Do You Like Cornbread with Buttermilk?

How many of you remember crumbling up cornbread into a glass of sweet milk and eating it with a spoon after supper?

This was a special treat we ALWAYS did when spending the night with my grandparents, only they used buttermilk.

If you ever find yourself wondering why folks call whole milk “sweet milk” just pour yourself up a big old glass of buttermilk! After a sip or two of that, it will make perfect sense!
~Grins~

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Posted by Christy Jordan on Sep 11 2008. Filed under Misc. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

47 Comments for “Do You Like Cornbread with Buttermilk?”

  1. Southern Plate

    Got my new camera last night and had to play with it. I was at my mothers earlier in the evening and she had cornbread sitting on her stove leftover from supper. I got me a big wedge of it and came home for a treat!

    These are some of the first photos I’ve taken with my camera and the light was somewhat dim (I didn’t use the flash either). I can’t wait to get back from Disney now so I can REALLY play with some fun food photography! I may even get me an ego light like Leslie at the Hungry Housewife!!
    Christy

  2. Joan

    Hi Christy, Its Joan from Texas again. I am on your blog because we are getting a hurricane here late friday night so I am making my grocery list from your blog so I can cook Southern Plate recipes all weekend! I just cannot wait to see what you and your friend at Mommys Kitchen are going to post this holiday season.
    Stalking your page,
    Joan
    P.S. Never heard of this cornbread and buttermilk, but I will try anything! Your hard work pays off, everything looks good here.

  3. Southern Plate

    Hey Joan! If you have any questions at all or need a recipe, just holler! I wish you luck with the hurricane! We’re heading to Florida in the middle of it, but I think its pretty much passed over there.

    As for the cornbread and buttermilk, I recommend WHOLE milk…..~makes an awful face~ …buttermilk is pretty ghastly to drink unless you were raised on it. No sense in suffering needlessly, just pass that over to your grandma, she’ll gulp it down happily!

    I cannot WAIT until the holidays!!! When I get back, I’m officially declaring summer over (even though it is a little early) so I can start making all of my fall dishes!!!

    Flour will be flying at mine and Tina’s house, that’s for sure!

    I am THRILLED to have you as a stalker! Stalk away!!!

    ChRiStY

  4. Stacey

    You know, I think I am actually a lot more Southern than this family gives me credit for because I actually had cornbread and milk just last night! (Your brother is the one who thinks it’s gross) :)

  5. Donna in VA

    As soon as I saw the pictures of the milk and the cornbread, I had flashbacks! It was always a yummy treat.
    The next best thing is Pot-Licker (not really sure how to spell it) and Bread where you crumble your cornbread in the juice leftover from your pot of peas or beans. Hmmmmm.

  6. Nik Snacks

    I remember having the cornbread and milk for breakfast on Saturdays. The leftover bread from the fish fry the night before…well, it was actually a pre-breakfast snack because my grandma would make grits to go with the leftover fish, fry up eggs, and sometimes boil a piece of sausage.

    I can’t wait to see photos from your new camera, too, Christy!

  7. Miz.gina

    oh my daddy used to do this! I never liked buttermilk, and so I gagged a little lol but it is a sweet memory. Thank you for helping me to remember!

  8. Southern Plate

    Haha, I called Stacey this morning (my sister in law) and she said she had eaten this last night! I was surprised. See, my brother is weird and we sometimes forget that Stacey is normal. :)

    Nik: Oh, I never thought something would have me WANTING to come back from Disney World!
    My LORD you had one of those great grandmother cooks!

    Donna: nothing like cornbread in pintos! I actually have a post about that coming up!

    Miz Gina: hehe! I know just what you mean. I only do it with sweet milk, I couldn’t handle buttermilk!
    Love your site, my mother and I are quilters, too!

  9. goin-crazy

    I don’t know if I am up for this. I am as un-Southern as they come.

    But I did make the Hoe Cake last night and it was wonderful. I will be bringing some to my mom tonight as she is excited to try it too.

