Cornbread & Buttermilk, a southern culinary story
“Just Two Crazy Kids in Love”.
“Somewhere between the whisper of a June bug and the steady hum of a summer afternoon, there’s a place where kitchens tell secrets in their own time. The South doesn’t rush; neither do its stories or its recipes. Down here, history sits at the table with you, and every dish—whether it’s a slice of warm pie or a plate of fried green tomatoes—has a tale stitched into it like the hem of a worn apron.
On the Cornbread & Buttermilk Podcast, Cornbread—who’s more of a maestro than a master of ceremonies—takes you through the backroads of Southern life, leading you by the smell of fresh cornbread and something simmering slow on the stove. And just behind him is Buttermilk, his soulmate, the woman who knows when to add a dash of this or pinch of that to turn a good story into something unforgettable.
This isn’t just any podcast. It’s a slow walk down memory lane, with your feet shuffling through red clay and the sound of crickets filling the silence. Cornbread and Buttermilk don’t just talk about food—they unearth its roots. They’ll show you the grit of agrarian life, the joy hidden in a garden row, and the reverence we hold for recipes that have seen more seasons than we have. They’ll pull back the curtain on what makes the Southern kitchen the holy ground of American cuisine and storytelling. You won’t just listen; you’ll sit at the table, ready to savor a slice of history with every episode.”
Disclaimer:
Cornbread & Buttermilk is all about sharing stories, traditions, and the wisdom of the Southern kitchen, but we are not medical professionals. The information shared in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always consult with your physician or a qualified healthcare provider before adding new foods, supplements, or home remedies to your routine—especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications. Listen to your body, trust your doctor, and enjoy the journey of good food and well-being!
Send Cornbread a voice mail at his Speakpipe link https://www.speakpipe.com/Cornbread
Cornbread & Buttermilk, a southern culinary story
Pushing Back the Wilderness
There comes a time, every so often, when a man looks at the unruly wild just beyond his porch and feels the old ache of Eden. Not the grand paradise, no—but something simpler, humbler. A patch of earth that minds its manners. A bit of order wrested from the green chaos.
This past week, me and a good fella named Miguel laid hands on the front yard like two preachers at a tent revival. We weeded and cleared, pulled back thorn and vine like casting out evil spirits. Japanese Maples stood trembling, grateful to see the sun again. Italian Cypress rose tall and silent, as if remembering Rome. The peonies, now wait in soft expectation, dreaming of summertime showers.
We laid down weed cloth like a promise and blanketed it with cypress mulch as black as coffee left too long on the stove. When we stepped back, it was quiet—not the hush of emptiness, but the silence of something satisfied. The land, I swear, exhaled.
Sometimes, I think tending to a flowerbed is a kind of prayer. A slow one, offered with bent knees and dirty hands. And though no one may see it but the sparrows and the squirrels, the work stands. And the earth remembers.
As the last wheelbarrow was emptied and the rake leaned against the porch rail, Buttermilk stepped out with a tall glass of iced tea—amber as sunset and clinking ice with lemon slices. She looked out over the newly cleared flowerbeds, eyes resting on the cypress, the maples, the peonies tucked in like children after a long day.
“Well,” she said, her voice calm as still water, “looks like the land’s finally remembering who it belongs to.”
She handed me the glass, and for a long moment, we stood there together—quiet, content, watching the garden settle into its new shape. And in that silence, there was something holy.
You can find Edward Phillips on YouTube. Go to @Edwardphillipsroots for more of his music. Learn about the history behind the Delta and Piedmont Blues. Edward brings the music of Sun House, Blind Willie Johnson, and Robert Johnson to life with his stories.
Cornbread and Miguel lay hands on the land.
Ad for Edward Phillips Electronic Juke Joint
Disclaimer:
Cornbread & Buttermilk is all about sharing stories, traditions, and the wisdom of the Southern kitchen, but we are not medical professionals. The information shared in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always consult with your physician or a qualified healthcare provider before adding new foods, supplements, or home remedies to your routine—especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications. Listen to your body, trust your doctor, and enjoy the journey of good food and well-being!
Thank you for listening; please share our Podcast with friends and family members who would find our stories interesting. It would certainly help us, it would be a blessing, it certainly would.
Let us know if you enjoyed the program. What’s on your mind? We would love to hear from you. Contact us at: southerncornbread101@gmail.com
Title: Ragged and Dirty
Performed by: William Brown
Recorded by: Alan Lomax
From the album: Negro Blues and Hollers
Courtesy of: American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
You can reach History By Mail for more information at, www.historybymail.com
Listen to @EdwardPhillipsRoots on YouTube. You can watch, “The Electronic Juke Joint” Live stream, with Edward on Wednesday Nights at 8:30 p.m. E.T. where Edward takes song request from his liste...
