Buttermilk is a real find

Generations ago real buttermilk was a facial wash for women who wanted dewy skin; it was also a remedy for various ailments. Old-fashioned buttermilk, the liquid left over from churning cream for butter, is hard to find. Commercial brands are actually skim milk with added cultures. Kate’s Homemade Butter, the artisanal creamery in Maine, is now bottling their Real Buttermilk ($1.89 a quart), which is thick and creamy with a lovely tang. The buttermilk recently won a first prize at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin. Try it in pancakes, biscuits, and other confections that call for it. You may find yourself sipping what’s left. It may cure what ails you. Available at Hannaford and Market Basket stores, or go to www.kateshomemadebutter.com.