Corn
Corn or maize is one of my personal favorite foods. Corn on the cob especially, but also whole or creamed.
When preparing freshly picked corn on the cob you have to remove the husk and those silky strands that run along or inside the kernels. You then, very carefully place them in a pan of rapidly boling water. It should usually only take about 4 minutes boiling time. If you buy the "ears " in a store they will need to be cooked 8 to 12 minutes and if its not really fresh corn cobs you can add just a little pinch or two of sugar in the boiling water to improve the taste. Whichever you do if you overcook the corn it will toughen the kernels and reduces a lot of the flavor in my experience.
Corn on the cob that isn't freshly picked or corn that is going to be eaten by people that can not eat it from the cob can be prepared by cutting the kernels from the cob and cooking it in milk or cream in one metal pan placed into another larger pan of boiling water. That usually takes a little longer , maybe 10 to 15 minutes depending on how tough the corn is.You can even cut the kernels off and chop them slightly. When using fresh corn on the cob for other dishes you should boil the cobs a short time first before cutting the kernels from the cob and using the kernels for other dishes
Some people cook the corn on the cob still in the husk. They say that this makes it taste better or that it somehow cooks more equally and gets a perfect texture. In barbecues or "corn roasts" or any other form of outdoor cooking, campfires etc. the husks are left on there as well.
We always placed corn on the cob in aluminum foil and arranged them carefully around a campfire that has coals but no flame for the complete "roughing it " touch to camping. You simply add lots of butter, salt and pepper !
Corn and corn syrup is used in an amazing amount of food today, as we all know, and I find it an amazing grain but every kid knows that corn on the cob is the best!
