Thursday, July 10, 2014

A Gourmet Southern Meal Ala Beverly

Late June is a great time for veggies in our area as the summer crops are coming in and some late potatoes are still available.  Bev decided to whip us up a meatless (hard for her) meal of corn, beans, potatoes, and tomatoes (the only part from our garden).  The gourmet part is obviously in the eye of the beholder mouth of the eater.

The local pole beans were cooked with smoked bacon, onion, garlic, and spices; the new potatoes were just boiled in water then mashed on the plate with butter; and the cherry tomatoes were halved.  Now for the corn – growing up, sweet corn was boiled in water and slathered with butter, salted and peppered and eaten from the cob, but since I married Bev I’ve discovered fried corn.


The fresh local corn was cut from the cob, then cooked in a skillet with butter and S&P, sometimes until just barely cooked, like this, and sometimes cooked until a little caramelized.  This method preserves all of the flavor that is removed by the boiling process and can be cooked to the same level of doneness as boiled or more if you prefer.

If you’ve seen Bev, you know she is a pretty small person but this is her plate which was all eaten.  My plate looked similar but without the tomatoes and I had seconds on the corn.


The meal was absolutely delicious and if you’ve never cooked corn this way, you are missing a real treat.  Bev used a half stick of butter for five ears of corn but this can be adjusted to your taste and dietary desires – I’m a disciple of Paula Deen so more is better – notice the word margarine was never mentioned in the above.

Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

7/9/14 meal date

21 comments:

  1. Now that looks excellent, gotta try that fried corn.
    Everything is better with butter.

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  2. Looks like a fabulous southern dinner and I for sure am aware that Bev knows her way around a kitchen. Her corn is a must-try.
    Sam

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  3. That really looks fantastic (well except for the tomatoes for me). Fried corn - interesting. I cook our corn on the cob in the microwave and find it is much better than boiling it to death. Still planning on seeing you guys in October.

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  4. I love my veggies and I'd love this yummy plate of veggies for my dinner! I'm happy to hear no margarine was harmed in the making of your meal! LOL! Butter is better! Can't wait to try the corn! Have a great day!

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  5. I love summer and all of the fresh vegetables! I have not prepared corn as you describe....I am going to give it a try!

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  6. I think that plateful of food looks delicious! I'll be giving Bev's way of cooking corn a try ASAP. Easy & tasty.

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  7. Larry, I'd miss my hunk of meat but that fried corn would more than make up for it. It all looks good to me! I've never had fried corn but now I'm inspired! I'll be buying some corn today to give it a try! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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  8. I made "skillet" fried corn a few days ago. It was so sweet - just lovely. I could eat a plate of these beans with sliced onions and tomatoes and be so happy. Very nice dinner indeed!

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  9. How high or low of heat do you use for the corn?

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    Replies
    1. medium - you're not really frying in the normal sense where there is a sizzle, unless you want to caramelize it.

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  10. Right on with the corn! We called it "fried corn" growing up on the farm in Ohio and I still make it. My grandmother cooked it in lard way back when. Your meatless meal looks great, we need to start doing that here once in a while!

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  11. Butter IS best, but I am so frightened of the cholesterol element that I severely restrict it. Really, having cut out eggs the heavy cholesterol removal lifting is done, but after January's scare...

    Anyway, your veggies look wonderful!

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  12. I'm still a meat person --so I'd add some meat and take away one of the veggies (maybe the potatoes). I do LOVE pole beans and would add some Grainger tomatoes (from the Farmer's Market) ---and we still eat our corn ------on the cob!!!!! I like Fried Corn and even fresh creamed corn, but corn-on-the-cob just tastes better to me..... Oh how I love the fresh veggies of summer.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  13. I grew up eating corn cooked both ways, fried and boiled and I like it all. This is about the best time ever to taste the goodness of corn when it comes right from the fields.. I love summer vegetable cooking. Now it Bev was to throw a little bacon in that skillet of fried corn, I'd be right on up in no time flat... take care and have a blessed weekend.

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  14. It's hard for me to plan a meal without meat also. This looks delicious. As soon as we get some fresh Colorado sweet corn available to us, I'm going to use Bev's method. Sounds so buttery wonderful.

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  15. I need to prepare some green beans this way. Do you have a recipe Larry? Also, I never knew this about sweet corn. If this way preserves more of the corn flavor that is lost from the boiling method (that I'm familiar with), than I'm definitely changing my ways with corn!
    Thanks for the advice!
    Roz

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  16. Everything looks delicious, Larry. My mom always boiled corn and that's the way I usually make it, but I'm definitely going to try Bev's way of preparing it. I don't eat meat very often any more so this is right up my alley. Makes me hungry looking at that lovely plate.

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  17. You are so funny, Larry :) It does look delicious and Paula would be proud!

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  18. I could handle that even if it doesn't have any meat in it! The green beans sound just about perfect.

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  19. Add fried okra, cucumbers, and cottage cheese, and you've got my favorite summertime eats! I've loved your summer veggie dinners since you still lived in town, though, so this should come as no surprise.

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