Corn - 2020

Oh my. I really haven't kept up with my blog have I? Over 4 months since my last post?

Of course, 2020 has been a complete and total disaster. Between the plague. The riots. And the circus that politics has become. Not to mention natural disasters - record hurricane season, late season snow (9 May!), early season snow (30 October!) and we even had an earthquake here off the coast of Massachusetts!

And...truth is, I've had not much of anything going on!

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But! I always try to keep track of...corn!

Corn was late this year. Spring was cold and wet. The first native (not local) corn was in the farm stands on 15 July.

This was from Northampton or Deerfield 15 July
It was very good corn actually. I never did try any corn from Connecticuit or New Jersey this year.

The first local corn in the farm stands on 25 July. Yes that's very late.

Local corn, 25 July (Arcadian Farms)
Arcadian Farms had the best of the local corn this year. It really wasn't a good year for corn and none of it was outstanding. The last of the corn was around 7 or 8 October. Yes very early. I was able to snag a few ears after but basically the locals just stopped picking because it wasn't worth the trouble.

Interestingly enough I did discover Charles River Farm near where I live. An honor system farm stand with a fairly wide selection of produce. They had corn regularly but it wasn't their own. They'd buy it every morning from the markets in the city and it usually came....from of all places...Quincy! The corn was always good and I'll be very happy to support them next season. I just love fresh summer produce!

I do rememeber however my very last ear of native corn this year was on 23 October from Calabrese Farms in Southwick, Massachusetts. I was driving by and I swear I thought I was seeing things but there, on a hill behind the farm stand, they still had corn!

Last Corn

Corn was off to rough start this season. Spring was cold and wet and our first local corn was late to appear.

But it turned out to be a good season! I love and I swear I'll have an ear of corn almost every day through the last half of summer. Oh there might be a few ears around for the most part the seasoon is over for 2019.

Last ear. 20 October.
Edited to add: That corn came from Kelly's Farm Stand in Upton, MA.

Of course it's comfort food and soup season! As much as I hate the wintertime soups, stews, squash and roast chickens takes out some of the sting.

Corn - 2019

Behold!

15 July
First "Our Own" corn of the season! This ear came from Dick Kelly's Family Farm in Upton, MA. This was very good. The early corn isn't the best. But of course I'm always excited about fresh local corn. It's late this year. After such a cold wet spring pretty much everything is a week behind.

I haven't been blogging much. I retired almost 2 years ago now. I've never been happier in all my life! But...while I have my (satisfying) routine I really don't do anything interesting. It's nice to have time to keep a clean house but is that anything to blog about?

I fully board L at a farm barely 2 miles away. We don't train anymore. Well. Of course it's all training all the time and I try to make sure she knows she's the horse. But we don't vigorously train and we don't compete anymore. Mostly we just do ground work and pony ride. Fully boarding her was a huge adjustment!

With more time on my hands I'm trying to do an occasional road trip. Tour old favorites and discover some new places.

I'm thrilled with retirement although it's sad in a way. There was a time I thought what I did was just the greatest thing in the world. And then...I think it was along about the time 50 hour work weeks became expected of professionals I started becoming unhappy. Then when being connected 24/7 became normal, conference calls at 11:00 at night and reading email in bed got brushed off as nothing I'd had enough.

You know, it wasn't supposed to be like this. Back in the 1960s we well and truly believed technology would make us so productive full time jobs would be 30 hour work weeks. That our greatest challenge would be fulfilling our free time with recreational pursuits. Of course we also thought cars would fly by now. And electricity would be free. And nobody would go hungry.

I'm very happy I'm not a young professional trying to build a career today! I haven't missed my work for not even a single minute!

Last ear!

I always track my first and last ears of corn. I love corn and I'll eat corn almost every day during the local corn season.

Saturday 13 October 2018
Actually, that was my last ear. The very last of the season was the next day. So. Next 4th of July you can bet I'll be counting the days!

Corn 2018

Corn is a little late this year. The first of the local corn appeared at Jane and Paul's Farm in Norfolk Massachusetts (as usual). I learned last year to go in and look rather than wait for their corn sign. They have corn but their sign isn't out yet!

