Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup

My mom makes the best soup.  Seriously, she should go into business selling it- everyone would go crazy over it!  There isn't a soup that comes out of my mom's kitchen that isn't amazing.  Her Vegetable Beef Soup is a huge family favorite.  Super simple to make, but jam-packed full of flavor, it is comfort food at it's best.  This one is nice and hearty due to the large chunks of beef and loads of veggies.  My mom always serves the large chunks of meat on the side, giving you the option of putting some in the soup and the other enjoying with good mustard, making it a satisfying dinner with just a hunk of butter bread.

With the ridiculous Polar Vortex we have been experiencing here in the Midwest, this is exactly the kind of food you want to be eating.  Put the pot on the stove in the afternoon and just let it simmer away throughout the day.  By dinner it will fill your home with the most wonderful smells and make your kids and husbands asking for dinner the moment they walk in the door from work and school.  if you are unable to stay home to keep an eye on your pot of soup, a crock pot on low for the day works just as nicely.  A nice hot bowl of soup says "I Love You" in the most snuggly, delicious way.

Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup

2 32-oz Beef Stock (or 32-oz beef stock AND 2 tablespoons of beef bouillon dissolved into 4 cups of water)
1 beef chuck roast (1.5-2 lb) excess fat removed and cut into very large chunks
1 bay leaf
1 large onion, chopped
3 carrots, peeled and sliced into coins
3 stalks of celery, chopped
3 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 1 cup)
1 cup corn (frozen or canned is fine)
(you may add any other veggies you like or have on hand, green beans, peas, cabbage, tomatoes...)
ketchup
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

In a large stock pot combine the beef, stock, chopped onion and bay leaf and allow to simmer over medium high heat for 45 minutes. Add the rest of your veggies, and a good sized squirt of ketchup- I know crazy ingredient! But it rounds out the flavor of the soup perfectly.  You can also use 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, but trust me, ketchup is the secret ingredient!  Allow to simmer for at least an hour, stirring occasionally. 

Taste and season accordingly with salt, pepper and additional ketchup if desired.  The longer the soup simmers the more it will thicken.  I prefer a heartier soup, almost like a stew, making it a bit easer for my children to eat by themselves.   But if it reduces a little too much for your liking or if you prefer a thinner soup, add a bit more water until you get the desired consistency.

Serve the meat alongside the soup with a good mustard for dipping.  One of my boys likes his meat all on the side with loads of mustard and ketchup.  My other son likes his meat totally in his soup.  My husband and I like some in and some out!  Enjoy with crusty bread slathered in butter. 

My New Day Cleveland Video with the recipe for Tortellini Soup!

What a rush! Those (almost!) 7 minutes go by so, so fast! LOL.  But today was fun, fun, fun and I am so thrilled I have been blessed with this opportunity to work with such a wonderful group of people.  I have decided that I could truly get used to this life (grin).

This video was made for me by New Day Cleveland website. Thank you!

And here is the recipe for my delicious Tortellini Soup from the show.  You will love it, I promise!

Tortellini Soup

3 cups beef stock (chicken or vegetable may be substituted, but the beef gives a nice rich flavor)
3 cups water
1 ear corn, kernals cut off and “corn milk” scrapped*
1 medium zucchini, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

*Quick tip to Easily cut corn off the cobb- A bundt pan is the best bowl for this job! It has a handy hole to hold the corn steady and then the bowl for all the kernels to fall into. Gotta love dual purpose items!

Turn your bundt pan right side up, place the cleaned corn cob upright with the tip of corn resting in the hole of the pan. Slowly slide the knife down the sides of the corn, cutting off a section at a time. Once all the corn is removed, turn your knife around so the flat side is facing the cob.

Repeat the process, scraping down on the cob collecting all the sweet corn milk in the bowl. This is special stuff, you definitely don’t want to just throw it away! It is sweet, juicy and will give a great added flavor to the soup.

Directions for the soup:
In a large stock pot over medium heat, add one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and sauté onion and zucchini until tender and beginning to caramelize. Add remaining ingredients and simmer until vegetables are tender. Add tortellini’s and simmer 7-8 minutes or until they are fully cooked and floating to the top. Serve with nice crusty butter bread.

The original link to this recipe is here.

Creamy Salsa Chicken in the Slow Cooker

Hi friends!  Here is another great crock pot recipe to add to your weekly rotation.  It is awesomely delicious and, just what makes crock pot recipes so popular, it comes together in under 10 minutes.  It will make your kids crazy happy to eat dinner and if you serve it at a party, I can guarantee it a huge hit.   What I love most about it is how versatile it is.   We love it tossed in a salad with rice for homemade burrito bowls, wrap the chicken in tortillas for a delicious taco, or when served alongside tortilla chips it  makes a great dip for parties.

