Tip of the Week - Corn on the Cob!

One of the best things about summertime in New Jersey is the bounty of farm grown, sweet white corn!  And once you’ve eaten the delicious white corn that New Jersey is known for, the yellow version simply won’t do!  So now, if you’re wondering where this “Tip” is heading - I’m not sure that this is truly a “Tip” or more of a sharing of my family’s quirky corn eating habits!

My parents, and I in turn, have always served corn on the cob at the end of a meal - almost as a dessert!  The serving also involves specialty corn dishes (a china version at home and a plastic version for use at rented beach houses!) and corn holders.  And here’s the tip feature - my parents have always used a sharp knife to horizontally score each row of kernels (definitely a task for an adult) before adding butter and a healthy dash of salt.  Scoring the kernels with a knife only takes a minute and allows you to eat just the inside of the corn kernels, leaving the hard to digest shell still on the ear!

Late summer days almost demand that we enjoy the seasonal pleasure of corn on the cob.  Give my family’s technique a try and see if you don’t agree that scoring the kernels elevates corn on the cob to a much improved eating experience!

P.S. And for some other new ideas on serving corn on the cob, take a look at New Twists on the Summer Classic!

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• Hot Dogs: A Summer Classic Revisited!
• Savor the Summer
• Cocktails on the Patio
• Backpack Bonanza 

Tags: cooking corn on the cob, serving, scoring, recipe, recipes, corn, corn on the cob, summer, best way to serve, how to cook corn on the cob, easy, tastey

Corn on the Cob - New Twists on the Summer Classic!

In a recent Tip of the Week, Corn on the Cob, I suggested that Busy Bee readers try my family’s crazy technique for eating corn - using a sharp knife to score the kernels horizontally before adding the traditional butter and salt!  The tip was inspired by a big bag of fresh corn that my dad had dropped off at my house and then deciding on how to cook all of those ears prompted the writing of this article!

Cooking and Preparing Corn on the Cob

How do you cook your corn?  For a simple item of produce, there are many options!  Here are three that I’ve tried this summer:

Microwave

Normally, I cook our corn in a single layer in a Pyrex dish covered with plastic wrap for about 2 minutes an ear.

Grilled in the Husks

This recipe called for pulling back the husks, removing the silk, replacing the husks and then soaking in water for 2 to 4 hours.  Before cooking, I peeled the husks back again, dried the ears with a towel and brushed on melted butter before replacing the husks and tying the tops with 100% cotton kitchen string. 

Using a gas grill on medium heat, turning occasionally, the corn was done and tender in about 25 to 30 minutes.  Although this was the most labor intensive method, the result was corn that looked and tasted terrific!

Grilled in Foil

For this version, I shucked the ears, wrapped them individually in foil and grilled them on the upper rack for about 20 to 25 minutes.  This technique produced corn on the cob with a mild grilled taste and is a great choice for serving a crowd by just filling a basket with the ears still in the foil.

Creative Seasonings!

Here are some delicious upgrades to the tried and true butter and salt!

• Mediterranean - hummus blended with olive tapenade and roasted red peppers
• Herb Garden - fresh sage, fresh rosemary and butter
• Fruity - Fruit chutney and melted butter
• Southwest - guacamole and fresh lime juice
• Italian - pesto and grated parmesan cheese
• Mexican - mayonnaise, Mexican cojita cheese, chili powder and a sprinkle of lime juice (this unlikely combination is actually a popular street vended snack in Mexico)
• Moroccan - curry powder, chopped pistachios and melted butter
• Sweet - cinnamon sugar and melted butter
• Spice Cabinet - coarse sea salt, black pepper, cumin seeds, olive oil

Fabulous Serving Dishes

If you’d like to upgrade your serving dises as well as your corn preparation, here are some really terrific options!

Wrapables

This fun website offers two adorable sets of corn dishes!  The “Summer Splash” style features four colorfully striped ironstone dishes and coordinating corn picks!  (Wrapables.com, dishes: item# A59297, $29;95; holders: item# A59259, $29.95)  The “Stars and Stripes” option is patriotically inspired with four red, white and blue ironstone dishes and star trimmed holders! (dishes: item# A59299, $29.95; holders: item# A59300, $29.95)

Williams-Sonoma

Inspired by vintage 1950’s serveware, these corn dishes are hand painted to imitate ears of corn and the matching corn picks are sold with a whimsically shaped holder! (williams-sonoma.com, dishes, $29, picks and holder, $29)

I hope that you’re as excited about these new twists on an old favorite as I am and that you’ll add some pizzazz to this summer classic with these ideas!  Do you have a favorite way of preparing corn?  If so, please share it by leaving a comment below!

