Celebrating Fresh Corn

I have never had a summer pass by that I've not heard the words, "I am putting up corn this week". Fresh corn is a real treasure.  My family always loved a tender, sweet variety known as "Silver Queen".  Mama would send us to pick it, shuck it, silk it and bring it in the house.  She would freeze it to use in soup, or stew in winter.  During summer, she cut the kernels off the ear and made corn pudding, or boiled it or fried it up.  We loved it all!  

I saw an All Recipes recipe last week, for grilled bacon wrapped corn.  My husband was ready to try that one out immediately.  We tweaked it a bit and it turned out very nicely.  I can say that because he and our granddaughter, who love corn, loved it!

Bacon Wrapped Corn

Preheat outdoor grill (ours is about 350 degrees F)

Ingredients

4 Ears shucked and silked corn (whatever variety you love)

4-8 Slices bacon ( I used a lean center cut)

4 12x8in. sheets of aluminum foil.

*You can add seasoning such as salt and pepper, but I didn't.

1.  Wrap each ear with 1 to 2 slices of bacon, depending on the size of the ear of corn. You may even need three slices!

2.  Wrap the bacon wrapped corn in aluminum foil, twisting the ends tightly to seal.

3.  Place on the heated grill and cook for about 10 minutes on each side.

4.  Turn the grill down to low and grill the corn for 25-30 minutes more.  Bacon should be done and corn should be tender!  Enjoy!

**If you are grilling large ears, you may need to cook on low for up to 45 mins.  

Turning the Fear Into Healthy Respect

I love to garden.  It doesn't matter whether it's vegetables or flowers, I love growing things.  It satisfies the nurturer in me. This summer has been particularly challenging for me because I have had two big surgeries that have kept me from doing a lot of the activities I enjoy.  However, I am slowly getting back to doing activities I love.

Gardening reminds me of God's miraculous handiwork in the beautiful colors and scents of the different plants.  Having said that, let me clarify one thing.  I am not a master gardener.  There is a plant I have deliberately shied away from, for fear of killing it almost instantaneously!  The orchid, any variety, is very beautiful, with some having a wonderful fragrance.  Their care has always frightened me.  I received an orchid years ago, for a birthday gift.  This was before I read gardening books, the internet, classes, etc...  It succumbed within two weeks.  I swore off of them, then and there!  I have only admired them from afar until I came home from the hospital a couple of months ago.  Let me say, I have the best neighbors, I really do.  When my sweet neighbor brought me not one, but two of her orchids, from her collection, I was honored!  I almost had a panic attack as well.  She gently explained that there is no mysterious secret to growing and maintaining beautiful orchids.  They have their own set of needs (planting mix and food), just as, say,  roses or african violets do.  Now that I have some basic information on the care and feeding of such beauty, I feel less intimidated at the aspect of keeping it alive, much less blooming.  It also helps to start out with easy varieties of orchids to care for.

I am very blessed to be on the mend, for the people in my life, to be able to learn something new every day and to enjoy God's gifts in all their forms.


Links to orchid info and care: http://www.aboutorchids.com/care/index.html;
http://www.beautifulorchids.com/home.html