Celebrating sweet corn
By Karyn Bowman
Hoo-Hoo, the sweet corn is in!!!!!
“Yeah, we know” you are all saying to the computer. But have you gone out and bought some yet?
Oh, baby, this is what summer eating is all about. There is nothing like an ear of corn that has been cooked to perfection so that it is crunchy and sweet without being over-cooked and soggy. Slather that ear in salted butter and you never have to reach for the salt shaker.
How good is it? When we pick some up we make sure there is enough for everyone in our family to have three ears because that is all my kids will eat for supper.
We all have our favorite places to buy it. Mine are on the east end of the county because that is where we live. Perhaps some of you can share your favorite places. One place we go is Reitveld’s on the corner of 4000 North Road (Larry Power Road to some) and 4000 East Road (Skyline Road to others). They have more than corn but that is what we always get.
Another place we go to is a farmstand on Rt. 17 east of Exline Road but west of the River. What makes this place unique is the owners trust you to put in the right amount of money in the box for the number of ears you take. It is the country, it is what we do. They will do the same with tomatoes as well.
Both places have good corn and when it is done for the day it is done. So you take your ears home, clean them and throw them in the pot. The husband and I have debated the number of minutes to leave the ears in our favorite tall stock pot over the years. I put the timer on for 12 minutes and have had great results.
I am open to hearing how people do it on the grill since I have never tried that method.
I assume you would take off the outside tassels but I wonder if you should completely clean the corn and put it in foil or can you leave the husk on?
Now should you have leftover ears that have not been eaten I have a great corn pudding recipe to use them in. But you are going to have to tune in another day for that.
Karyn Bowman is also known as Mom Goes to the Movies and wrote for the Daily Journal as their movie reviewer for over seven years. She lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children.