14 July. Delicious fresh corn!
As in years past, out of desperation, I had tried some corn several weeks ago. Usually our corn around the 4th of July is from New Jersey and..it's universally...awful. This year I got some corn from Virginia which...actually, wasn't bad.

Corn! 2017

Of course I didn't forget corn this year.  I just *love* fresh corn.  I'll have an ear of corn at least 5 days a week during corn season.

My first ear this season:

16 July
Actually the first local corn this year was 14 July. A few days later than usual. Oh I was paying attention but the farm stand signs were late going up.

And..my last ear this season:

17 October
Last season's corn was a little better. I'd had a few ears last year so fresh and sweet I didn't even bother cooking them.
Jane and Paul's Farm in Norfolk, MA had the first corn of the season. It was reliably good. Tangerini's Farm in Millis was a reliable source of excellent corn. And Wenger's Farm in Bellingham might have had the very best this year.

And the surprise of the season?

Saturn peach
I'd seen Saturn peaches at the supermarket on occasion for some years now but they're always hard as rocks. This year Jane and Paul's Farm had their own Saturn peaches so I tried one. I was instantly hooked! They were actually a little sweet for my liking, sweeter than a peach. But there's some other kind of flavor thing going on there I can't quite pin down. And I like their size. I don't have the appetite I used to!

Still here!

For the longest time I just didn't have anything to say. And then, when I had something to say I was too busy to say it!

I always keep track of the first and last corn of the season.

12 October 2015 - last of the season
I *love* fresh local corn and I swear I'll have an ear every day.

And I like to keep track of the fall colors. 2015 was a dry year. I think our local rainfall was somewhere around 8 inches below normal..and the fall colors were just *brilliant*. One of the best seasons in recent memory.

11 October 2015
December was mild. Very mild. Warmest greater Boston December on record. It was 70° on Christmas day! So far no real ice to speak of and only one storm with some light snow. The first cold air of the season is forecast for tomorrow...

Corn 2015!

The first local corn of the season is in!

18 July 2015
That's from Cooks Farm in Wrentham, MA. You can see that's fresh local corn. Look at the tassel!

It's definitely the early corn.

Bicolor Corn
It's a well developed ear with plump enough kernels but it's still not too flavorful. I like to microwave my corn 1 minute for each ear...but my microwave is broken! I can't be bothered to fix it because, frankly, I hardly ever use it. So I steam my corn in an inch of water for ...oh, a minute and a half to two minutes. That's it.

I was very surprised this year. I got desperate and bought an ear of corn from the supermarket. I'm not sure but I think it was New Jersey corn. And while just a *tiny* bit starchy it was actually quite good. I understand there's hybridized corn today whose sugar converts to starch very slowly.

I've had all kinds of time to blog but..well, I just haven't had anything interesting to say. Of course I always log the first and last of the season's corn. Nothing says "summer" to me more than corn and watermelon.

There are some notable other signs of summer around.

Tomato Plate
The field ripened tomatoes aren't in yet but the greenhouse tomatoes from the farm stands have been just delicious! I like slices or wedges on a plate, with chopped fresh basil and onions. I usually like red onions with this. Sometimes I use yellow. With the *tiniest* splash of red wine vinegar it's just, well, that's summer on a plate! Sometimes I sprinkle just a little bit of Parmesan cheese over that. And sometimes I use balsamic vinegar. And sometimes I just use a nice olive oil. You get the idea.

And of course it's bath season!

This is my G and she *desperately* needed a bath!

Corn 2014

Corn's in!

The corn is late this year after the cold wet spring. I had an ear of corn Friday from Hadley. I had heard the Hadley corn was pretty good and ..it was ..ok. Not great. Not bad. The corn from Hadley and Deerfield usually comes in a week or so ahead of the nearby corn.

But yesterday I had my very first ear of native (local) corn.

