Tag: corn

At Summer’s End…Corn & Tomatoes

It is the middle of September here in Illinois. Our Summer (and what a summer it was) is winding down, but isn’t quite ready to surrender to Fall. As much as I love Fall, these last summer days are quite splendid. A most recent one was everything a day at this time of year should be; warm and sunny, and best of all very little humidity.

It was a day for an outing. Nothing big or extravagant, just some time to be out in weather that we will be wistfully looking back on in a few months. We ventured out to Oswego, a small town not far from home. Like many towns in this area it was originally a farm town that has succumbed to a bit of suburban sprawl in recent years. In spite of that, there are still areas that hold on to that small town charm.

Our first stop was at Fox Valley Winery. This is a family owned winery that we have visited for many years. Father and son have been making wine using mostly Illinois grapes for longer than that. While many of the wines are sweet, there are several that are delightfully dry, and one was the perfect choice for this day.This Rose is a blend of Landot Noir, Vignoles, and Chambourcin grapes all grown in Illinois. The result is a dry rose with a lot of body and just the right amount of fruitiness. Paired with a modest cheese plate  and enjoyed on the patio it was a delightful lunch. Even though the winery sits on the edge of a semi-busy highway, the lush hedges and beautiful surroundings make it easy to tune out the occasional road noise. When the colder weather does arrive, we will move inside to enjoy another wine, Petite Pearl, in front of the massive fireplace.

As we sat and enjoyed our wine and cheese, we mused about the plan for dinner. This is Illinois corn country and having grown up here we are corn snobs. While we will occasionally try “imported” corn, nothing tastes better than corn grown close to home. This is by the calendar a little late for corn around here, but this has been an unusual Summer and we wondered if  there might be a farm stand that still had corn. As luck would have it, a quick Google search told us that there was a farm stand nearby that might be able to help us out. That led us to Keller’s.

While not quite as big as some “Farm Stands” in the area, Keller’s does offer activities and wares three out of the four seasons. Like me, Keller’s is on the cusp of the changing seasons; offering the end of the summer bounty while constructing their Corn Maze and laying out their Pumpkin Patch. The barn was in transition as well. Bags of apples (they have a Pick Your Own Orchard) and bins of gourds, and mini pumpkins shared space with corn, tomatoes and peppers.

After a quick stroll around the barn, we headed for the corn table. We filled our bag with as much as we thought we could eat at one meal (Papa Diehl’s appetite for fresh corn is somewhat of a legend). Knowing that I was going to need the biggest pot in my kitchen, I opted to round out the meal simply with some fresh tomatoes. I figured that I would decide on the protein later. With our treasure trove of corn and tomatoes it really didn’t matter. The husked corn and ruby tomatoes were things of beauty.

Here is how I cook corn: Fill a pot big enough for the corn to have some room with water. Add the corn and about a tablespoon or two of sugar. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, turn off the heat and leave it on the burner covered for about 20 minutes (a little less time if the ears are small). Serve with butter, salt, and pepper to taste. That’s it. Pretty straight forward and it always works.

The tomatoes were so beautiful, sweet, and juicy that all they needed was salt pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

So we toasted the end of summer with another glass of the Fox Valley Rose as we ate the corn and tomatoes to our hearts content. I think that there might have been some Grilled Country Ribs (that are now in the refrigerator) on the plate, but it really didn’t matter.

When I think back about this summer, this may be one of my fondest memories; sweet corn that has just enough juicy crunch to delight the palate and the sweet and salty taste of sliced tomatoes. So simple, so fresh, so perfect.

Holding On To Summer

The calendar says August. The thermometer is registering 80 degrees. The humidity outside can be cut with a knife. That sure sounds like Summer to me.  Yet most schools are back in session, or will be soon. The stores are filled with “Back To School” clothes and if you look beyond the Halloween displays there is the faintest hint of Christmas creeping onto the shelves. I was in retail long enough to know that is all part of the corporate marketing plan, but wait a minute (or at least a few weeks). It’s still SUMMER!!!

