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How to Prepare Corn For Freezing

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It’s the start of the sweet corn season and I really need to make room in my freezer. Our first batch was 18 dozen ears. I’ve been putting up sweet corn ever since I was little and shucked corn in the garage with my Mom.  It’s easy, shuck, brush off the silk with a handy little brush, rinse and put in bags.

I’ve heard that some people boil, cook, blanch, add sugar, salt etc. But there really isn’t a need for the extra work. Even nine months later corn on the cob taste just like it was picked out of the field.

Sweet Corn
Sweet Corn

It doesn’t take long before my freezer is too full and I have to start cutting corn kernel off the cob and bagging loose corn. I use a bundt pan, put the ear in the middle and it falls right in the bowl. Easy and fast, although with an electric knife it would be even faster.

For those who are scared of knives, or would like the kids to help shuck and strip corn there are safer tools than a big ‘ole honking knife.

Easy Corn Cutter Stainless Steel Cob Peelerzjskin New Peeler Thresher Tool Kitchen Cob Kerneler Cutter Stripper RemoverFantastic Job – Car Shape Corn Stripper with a Little StorehouseCorn Cutter Tool- EZ Creamer and Corn Sheller

But it’s Not nearly as fast as using a power drill McGyver style like below. Since I’m a little intimidated by power tools, I think I’ll stick to my method. But if you have a motivated man in the house this might be a way to get him to help out with the canning.

I rinse the kernels afterwards and let any silk and small pieces float to the top. My daughter loves to eat the pieces of sweet corn that stick together in chunks raw, very tasty and it’s tempting.

Sweet Corn
Sweet corn kernels ready for bagging

Now I have sweet corn in the freezer all winter and corn on the cob to enjoy all year round, just pass the butter, salt and pepper. We were lucky this year and a local farmer told us to just go on over to his sweet corn patch and take all we wanted. He had about an acre planted and shares it with family and friends.

I have a small chest freezer full of corn and I should buy stock in Ziplock bags.

Midea WHS-129C1 Single Door Chest Freezer, 3.5 Cubic Feet, WhiteZiploc Freezer Bag, Quart Value Pack, 40-Count(Pack of 3)

Since we love corn in our house it will definitely save on the grocery bill this year. Between my green beans from the garden and corn we will be pretty well set.

Sweet Corn bagged and ready for the freezer
Sweet Corn bagged and ready for the freezer

What is your favorite memory of summer? Do you have a favorite food to eat during the summer?

More About Sweet Corn

Iowa Icon: Sweet Corn | whotv.com

“There’s nothing like having that first cob of sweet corn to tell you that summer’s really here,” says Ray Kruse, a sweet corn farmer and one of Nair’s graduate students. No one would be surprised to hear that we love our corn.

Gourmet Galley: Get creative with versatile, sweet corn this summer

No matter our age, I think we all have a love for fresh corn. For years, I only knew of boiled corn slathered with butter, fresh corn soup or maque choux, or maybe I should say those were my favorite corn dishes. I also remember that all of them cooked …

Aw, Shucks. Who Knew Cooking Michigan-Grown Sweet Corn Could Be This …

What’s your favorite way to prepare fresh, Michigan-grown sweet corn? Comments + Leave a Comment. Debra Christy, Allied ASID July 22, 2014 at 01:08 PM. peel down the husk, remove e silk, butter and salt/pepper the corn, pull the husk back up around the …

 

Homemade Sweet Pickles

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Our cucumber crop tends to be pretty amazing and after I’ve had my fill of cucumber sandwiches I turn making homemade pickles.  For the first time I tried refrigerator pickles instead of canned. I’ve always avoided refrigerator pickles due to the lack of refrigerator space. But, we’re eating them so fast it doesn’t make a difference.

Homemade sweet pickles

Even my daughter who only likes dill pickles likes these. She said they are sweet, but different.

The recipe is very easy and fast.

Ball Pickle Crisp 5.5 oz. JarSpicely Organic Pickling Seasoning – CompactTwang Pickle Salt, 1.15-Ounce Shakers (Pack of 20)

Homemade Sweet Pickles

Ingredients

  • Sliced cucumbers (about 4 large)
  • Sliced sweet peppers
  • Sliced onion
  • 2 cups vinegar
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 TBSP salt
  • Ground Garlic and pepper seasoning. (to taste about 1 TBSP)

Directions

  1. Pack cucumbers, peppers and onions tightly  into jars. Mix all ingredients into saucepan and bring to a boil until sugar dissolves and liquid is clear (about 10 min)
  2. Pour into packed jars, seal and store in refrigerator.
  3. Let soak for 24 hours before eating to let the vinegar and flavors combine.
  4. Store up to three months (but they won’t last that long)

You can easily make hamburger relish by using a handy chopper and processing the finished pickles into cucumber relish for macaroni salad, burgers or hot dogs.