Saturday 19 July
This corn is from Hanson Farm not far from here. It's good but clearly it's early in the season. I love everything about the summertime. Of course I know all about greenheads but nothing says summertime like corn and watermelon. And clams. And lobsters. And sangria. I could go on. And on.

My first (and last) ear of corn are notable days in my year. Since the season started late I wonder if it will end late? I never noticed before. I'll have to notice this year.

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Look what we found yesterday!

Out in the middle of nowhere. A passing bird must have dropped some sunflower seeds. This is a *huge* sunflower ...bush. It's going to have dozens of sunflowers on it. It was a really pleasant find.

A sunflower bush. Out in the middle of nowhere!

Corn Watch!

The first of the season's local native corn is in!

13 July. Better than Christmas!
I *love* corn. I admit it. I'm a corn snob. There's *nothing* like fresh corn. Every year I start watching for the local corn about a week or so after the 4th of July. This corn is from Rehoboth. It's just *outstanding*. I got it at a place I don't usually buy corn because they're dependably too expensive. Seventy five cents an ear. But in this case it was worth it. Best corn I've had in ages.

Crazy for Corn

Fresh corn on the cob is one of my most favorite things in the world. This time of year I'll eat fresh corn almost every single day.

Straight up. No butter. No salt.
There's a lot of discussion on how to best prepare fresh corn. I know people that have their water on the stove before they even pick their corn.

My favorite preparation is roasted. In a 350 degree oven, whole and intact, for 30 or 40 minutes. But I don't always have 30 or 40 minutes to fix corn. I like grilled corn too but I'm not going start up a grill for an ear of corn. So I often steam my fresh corn. A shucked ear in an inch of rapidly boiling water for about a minute and a half.

I recently read some comments over on the Chow discussion board recommending microwaving corn. I don't cook with a microwave much. But some of the glowing comments compelled me to try it.

Microwave a whole unhusked ear of corn for two or three minutes.

Awesome! Excellent corn. I might have a new favorite way of fixing my fresh corn.

Local Corn!

I had some corn from Deerfield, Massachusetts a couple of weeks ago. It was good. It was "local". Well, more local than Georgia.

*This*, however, is the real thing!

From just down the street. 14 July
I thought for sure the local corn would be early this year. Everything has been growing like crazy! But as it turns out, yesterday was just about right. Last season's local corn came in a year ago next week. So I lived to see another year's fresh local corn!

Last year I took a liking to these.

Bourbon Rickey
An instant favorite!

Squeeze a half a lime into a tall ice cube filled glass, drop in what's left of the lime, add a shot of your favorite bourbon and top it all off with sparkling water (club soda). So good!

It turns out this is a short season for the local blueberries. This will be the last weekend for picking blueberries at most places.

Blueberries
Hands down my single most favorite thing in the whole world. From the time I was a little kid.

Blueberry pie
Not pretty. I know. But it's pie. Pie is awesome. It's a Pillsbury pie crust. I should really learn to make pie crust some one of these days. Pillsbury pie crust has trans fat. It's not "reportable" but it has partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in its list of ingredients.

The filling:

• Blueberries. 4 cups.
• Tapioca starch. 2 tablespoons.
• Lemon juice. A few drops.
• Cinnamon. A generous pinch.
• Honey. 2 tablespoons.

Gently mix the ingredients together. Line a pie plate with pie crust, fill it with the blueberry mixture, dot with some butter (I don't use a lot, maybe 1 tablespoon), cover with another pie crust, crimp the edge and cut some vent slots in the top.

Put the pie in a preheated 450 degree oven. After 10 minutes turn the oven down to 350 and it should be done in another 40 minutes or so.

Fall 2011

Picking my picture of Fall 2011 is challenging this year. Mostly because Fall was...bland. I don't really have one single picture that I think says..."Fall" from 2011.

This is a favorite from the season. And it says "Fall" to me. That's a closeup of L's neck and shoulder from the front with her rhythm bead necklace. It's the color of the light and her winter coat that make it "Fall". I just love her winter coat! I can practically smell her when I look at this picture.

5 November 2011
Of course I have to include this, at least as a "most memorable moment" from Fall 2011. The (big) snow storm in October.

