilk, you had to add a pinch of soda to counteract the tartness. Buttermilk biscuits baked on her wood-burning cookstove with butter from their cows was delicious. Mom carried on the tradition of baking with buttermilk and I do the same.
Today, my buttermilk comes from the store, not the springhouse, but it holds an important spot in my refrigerator. I use it to bake with too. I’ve even baked buttermilk pie. Have you ever eaten any? Buttermilk raisin pie is especially delicious, but it takes a while for it to disappear, since I’m the only one who will even try it! Can you believe it?
Until the day she died, my mom’s favorite supper was cornbread and buttermilk and you know, I’ve had the same supper many times. Buttermilk–the southern refreshment drink. Any good cook wouldn’t be caught without it.
Never drank buttermilk, but have enjoyed cornbread.
Thanks for writing, Morgan. Buttermilk isn’t for everybody, but I really enjoy it.
Wow, Duke’s grandfather (in southern Illinois) had cornbread and buttermilk for breakfast, though Duke didn’t continue the tradition. How about inviting friends over for coffee and buttermilk-raisin pie? We need more pie-sharing and good conversation!
Well, no one could fuss if their mouths were full of pie, could they? Maybe it’d be a good idea for the Presidential candidates to sit down at a small, round table for buttermilk pie and coffee and no discussion of politics allowed! You’ve given me an idea for a new post!
Great idea!