You may also enjoy:

• Hot Dog! A Summer Classic Revisited!
• Savor the Summer
• Cocktails on the Patio
• Lunch Box Round Up!

Tags: how to cook corn on the cob, how to prepare corn on the cob, new ways to cook corn on the cob, cooking, serve, serving, prepare, preparing, grilling, microwaving, corn, summer, tastey, delicious, new, interesting

Here’s my “round-up” of the best and most unique backpacks for school from preschoolers to teens!

Backpacks for Preschoolers

Bla Bla

These hand knit animal backpacks are perfect for your preschooler!  Featuring adorable faces in bright colors, you’re sure to find your little one’s favorite animal in backpack form!  Options include:  giraffe, butterfly, frog, pink cat, brown dog, dalmation, koala, tiger and a ladybug!  And really, who can resist something from a company that calls itself BlaBla! (oompa.com, $42.99)

Little Packrats

Designed by a mom of two little boys with bulging pockets, these weather resistant vinyl backpacks feature clever details, fun designs and whimsical colors!  Sized just for kids, one of these 3-D animals will surely fit the bill!  Selections include:  a dinosaur, monkey, horse, cow, pig, lion and dog.  (inventiveparent.com, regularly $39.95, on sale now for $23.97)

Backpacks for Elementary School Age Kids

Prada (!?)

Designed by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, this terribly cute and fabulously stylish backpack features a combination of colorful patches of stripes and polka dots!  A coordinating pencil case is also available.  (littlejetset.com, $54 for the backpack, $12 for the pencil case)

Hurley

Start your guy’s school year with a totally cool backpack!  Hurley, the surf icon, has scaled down its backpacks for the younger set without sparing any of the hip factor!  At ebags, kids can choose from four different styles, including simple black, red/black, orange/multi and blue/green.  (ebags.com, $25)

Backpacks for Preteens and Teens

Vera Bradley

New this season is Vera Bradley’s Messenger Bag, sized just right for toting books!  A stylish alternative to a backpack, this bag is offered in several terrific patterns! Vera Bradley Messenger Bag, $84)

Sea Bags

This choice will appeal to any eco-conscious teen!  Crafted from recycled sails and rope handles, Sea Bags are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, each with their own unique colorful, nautical applique design!  My daughter has carried one of these bags for two school years and it’s holding up fabulously! (seabags.com, approximately $95 to $135 depending upon the size)

Island Surf

This last web resource offers dozens of stylish choices for guys and girls, featuring brands like Quicksilver, Billabong, O’Neill, Hurley, Roxy and Oakley.  If these brands don’t ring a bell, just check with your teenager (or pre-teen) and be prepared to gain a few points on the “parent coolness” scale!  (islandsurf.com, prices ranging from $30 to $50)

Place your orders for backpacks today and cross this one off of the “to do” list!  Your kids will thank you - if not now, on the first day of school!

You may also enjoy:

• Lunch Box Round Up for Kids
• Lunch Box Round Up for Teens
• Host a Fun Camp Rock Party!
• Have a Fabulous First Day of School!

Tags: unique backpacks for school, unique, backpack, backpacks, school, fall, 2008, trendy, fun, fabulous, upscale, shopping, preppy

Look What I Found - Adorable Hair Accessories for Little Girls!

The web shop, Simple Me, has dubbed their line of girls’ hair accessories “hair candy” and that tag couldn’t be more appropriate!  From ornamented bobby pins to headbands and barrettes, each is cuter than the next. 

Simple headbands are adorned with beautiful three dimensional felt flowers, and in one case, a sweet little strawberry!  The hair clips are embellished with felt cuties like an ice cream cone, goldfish in a bowl, pink piggie, cupcake and assorted fruits.  Especially unique are the hair clips that are personalized with your little girl’s name or initial and the birthday version, featuring sprinkles and the birthday number! 

Treat your favorite darling to darling hair candy today! (Simple Me Boutique, $6.95 to $12.95)

You may also enjoy:

• Lunch Box Round Up
• Host a Fun Camp Rock Party
• Fun Birthday Treats for School
• Try a Family Dinner Game

Tags: adorable hair accessories for little girls, girls, kids, hair accessories, barrettes, clips, ornaments, cute, unique, fun

Pink Olive is now offering a surprise free gift with a purchase of $50 or more.   Deal ends July 30th.

Alloy Best of Summer Sale: Up to 25% Off. Sale ends July 30

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