Canning Supplies

I have purchased my canning supplies a little bit over the years and love my canning funnel and lid magnet. Seriously, the right tools make the job faster and easier. My Mom made jelly, canned tomatoes, and put corn and strawberries in the freezer.

Ball Mason Jars Wide-Mouth Can or Freeze – 16 oz 12pkTattler Reusable Wide Mouth Canning Lids & Rubber Rings – 12/pkgOrchard Road Regular Mason Jar Canning Lids, Full Case! 360 Lids (30 dozen), (Lids Only; No Rings), BPA FREE!Norpro 605 Canning Lid RackJarden Home Brands Ball Secure Grip Hot Jar Handle (Discontinued by Manufacturer)Back to Basics 400A 7-Quart Aluminum Home Steam Canner

I guess I have continued the tradition and during the summer my big canning pots and supplies pretty much stay out on the cabinets all week for a quick batch of pickles, jelly, or jam.

 

More Homemade Pickle Recipes

It’s time to make the pickles … or jelly … or …

The enhanced flavor of potato salad, chicken or tuna salad sandwiches and other dishes from using homemade pickles and juice is undeniable. And, there’s nothing like opening a steaming hot biscuit and dousing it with a spoonful of fresh, preservative …

Pack pickled peppers and other fun foods for your picnic

The other thing, she noted, is fresh homemade pickles. “You get some fresh pickling cucumbers, throw them in a jar with water, salt, pickling spice, garlic and dill,” she said. “Give them at least three days in the refrigerator and they’re just fresh …

Easy Homemade Dill Pickles – Heavenly Homemakers

Filed Under: Canning and Preserving, Recipes, Side Dishes and Snacks Tagged With: canning, dill pickles, easy pickle recipe, homemade pickles, preserving. Hi! I’m Laura and it is so nice to have you here. Really. You have …

Ridiculously Easy Homemade Dill Pickles | Organic Health

This recipe only takes about fifteen minutes to complete and will leave you with the best homemade pickles in town. They also contain probiotics that help produce better digestion and strengthens our immune systems!

Homemade Pickles | A Fat Girl’s Food Guide to Eating in …

Until recently the joy of a good pickled cucumber eluded me. I just never quite understood their allure until I went to New York and had the cream of the crop pickle wise at the famed Katz Deli, and I’ve not looked back since.

Homemade Pickles – Instructables

This instructable will teach you how to make homemade pickles using cucumbers, mason jars, brine, and any extra flavorings. The whole process requires about 6 steps. 1. Purchasing Supplies. 2. Sterilizing Equipment. 3. Making the brine. 4.

 

Chinese Anyone?

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Homemade Chinese Food
Chinese Anyone?

My version of  “Happy Family” Chinese at home. We were running short on rice I used spaghetti noodles for chow mein. Very easy recipe and fun at the same time. The chopsticks pictures are my favorite and it’s a requirement that I eat as much as I can with chopsticks before resorting to a fork.

I find eating with chopsticks people slow down, and I enjoy my food a whole lot more. besides, it’s fun!

Ingredients

  • Shrimp
  • Sliced chicken breast
  • Beef (or venison, I still had some from last winter)
  • Powdered Ginger
  • Garlic Powder
  • Cracked Peppercorns
  • Sea Salt
  • Sliced onion
  • Mushrooms
  • 2 TSP Sesame Oil (remember I don’t measure, I just add)
  • 2 TBSP Wok Oil
  • Sweet peppers (green, yellow and orange for color)
  • 2 TSP Soy Sauce
  • 1/4 Cup Dorothy Lynch Salad Dressing (French dressing will work too)
  •  1 TBSP Cornstarch

Wow, I guess that’s a lot of ingredients. As far as vegetables you can use anything you have handy, broccoli, slivered carrots. REMEMBER: Measurements are not important, you add to your taste and desire.

Directions

  1. Season meats with spices and toss to coat
  2. Prepare rice ahead of time according to directions.
  3. Heat a combination of above oils in wok on high
  4. Add chopped or sliced onions and cook until clear
  5. Add chicken and beef (in my case venison)
  6. Cook and stir on high until cooked through
  7. Push ingredients to the side of the wok away from the center and direct heat
  8. Add vegetables and shrimp on top of the cooked meat on the side
  9. There should be some liquid in the bottom of the wok, add soy sauce and  salad dressing. Then add water  until total liquid amount is approximately 3/4 cup.
  10. Cover with lid and let liquid boil and steam cook the vegetables.
  11. Mix a tablespoon (or so) of cornstarch with 1/4 cup water until creamy
  12. When vegetables are tender pour cornstarch mixture into the liquid and stir. Liquid should thicken slightly.
  13. Quickly stir the liquid and all ingredients until coated in the sauce.

Eat and Enjoy!

Fresh Garden Broccoli

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I never knew that broccoli fresh from the garden could taste so good. This was our first garden together, and it’s pretty successful. So far we’ve harvested radishes, lettuce, potatoes, cucumbers, a few beans and zucchini. Our most successful has been the broccoli, didn’t know the plants got so big, but well worth the space.