  10. Mommy's Kitchen

    Yummo I had that long long ago. Its so yummy i love buttermilk. I love how you put the milk in a mason jar it looks so pretty. Now where is the recipe for the wonderul looking cornbread you mama made???

    where in Texas are you??? I am a Texan myself close to Dallas so we will be getting Ikes anger on Saturday Night into sunday it will go inland and head straight up so lots of wind, rain and possible tornados. My dd is scared. I am glad its the weekend and we can stay home. Please stay safe. Oh and BTW I am a stalker as well.

  11. Southern Plate

    Hey! You liked the hoe cake though!
    I don’t recommend this for someone who wasn’t raised on it or doesn’t remember watching their beloved grandmama or grandaddy eating it as a child. Its really more of a nostalgia thing (although I personally ate this entire glass last night).

    I’m so glad you liked the hoe cake, though! Thank you for letting me know how it turned out. If you get a chance, let me know what your Mama thinks!!!
    Christy

  12. Stephanie

    We used to do that with homemade bread, for breakfast. Gonna have to try it with cornbread!

  13. Southern Plate

    Stephanie: My mom used to make homemade bread and let us eat it hot from the oven slathered with freezer jam…….I know that has little to do with this but you just made me think about it!

    She says she is going to post her recipe for homemade bread along with a tutorial on here eventually! She makes her own starter and everything!

    Christy

  14. Debra

    Oh what a sweet walk down memory lane. My dad STILL eats this all the time.

  15. Debra

    joan, I second NOT trying it unless you are used to buttermilk. try it with milk first. Buttermilk is… an acquired taste! LOL

  16. Southern Plate

    Debra, you have me still laughing! I thought of something we could do, but only if we were sure sure sure everyone had a good sense of humor! We could band together and go on and on about how delicious buttermilk is and how you have to drink it in HUGE gulps to get the real flavor..
    lol

    UGH, the thought makes me shiver! My grandmother LOVES it. Then again, I guess if you lived back then when candy wasn’t readily available and such.. you know how kids love sour candy nowadays? I can see how buttermilk would be a treat to kids back in the day.

    Still, I’m not a kid back in the day!
    ~Christy

  17. Betsy

    Nope, never and it doesn’t sound very good to me either. :)

    When I think of cornbread, I pocture it hot with butter to go with your soup, beans or chili.

  18. Southern Plate

    Betsy: I like your idea, too! I call the corner piece!!!! :D

  19. BillGent

    Daddy does the sweet milk and cornbread bit when I make cornbread for him. I’ve eaten it a time or two myself. I love to cook with buttermilk but you’d have to hold a gun to my head to get me to drink it straight.

    I have the cola chicken in the crock pot now. Doing temp work this week for my church so the crock pot recipes have come in handy.

    I live fairly close to MommysKitchen since she’s in Dallas so I’ll be sure to wave to her as I’m doing a Dorothy Gail over her place.

    I will try to avoid landing the house on anyone’s sister.. I HATE flying monkeys.

  20. Mommy's Kitchen

    billgent ~ Where in the Dallas area do you live??? I am in little ole Mesquite. About 16 miles east of Dallas. Guess you will be getting the bad weather as well. stay dry.

  21. Jess

    Thanks for answering my question. WOW you have some wonderful recipes here I’ll snag you url and add it to my list.

    I’ve never tried that cornbread and milk thing.

  22. Southern Plate

    Where were all y’all when I was stuck at the Gaylord Texan a few years back? I could have had some great food if I’da known all y’all then! LOL

    Thank ya, Jess! i’ll add you too, soon as I get into there. I’m up to my neck in packing. Are y’all tired of hearing me go on about my trip, yet?
    Packing for a week for four people is like a small military maneuver!

  23. BillGent

    Tina,
    Guess I should have clarified.. I’m in Fort Worth but considering Christy’s in Bama… it’s close LOL! I guess we will be “underneath the same big sky” according to singing mice.

    Christy, If ya ever got back to the Gaylord, gimme a shout. I’ve been there once and on a good day I could probably find it again.. You and Tina can teach me how to cook LOL.