The air conditioning is on more than it is off in my house. There are still tomatoes on the vine, but last week I opened my mailbox and found a Fall food magazine…I’m not ready for this. I’m still enjoying the fruits of summer, and the vegetables, too. I grill out almost every night (okay, I do that a lot at other times of the year, but still…). Living in the Midwest, Fall means Winter, and that means cold and snow and ice. There will be plenty of time for hearty soups and squash gratins, so let’s put all of that aside and focus on the here and now of Summer.DIGITAL CAMERA

Vegetables are still at their peak. We are blessed with fresh local sweet corn. Local meaning the ears were in the fields this morning less than five miles from home. DIGITAL CAMERAI admit that I am a Midwestern corn snob. I love it on the cob, brushed with butter, sprinkled with a little salt and pepper. DIGITAL CAMERAI adore it grilled as is or off the cob used in recipes. Corn is having its heyday and that’s just fine with me.

Grilled corn is a wonderful addition to many dishes. I recently used it in a Gazpacho that featured cucumbers, peppers, and of course tomatoes. DIGITAL CAMERACall it a soup, call it a liquid salad, it’s a wonderful way to use summer’s vegetable bonanza. Use what you have or what calls to you at the market. This gazpacho recipe will give you a jumping off place like the diving board at the deep end of the pool.

Gazpacho
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Gazpacho
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Peel the cucumber and chop into pieces about 1 inch. Quarter the tomatoes. Core and seed them and chop into pieces about the same size as the cucumber. Put both in a large bowl.
  2. Chop the onion into one inch chunks. Do the same with the bell pepper. Add them to the bowl.
  3. Roughly chop the garlic, parsley, and cilantro and toss them in with the other vegetables. Mix everything together.
  4. Cut the corn kernels off the cobs and set aside
  5. Place a manageable amount of the vegetable mixture into the processor bowl. Add some of the vegetable juice and process until the mixture is slightly chunky. ( make this as smooth or chunky as you like) Put the processed vegetables back in the bowl.
  6. Continue to process the vegetables with the vegetable juice until they are all the consistency you want. Add the corn to the bowl of vegetables and stir to mix everything well.
  7. Add the juice of the lemon half, the vinegar, paprika, and cumin. Stir well and taste for seasoning. Add a little salt and any more of the flavorings that you want.
  8. Cover and chill for several hours. Serve in soup bowls or goblets and garnish with cilantro or whatever you would like.
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Summer is salad time. I’ve shared lots of different kinds this season. There is a salad that provides the healthy veggies that you need and has the crunchy chew of crusty bread. I’m talking about Panzanella. Any vegetable can join the merriment and any rustic or crusty bread will provide the perfect counterpoint. Again, this recipe is a basic guideline to be played with like croquet mallets on a summer lawn.

Panzanella Salad
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Panzanella Salad
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Dressing
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet that has been lightly sprayed with olive oil cooking spray. Spray the bread cubes lightly with the olive oil spray. Bake 15 minutes until the cubes are lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
  2. Quarter the tomatoes lengthwise. Remove the seeds and cut crosswise into 1/2 slices. Cut the onion in half crosswise. Cut each half in thin vertical strips.
  3. Put the onions and tomatoes in a large bowl. Add the chopped pepper, cucumbers, and the bread cubes. Tear the basil leaves into bite size pieces and add to the bowl.
  4. Dressing: Mash the garlic, anchovy paste and a pinch of salt in a mortar. It should be a fairly smooth paste. Combine the oil, vinegar, herbs, and the garlic anchovy paste in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake until the dressing is completely blended.
  5. Pour the dressing over the ingredients in the bowl and toss to coat. Cover and chill for several hours. Serve.
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These are two of many recipes that shout summer to me. From early June to the last harvest, the bounty of summer vegetables can bring health and tasty variety to your table. Summertime seems to fly by more than any other season. The long days and warm nights are gone far too quickly. So, I’ll ignore the sweaters and boots in the stores and turn a blind eye to the Halloween costumes…there’s plenty of time to go there when it really is Fall. I’m holding on to Summer a little longer. Love, Mama D