First Year Vegetable Garden

 

There is no comparison when it comes to fresh broccoli, forget what you have eaten in the past. Not only is this vegetable healthy, but it is delicious when it’s cooked properly.

Broccoli: The Ultimate Recipe Guide – Over 30 Healthy & Delicious RecipesTop 50 Most Delicious Broccoli Recipes (Superfood Recipes Book 10)The farmers market cookbook: From broccoli to zucchini recipes to make you fall in love with vegetables

Broccoli in the Vegetable Garden
Broccoli in the Vegetable Garden

The heads were huge, the size of dinner plates. From what I understand when you harvest the center bunch the secondary cluster will still produce. I hope so, four out of five of us love broccoli. Warning though, if the plant gets too mature the resulting clusters will taste bitter. Blah!! That is a reason why people DON’T like broccoli

Cleaning and prepping fresh broccoli
Cleaning and prepping fresh broccoli

My Mother-in-law suggested I soak the heads in salt water to clean out any bugs. However, we didn’t have any problems with bugs, not one floated to the top. An added benefit to soaking is the increased flavor.

Fresh cooked broccoli
Fresh cooked broccoli

I steam my broccoli, el dente, to a bright green still a little crisp, but making the florets nice and tender. Put a pat of butter and cracked pepper on top. It’s literally a fight to the last spoonful.

How to Get Kids to Eat Broccoli

Broccoli is a favorite food to hate and I can see why.

When I was little I only ate the stems, my Dad would eat the tops for me, they were too “mushy”, that’s because my Mom overcooked everything. There are ways to teach your kids to eat more vegetables, the first step is to NOT overcook them. Not only are the nutrients leached out, but so is the flavor.

Monsters Don’t Eat BroccoliWho Wants Broccoli?The Boy Who Loved BroccoliBroccoli Makes You Fart

Top veggies with butter, drizzle melted cheese on broccoli or cauliflower, coat in butter with salt and pepper and broil, put it on a pizza, start toddlers off with raw broccoli and use dips for added flavor.

Delicious Broccoli Recipes

Learn to Make Garlic Broccoli

Among all the green vegetables available on the Chinese market, broccoli might be the most accessible. It’s also one of the most familiar for foreigners, making broccoli-based dishes a welcome option for pickier diners. Prep Time: 5 mins. Cook Time: 10 …

10 Best Broccoli Recipes

10 Best Broccoli Recipes Grilled, baked or roasted, it’s usually parked on the side of all your restaurant dishes. Dark green in colour with crisp and sturdy florets, broccoli is one of the most nutritious vegetables and also, rather exotic. President …

5 Ways Cheese Is Broccoli’s Best Friend

Broccoli and Cheddar-Stuffed Potato Skins If you’re asking me, broccoli and cheese go together just like peanut butter and jelly or milk and cookies. When creamy melted cheese, particularly cheddar, crosses with the green vegetable, a little magic happens.

These Aren’t Your Mother’s Broccoli Recipes

Broccoli has a bad reputation, and it’s somewhat deserved. Stalks resemble limp and tasteless trees, and they’re forced upon us so much throughout childhood that many of us banish them from our adult lives altogether. It’s totally understandable. But …

Sarah’s Superfoods: Broccoli recipes | Sarah Raven

Try Sarah’s delicious Smoked Mackerel, Broccoli and Almond Salad, or the tasty Broccoli and Cauliflower Falafel Fritters with Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce.

Broccoli recipes to reduce your blood pressure – Hello Heart

Broccoli is high in compounds that help relax blood vessels and reduce damage to arteries. Check out these great broccoli recipes to help reduce blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.

10 Family-Friendly Broccoli Recipes | Real Simple

You’ll have no trouble getting the kids to eat their vegetables with these delicious dishes.

10 Kid-Friendly Broccoli Recipes Worth Drooling Over …

Packed with fiber and natural goodness, here are 10 broccoli dishes to try.

Grilled Kabobs, Food on a Stick

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Last week I got tired of the same old thing, grilled pork chops, chicken breast. I wanted something fun and different.  Shish Kabobs sounded fun, I even bought permanent metal skewers instead of the thin bamboo that burn and break in half. This means I have to fix Kabobs again, darn. (read sarcasm here)

What is it about food on a stick that is so tasty? Maybe it’s the lack of utensils, the youthful feeling you get just like when you sucked down a Popsicle sitting on the back step. Think about it corn dogs, Popsicles, and all kinds of state fair food are found on a stick. I’ll get to that on a later post.

Shish Kabobs on the Grill
Shish Kabobs on the Grill

Not really a recipe here.  It’s pretty much personal preference. I used chicken , pineapple, sweet peppers, mushrooms and pieces of corn on the cob.  After seasoning everything with a Garlic Rosemary mix I lathered it with a sweet Chinese sauce made from a mix of Dorothy Lynch (french) dressing, poppy seed dressing, soy sauce and ginger.

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