    Have a GREAT vacation and tell the kids to give Minnie Mouse a big-ol hug from me.

  24. Pinky

    OK this is another thing I have NEVER ever heard of before!!!!
    And cornbread here that I have had is never sweet?

  25. citycowboy

    Well guys, here is where I actually have to say these are two things I CAN’T STAND either buttermilk or cornbread. Buttermilk for the obvious reason, cornbread, well, lets just say when your aunt made it for supper EVERY night, used that Jiffy cornbread mix and added sugar to that, YUCKO, it was like eating super sweet cake. To this day, I cant eat cornbread at all. Funny how things from your childhood affect you now.

  26. Deanna

    We just ate birthday cake in milk this weekend. Soooo southern and soooo good!

  27. Beverly in NC

    OMG!City Cowboy – that package cornbread mess you are talking about is NOT cornbread. Just give Christy’s mom a little while to post her REAL cornbread recipe and then, try that. I’ll bet you’ll love it!
    I love cornbread and buttermilk – I guess you have to be a “corn-fed” gal to appreciate it. (Singing – Cornbread and buttermilk and good ol’ turnip greens!)

  28. Southern Plate

    City Cowboy Did you see I posted that recipe you asked about, for the banana split cake? I think I put it on the Steak and Gravy thread, if thats where you asked about it! I got up and saw that around five this morning and thought “Oh yeah! I got that!” so I went and dug it out (it was Granny Jordan’s recipe) and typed it up for ya!
    Christy

  29. Southern Plate

    Beverly Haha! I actually have Mama’s post for cornbread but I haven’t got it all typed in yet so it will have to wait til I get back from Disney. I have a bunch of posts ready to go up while I’m gone though! Thank you for the faith!!

    Pinky: I just gotta come get you one of these days and feed you, don’t I? haha

    Deanna Birthday cake in milk – I’m sooooooooooo in!

  30. Southern Plate

    Oh Guess what? I WILL be on the web some next week! We are going to have dial up in our room and although we kinda have plans during the day (the mouse and all) I plan on getting online some every day to respond to comments and such! I just love y’all and can’t go that long without visiting!!!
    Christy

  31. citycowboy

    Christy,

    Oh yeah, I got that post and I printed it up. Am so glad you had that recipe as I could eat darn near the whole thing on my own. YUMMY

  32. Pinky

    You know what we did eat in Oregon?

    OK remember or now know…that in Oregon Blackberries run rampant everywhere! They are like coconuts in Hawaii they are everywhere!
    On the sides of roads and every field and every ditch every river! I mean all over!
    So we would pick fresh Blackberries and put them in a big bowl with a bit of sugar…OK OK I used aLOT of sugar LOL and fresh whole milk on top like cereal.

    Now there is some Northwest food for ya! (:

  33. Southern Plate

    Oh Pinky!! you have killed me! KILLED ME!! I LOVE AND ADORE BLACKBERRY COBBLER!!!
    I’m jealous now!!!
    ~pouts~

  34. April in CT

    This post has my momma written all over it. I thought it was THE most disgusting thing when she would crumble up leftover cornbread into a glass of buttermilk. She does it with popcorn too! Crazy woman. LOL

    I love cooking with buttermilk, but not a chance in heck I’m gonna drink it straight. What I often wonder..does it actually go bad if it’s past the sell by date?

  35. Rose

    Yum! One of my favorite bedtime snacks. But I prefer sweetmilk.

  36. Su

    I don’t think I could even bring myself to even take a sip of buttermilk, I can imagine the sourness!
    Something similar which I have eaten before is soft white bread with sugar sprinkled over the top and covered with warm milk. I don’t eat it often but like your cornbread and milk, it’s more of a nostalgic thing.

  37. Noor

    Yep, In TN we do this with buttermilk. My dh thought I was crazy when I told him about, lol. Then again he never even knew what cornbread was. Yum, I love it growing up we ate that with all meals.

  38. webblech

    I am the only one I know who loves cornbread and milk. I was born and raised here in the northwest corner of the map, but both my folks are West Texans and when I make cornbread, it’s mostly so I can have it for dessert!