30 October 2011, 8:12 am
With any luck that will also be the last snow of the season! Actually, the snow I don't mind so much. It's the cold I hate!

There are other things that always say "Fall" to me.

Kitty starts sitting in the sun.

It's bourbon cider season!

I like this on ice
Even though you can get this in August and September it really is meant for celebrating the harvest season and always means Fall to me.

The Origin of Oktoberfest style beer is an interesting story
And of course with much sadness, I have my last ear of corn for the year...

The last ear of 2011 corn. 10 October

Not hounds

These are not hounds.

These. Are dogs.
I was so very proud of L!

The entire weekend was just insanely beautiful for this time of year. The weather is usually quite nice over the Columbus Day holiday here in New England but not this nice.

Sunday 9 October 4:15 pm
It was dry and pleasant and there wasn't even a wisp of a cloud as far as you could see in every direction.

L has had issues with dogs as far back as I can remember. She tries to stomp them. Pictured there above are a couple of our barn dogs and she's ok with them in the barn. Even that took years and if they're out of their crates sniffing around while she's on cross ties things can still get a little dicey.

A year or so ago a neighbor was out running his dog loose in the field while we were riding. He and L faced off at about 30 yards. The dog not the neighbor. And I'm thinking oh crap. I'm really sorry but if he comes charging down here barking L's going to kill him. They stared at each other for what must have been 2 or 3 minutes. I don't know what she said to him but he got all timid and put his tail between his legs and (thankfully!) ran back to his master.

So I was quite thrilled to be out there with the dogs. Her first time ever outside the barn with dogs. And the big black one there. The Gordon. She's not particularly bright and she got in around L's feet there a little bit. L was very careful not to hurt her.

And when we all got some momentum going I look alongside and that little Jack Russell was proudly heeling her.

A good time on a beautiful day and a great exercise for L.

And it looks like Monday, the 10th, was the last of the corn this season. This was a really good ear of corn for this time of year.

Corn Fed

It was a couple weeks ago the first ears of local corn appeared at the farm stands.

17 July
This time of year I'll eat corn just about every day until it's gone. I'm crazy for fresh corn. A summer treat that never gets tired. Here. Look at this.

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Buy Fresh. Buy Local.
Almost every community has a Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign of some sort. Find your nearest one and support your local farmer!

Tangerini's Farm 30 July
I call these "tomato towers" because I stack slices of tomato and onion with some herbs between each layer.

Field Fresh
Everything on the plate, except for the vinegar, is fresh from the field. Perfect with a glass of Chianti or Merlot.

Sometimes I use red onion, sometimes yellow. Sometimes I have cheese with it. Grated fresh Parmesan or maybe crumbled goat cheese. With a little splash of vinegar. Try it with a beefsteak tomato. Try it with an heirloom tomato.

Sometimes I leave the stack intact and scatter some sliced cherry tomatoes around the plate. Other times I make a criss cross cut with a sharp knife and just let it all collapse.

One can enjoy this who knows how many different ways.

Saturday. Sunny. Hot. Dry. Breezy. The most perfect summer day.

Noteworthy days

The local corn is in!

15 July. Roasted.
Like the first snow and the first daisies, the first local corn is one of the ways we mark the passage of time around here. At least I do anyway. The first ears showed up in the farmer's markets a week ago yesterday.

As much as I hate the wintertime, and I *really* hate the wintertime, the other 3 seasons here in New England are usually quite nice. When the local produce comes in there is no place I'd rather be.

And I confess...I...am a ... corn snob. If it was picked more than 3 or 4 hours ago I'll wait for something fresher.

I like to either roast or steam fresh picked corn. To roast corn I pre heat the oven to 350 and just put the whole ears in for about 30 minutes. To steam corn I get about an inch and a half of water going at a rolling boil and I put the clean ears in for 3 minutes.

Remember this? Watching the seasons change never gets old here.

25 June
It's hard to believe this weekend marks mid summer. Another day or two and we'll be closer to the end of summer than the beginning.

Product review!

OMG These are awesome.