Cook Simply in the Summer

By Lori Powell

Summer is one of those seasons where it’s easy to cook for just one or two. For one thing, you have the most amazing vegetables, fruits and herbs at this time of year. When you have the best the season has to offer, cooking simply is really all that is required!

It’s the season of the corn on the cob. There are so many ways to prepare it but the cardinal rule is just keep it simple. See the photo below for a quick and easy way to get those crunchy kernels off the cob.

To purchase, find the closest local farm or farmers’ market and look for the Silver Queen (white corn) or Butter and Sugar (bi-color) varieties if they have them in your area.

For best results, cook corn the same day you buy it, since the sugars in corn turn to starch once the corn is Corn shuckpicked. Actually, really good organic corn, when bought freshly picked, really just needs a rinse and you can chomp it off the cob raw. It’s juicy and sweet when it’s super-duper fresh.

Here is just one quick way to enjoy the height of the corn harvest.

To get the recipe and shopping list on your smartphone (iPhone, BlackBerry, Android device) or PC, click here.

Enlightened Creamed Corn
Makes 3 cups

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
6 ears organic corn, husked and kernels removed
½ cup half and half
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons torn chervil or basil
Corn stemmedSea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Melt butter with oil in a large cast iron or regular skillet over moderate heat. Cook shallot, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute; do not brown garlic.

Add corn and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add half and half and simmer 2 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and stir in herbs. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Note: Buy organic corn. Rinse corn well after shucking and removing silk, before cooking.

What to do with leftovers:

• Toss with cooked pastaCorn kernels
• Top cooked fish
• Add to salad
• Puree with more butter to spread on toasts
• Top soup
• Add to salsa

So many more ideas and not enough time!

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