Summer Country, Corn, and Chowder

My school bus route this summer takes me out to the country. I spend close to three hours a day riding past farms and corn fields which gives me more than enough time for reflection. I’m a semi-city girl and my experiences with home-grown corn came from my grandfather’s and then my Uncle Andy’s gardens. Still, the country holds a certain charm for me. Now that I’ve comfortably adopted the suburbs as home, I experience the accidental proximity of country with an isolated field or preserved farm in the middle of a subdivision.DIGITAL CAMERA

Suburban living makes it easy to forget how amazing farmland is. But what i’m seeing everyday is the real deal. Sky beautifully blue that seems to go on forever. Clouds in that sky that look like cotton batting soft enough to curl up in for a nap. Farms large and small, old and older, and seemingly endless fields of corn. file8191293943525The Midwest is corn country and this part of Illinois has some of the best farmland in the state. Granted, much of our corn is the feed/seed variety. (This blog post  explains the difference.) Even so, there is plenty of the eating kind around, or there will be soon.

Corn season is in full swing here. The stalks have more than reached the requisite “knee high by the Fourth of July” and as I look out the bus window, I think they’re growing taller everyday.DIGITAL CAMERALocal corn won’t be making an appearance for a few more weeks, but as the stalks wave in the breeze, anticipation is high. The corn available is inching closer, much of what is in the stores and even at farm stands is coming from Georgia. It’s sweet and juicy and is wonderful eaten off the cob, but it’s also great used in a recipe. DIGITAL CAMERADIGITAL CAMERAI made a Summer Corn Chowder that used the corn, cobs and all.DIGITAL CAMERA I cut the kernels off the cobs, then the naked cobs went into a soup pot with water, some onion and a pinch of salt. I let it simmer for  about an hour and let it steep for an hour more. The result was golden sweetness that was bursting with corn flavor.

This chowder featured a variety of peppers,and onions and course there was lots of fresh corn. Colored peppers make it look extra festive and sweet and green onion give it lots of flavor. This is your chowder, so choose what you like.DIGITAL CAMERATo make it more “chowder like” I added some bacon and grated potato. My herb of choice was thyme and a bit of ancho chili powder gave it a little heat. To keep it healthier I used fat free half and half.DIGITAL CAMERAThe result was a lighter bodied chowder that was thick with vegetables. Sharp white cheddar cheese and crisp bacon were the crowning glory. It was the perfect dish for a summer supper.DIGITAL CAMERA

This recipe will only get better as the corn grows closer to home. It also lends itself to all kinds of variations. Make it spicier or tame it down to suit your taste.

Summer Corn Chowder
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Summer Corn Chowder
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Corn Broth
Chowder
Servings:
Instructions
Corn Broth
  1. Put the bare corn cobs and chopped onion in a soup pot. Add 5 cups water (or enough to cover) and a pinch of salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook covered for 1 hour. Turn off heat and allow to steep covered for another hour. Remove the cobs and onions and use in soup.
Chowder
  1. Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp. This should take about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon, let it drain on paper towels and reserve. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings from the pot.
  2. Add the onions, celery, jalapeno, and peppers to the pot and cook about 5 minutes stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften. Add the corn kernels and cook another 2 - 3 minutes. Stir in the chili powder and cook 1 minute more.
  3. Add the half and half and corn broth to the pot. Bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and add the shredded potatoes, green onions and thyme. cook 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender and everything is happy. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the reserved bacon and grated cheddar.
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Fresh corn is one of the joys of summer. Eaten off the cob or in a soup or side dish, it is meant to be savoured for as long as the season lasts. Enjoy, Mama D