  39. scraphag

    I never had the pleasure….but my husband remembers this fondly from his visits with family long ago in Union Town, Arkansas!

    Christy….I don’t know where you are located (on vacation, yeah?) hope you are not harmed by this big storm…..
    Casey

    PS Blessings Joan….hope you are in a relatively safe place

  40. Cee

    Oh Christy, I was RAISED on this stuff.. my mom made cornbread with every meal… and this was a late night snack for all of us.. (mom and dad used buttermilk)… us kids used “sweet” milk.. but we added green onions to it too…… delish…. I havent had cornbread in years…. gonna have to go make me some now!!!!!! heheheh.. Have fun, and be safe girl…..

  41. SondreLyn

    I had never heard anyone other than my husband call whole milk sweet milk. I was beginning to think he had made it up! :) He’s from Montgomery, I guess that explains it!

  42. Noor

    we call it sweet milk in TN too :)

  43. Southern Plate

    April Haha! Hey, Southerners are nothing if not cRaZy! Lol
    I’m with you on the buttermilk. I’ll cook with it and love doing so, but drink it? Hey, as long as Diet Dr Pepper, Coffee, and Crystal Lite are readily available, I don’t get THAT desperate!

    As for it going bad by the “sell by” date, I’d feel fine using it up to a week after that date, personally.

    Rose I’m a sweet milk drinker, too!! My favorite though, is evaporated milk! YUMMY! I LOVE that in my coffee and whenever I make mashed potatoes, I always save just a weee little sip in the can for me!

    Su Ooh the bread,sugar,milk combo sounds great! I can understand folks in my grandmother’s generation loving buttermilk like they do, even though its not my personal thing. Back in a time where they couldn’t afford or didn’t even have available, candy and sweets like we do, buttermilk would have been a treat. It is rich, thick, and very tangy. I think of how much my son likes sour candy and such and it makes sense that kids would like something like that back in the day. I have actually tried it a time or two and could see myself liking it if I was raised on it.

    Webblech I get to wanting it myself. I remember eating it at my grandparents house when I was a little girl. I would curl up next to my granddaddy on the couch and we’d each have a glass and an iced tea spoon to dip the cornbread out with. I still miss my granddaddy, always will.

    Scraphag Hey! The hurricanes bypassed this area in Florida completely. It would have been nice had they of at least left us a little cloud cover! LOL . Thank you for your kindness! We know firsthand why this is called the sunshine state after this week, believe me! We usually come when it is cooler, I think we will be sure to do that from now on!

    CeeOOOOOOOOOOOOOH I LOVE GREEN ONIONS! I have to make cornbread when I get back so I can try that!!

    Sondrelyn I know just what you mean, at first I thought it was a family thing, then I found out it is definitely a southern thing – sweet milk that is. Gosh, all this talk of cornbread and milk is really making me look forward to going home tomorrow!

    Noor I have always lived within ten minutes of the Tennessee state line. I consider myself to have dual citizenship 

    Gratefully,
    Christy

  44. RayDH

    Corn pone or skillet cornbread made with buttermilk and baked in a skillet coated with bacon drippings! Nothing better than to dip it in butter milk or collard green pot liquor. Grew up on both and we still follow this tradition that I can rememember from my Great Grandmother’s farm house every Sunday. Nothing like growing up in the country!

  45. Darren

    I am eating, as I type this, what I classify as food of the gods. Warm cornbread broken up into a tall glass with buttermilk and chopped onion. God Bless my late Grandma for introducing me me to this delicacy!

  46. Debbie

    Crumbled up cornbread, buttermilk, chopped onion, but y’all are forgetting the little bit of left over fried potatoes that go in with the whole mess! Now, I’m hungry!

  47. Southern Girl

    There’s absolutely nothing better than a bowl of cornbread and buttermilk! When I was dating my husband, he saw me eating the creamy concoction and couldn’t wait to try it. Well, let’s just say, there are some things we don’t share. More for me!!

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