Buttermilk
My grandparents came to town at least
once a week and they would always bring us a gallon of
buttermilk. My Mama Greer had plenty of milk from her two
cows. She churned the milk and removed the butter leaving
buttermilk. Living in the country in those days without
electricity made it difficult to keep the milk from
spoiling. She would put it in gallon jugs and lower them
into the water of the well to keep them cool. She would
always bring a gallon to us and to my Aunt Rachel who also
lived in Fayetteville. Mother and Daddy worked hard just to
make ends meet and the buttermilk was a welcomed addition
to our table.
I learned to love buttermilk. I drank a glass for dinner or
supper and sometimes in between with a slice of onion and
some cornbread. It’s funny how you can learn to like
something so much. Even today I would choose a glass of
buttermilk over a chocolate shake any time.
If you were not raised on buttermilk, you probably don’t
like it, but it’s good for you. As an adult I learned it’s
low in fat, high in
potassium, vitamin B12 and calcium. Buttermilk is more
easily digested than whole milk making protein and calcium
more easily taken up by the body. That’s not why I enjoy it
so much. but I’m just glad it’s not harmful.
My dad’s twin
brother, Uncle Earl, lived to be over 90. For many years he
ran a barber shop on the court house square. He had a glass
of buttermilk with cornbread every evening for supper. I’m
not sure this had anything to do with his long life but he
was always in good health and had a razor sharp mind.