Nothing says summer here in the Midwest quite like corn on the cob. While crops are suffering tragically this year, with a bleak future for farmers and consumers alike, there is still local sweet corn to be found. Not knowing quite what tomorrow will bring, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to head to a farmers market where I knew the first ears of sweetness might be.
A dozen silken ears clothed in green husks immediately found their way into my car. Half of them were on the table for Wednesday night supper.
I nibbled away, attacking each golden kernel with determination, butter dripping recklessly down my fingers, barely catching my breath, and feeling a bit like Tom Hanks in the movie Big.
I loved the movie “Big” and your description of fresh, sweet corn on the cob with butter made me yearn for some myself!
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I imagine that sweet corn may be one of the things you miss while in Ireland, Janet. I loved Big as well, and still enjoy it when it comes on.
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Delicious, buttered, salted and running down your chin! 🙂
Before you cook the rest of it, perhaps you’d like to try this? http://www.thekitchn.com/summer-tip-eat-your-sweet-corn-154850 I’d never thought of such a thing, but now I think I want to know what it’s like! Hope someone ’round here will have some decent sweet corn soon!!
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Yes, and yes, and yes again, Karen.
Just before I cooked the corn yesterday, I mentioned to Tom that it is said that the best way to eat it is just picked, not even cooked. He looked skeptical, but I would be game to try it sometime. Thanks for the link – and here’s hoping your find some soon. I’m buying it when I see it, local, as who knows how much we will get this year.
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Oh, such a great scene in a great movie – one of the first DVDs I ever bought.
Now, here’s a literary alternative to boiling it. :<)
http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2007/08/corn-on-cob.html
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Big is such a fun movie, isn’t it? I love this scene.
That looks like it would taste and smell good, Nan. We have done it in the husk on the grill, but never in the oven. I’ll need to try that.
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There’s nothing quite like fresh, just picked corn, Penny. You are so right. Your description leaves me drooling.
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Sorry, Andra. I doubt it sweet corn is on your diet right now. Last night, I needed a bib.
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Oh yes, nothing better. I look forward to eating fresh corn here in France, but I know it wont be as good as that wonderful Wisconsin ( oh, ok, Illinois too) corn that I love. J.
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Ha! There is that bit of rivalry, Janice, though we Illinoisans take claim to the best corn around. I hope you get some fresh corn there soon.
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Mmm-mmm, I was tasting every kernel as you described it so tantalisingly! What a fun movie clip to go with your post.
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I was hoping others would enjoy it as much as I always do, Juliet. Tom Hanks was so good in Big, and this is one of many memorable scenes.
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I love the movie Big, but haven’t Thought about it in years. We have had fresh sweet corn for a while around here. My favorite variety is Peaches and Cream. MMMMmmm it is so sweet. I checked out the links above about preparing corn on the cob. I have eaten it raw. It was ok but not my favorite. I have eaten it roasted with the shucks on, but on a grill, not in the oven. We usually wrap it in foil and throw it on the grill. We throw everything on the grill in the summer. We even sliced up zucchini and put it in foil on the grill. It was good too.
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This was one of many memorable Big scenes. I love the movie and should watch it again soon. Oooo. Peaches and Cream. I will be on the lookout for that variety (though this year???). We usually do it in the husks on the grill, but, honestly, I boiled it briefly the other night as it was too hot to open the door. tee hee 3 minutes is all it needs and we ate like the little piggies we are. We do use our grill constantly in summer as well. Oh dear, it is only 10 am and I’m already getting hungry for supper.
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I’ve had some fresh-picked corn straight from the farm in the last couple of weeks…there is nothing like it, is there! I just love your description, Penny. I could taste it…especially with the butter just dripping down! What a great tie to such a sweet movie! I’d forgotten this great scene! D
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It is the very best, Debra. We are having some more tonight. Thank you, Debra. We still use those little plastic corn holders that were Tom’s mother’s. They are still in the old glass refrigerator she always kept them in. Isn’t it a fun scene, and there he is, putting the little cob back onto the buffet table.
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Dear Penny, oh, that was such a delightful movie. I’m going to our library website next to see if they have the movie. I’d forgotten that scene.
As to the corn. Last Saturday I went with friends to the peach stands in Lexington, Missouri, to buy delicious and juicy peaches as well as produce. I bought four ears of corn and had them for supper two nights this week. You may get butter just on your fingers! But I have it dribbling from the end of my chin when I eat corn on the cob! Peace.
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It is, indeed, one of many memorable scenes in this delightful movie, isn’t it, Dee? I do hope you are able to view Big soon.
Oh, those peaches sound like a little bit of heaven, freshly picked and all sweet and tasty. Isn’t it fun to be messy and even childish while eating corn on the cob? I think corn and watermelon brings out the youth in us.
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Penny, thank Karen for the” Kitchn” site, I will go back there. That’s how I used to test the corn, bite it raw, if its good, then its fresh. And I will try Nan’s baked corn, I would have thought it would dry up and pop in 40 minutes, we don’t cook it that long on the grill, but when its cooler, I will try it. You have such interesting people on your Blog with great idea’s. O.K., I love your stories too….first time I had those little corns on a salad I wasn’t sure how you ate them either, I might of done a Tom Hanks….that’s when I’m glad I don’t remember………
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I thought you might, Sharon, and hope that Karen will come back and see your appreciation. I will be trying Nan’s recipe as well. Nan posts many good recipes. You would like them. We boiled the first batch and grilled the second last night. Bliss. I do have the best readers, don’t I? I learn so much from them – and, of course you. Ha ha! There is much I am also glad I don’t remember.
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Not quite time here yet…I’m drooling. (We ate corn on the cob in Florida, where of course it’s very early, but it’s not quite the same….It’s the waiting until August that makes it taste so much better.) That scene in ‘Big’ is definitely one that can never be forgotten!
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Right about the time we are sated here in the midwest, you will be enjoying corn on the cob there in Oregon, Sallie. I do like to wait here until the local corn comes in, though this year’s drought is posing what may be long lasting problems. Wasn’t that just the best scene? I imagined it being played out by young boys, and young boys at heart, at many a party.
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I love ‘Big” and I love baby corn….you inspire me to dash down to the supermarket, Penny 🙂
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I do hope you had some baby corn, Kate, and maybe, just maybe, ate one ear like Tom Hanks.
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Oh Penny, I had some great corn on the cob the other night, and there’s nothing like it when it is in season. Delicious!! And that scene in “Big” is a classic! Makes me smile thinking about it.
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How right you are, Sunday, especially that very first ear! Bliss. It is one of the funniest scenes of all time, isn’t it? A classic, indeed. Enjoy your weekend – and dreaming of England.
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