Kitchen

[loriqvc]

@piperbay - Thanks for your reply. There are a couple of buttermilk powder options on the shelves near me, so that's probably what I'll be trying next week if I still can't find the liquid version.

[newjerseygirl]

@loriqvc Hi Lori, the only time I use buttermilk is in March when I use it to make Irish soda bread.   I try to buy it the end of February, depending on the expiration date.  

I have found that buttermilk becomes scarce just before St. Patrick's Day because it is an ingredient in Irish soda bread. 

I think  if that was the case in your area, the supply should have been replenished by now. 

Perhaps it is scarce in your area for other reasons. 

[shoptilyadropagain]

I live in a rural town in the midwest and our grocery stores haven't carried it in years.  I can't find it in the next town over which is a much bigger college town. 

I follow a couple of southern cooks on FB (one of which is Brenda Gantt) and they're all the time making biscuits which require buttermilk.  I don't make (and hardly eat biscuits) so it's not a big deal that I don't see it in my grocery stores.  One of the cooks did mention the powder where you just add water to make buttermilk.  She gets it at Wal-Mart in the (I believe) baking aisle.  Since I don't really need It, I've never looked for it.  I do buy milk/chocolate milk occasionally and that's why I've noticed it not being with the other milk. 

[FLtricia]

I just purchased buttermilk for an Easter recipe at Publix in my area.  They had plenty of stock.

[U of M Go Blue]

@spumoni99 , I am going to the store for buttermilk tomorrow. My husbands birthday is Saturday and I am making him his favorite chocolate buttermilk cake. I dont even like chocolate cake, but I love this one.

[Icegoddess]

I use it mostly for cornbread and mashed potatoes, but if I make biscuits, which is rare since I'm messy, I use buttermilk for that too.  Lots of recipes use buttermilk.  There's also a buttermilk pie which is similar to chess pie I think.  Plus, you can drink it.  My father used to often have cornbreadn crumbled into buttermilk after a meal and my daughter picked up that habit for awhile though I think she has now abandoned it.  

[Carmie]

It's available in my local stores...no shortages.

I always keep a can of buttermilk powder in my pantry, just in case I am ready to bake and don't have any on hand.

[loriqvc]

@newjerseygirl - Thanks for your reply. Soda bread is another great use for buttermilk! In years past, I haven't noticed availability change around St. Patrick's Day, but that definitely makes sense.

[loriqvc]

@shoptilyadropagain - Thanks for your reply. It is certainly frustrating to live in areas where you can't regularly get the ingredients you want—there are definite pros and cons to small-town living. I often can't decide if I miss it or am glad to be done with it. 

[loriqvc]

@FLtricia - Thanks for your reply—glad it's available somewhere. There is no Publix in my area, unfortunately. I'm beginning to think the east side of the country is hoarding the supply.