When I was making Creamy Salsa Chicken this last time I found an awesome product, Greek Cream Cheese. It is 1/2 the fat of regular cream cheese, 2x the protein and full of all those wonderful live active cultures.  I gave it a whirl and loved it!  I hope it wasn't a fluke finding it in the store because it was so great.  Definitely right up our alley.  I'm not being paid to promote this stuff- i just love it and wanted to share!  Using the greek cream cheese even made this a healthy dish, total bonus.  But everything in moderation is really the key, right?!

On a side note, guess who is invited to be on television again! New Day Cleveland invited me to share my recipe for Tortellini Soup on January 22nd at 10:00am on channel Fox 8! What a cool way to start my new year :)  Time to go dress shopping!

Creamy Salsa Chicken in the Slow Cooker

3-lbs boneless skinless Chicken (either breasts or thighs is fine)

1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans, drained

1 (15 ounce) jar chunky salsa 

1 medium onion chopped

1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese 

Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.  Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and top with the drained corn, black beans and chopped onions.  Pour the salsa on top.  Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6.  One hour before it is finished cooking, carefully pull the chicken out of the slow cooker and shred.  Put the chicken back into the slow cooker and gently stir to combine.  Place the block of cream cheese on top of the mixture and replace the lid.  After 30 minutes stir the cream cheese into the chicken mixture until fully combined.   

This recipe is so versatile! It is delicious served over rice, wrapped in a tortilla, topped onto a salad or even as a dip with chips.  Enjoy! 

Today is my BIG DAY on New Day Cleveland!

I couldn't be more excited about having another opportunity to work alongside David and Kristi again on New Day Cleveland today, this time sharing one of my most favorite soups Fresh Corn Chowder!!  They are so much FUN!!!!

Fresh Corn Chowder is a recipe I have shared with you here before, but well worth revisiting!!!  I love it at this time of the year when you are really longing for the sweetness of summer, corn on the cob and sun kissed cheeks.  But many of our days are still flecked with a chill in the air, a need for a coat and maybe even a flurry or two (especially if you live here in the Midwest!  What was with the snow these past few days?!!)

This recipe gives you the best of both worlds.  I love it made with fresh cut-off-the-cob corn.  But frozen corn also works so well since it is frozen pretty much immediately after being cut off the corn cob.  Almost as good as the seasonal kind, making it very soup friendly.  Use whatever is available to you, it will turn out amazing either way!

You can find the recipe {here} and I will be coming back to share all about my fantastic time on New Day Cleveland later today!!

Thank you for all of your support!  xoxox

Fridays, Feasting With Friends- Featuring Kristian Campana

"One of the delights of life is eating with friends, second to that is talking about eating. And, for an unsurpassed double whammy, there is talking about eating while you are eating with friends." ~Laurie Colwin 'Home Cooking' 

Kristian Campana

Here's the scenerio: the weekend is upon us, the weather looks promising and goodness, wouldn't it be fun to have something FUN to do?!  Well, look no further then Ohio Festivals:Exploring Ohio's Festivals one funnel cake at a time and Adventures of a Trapped 300 Pound Man: Entertaining my inner obesity through food, Ohio festivals and fun! These two blogs are really all you need to find out all that is happening throughout the beautiful state of Ohio.  To say that Kristian loves festivals would seriously be an understatement- He has taken festival hopping to a whole new level!  But wow, does he live a fun life!  Kristian travels all over the state in search of the wackiest, most delicious, and just plain entertaining festivals Ohio has to offer.  Follow along on his journey vicariously or print off the festival schedule, hop in the car and see for yourself- there is a lot of fun waiting to be had!

Oh and be sure to give your congrats to Kristian, he is a newlywed!  Last weekend, he married the love of his life, Julia and they are having the time of their lives celebrating in style on their honeymoon.  Congratulations Kristian!  I am so happy for the two of you!

Also, thank you so, so, so much for your recipe of the Mozzarepas!  Every time I go to New York City I absolutely have to get one of these things at their weekend flea markets.  They are my favorite! Serious Yum! Now I can make them myself here at home- I am super excited!  Yay!

What is your favorite thing to cook?
Medleys of any sort...it could be some concoction where I mix pork, sweet potato and apple. Or it can be an omelet filled with refrigerator leftovers. This also includes pasta sauces consisting of various ingredients (I don't make traditional red sauce) and sushi as well.

How about your least favorite thing to cook?
Fish dishes. And I love fish. But it has to be cooked just right and I get nervous about over/under cooking it.

What is your favorite local restaurant and what is one you are dying to try out?
Favorite - I absolutely love Pacific East. And since it's an hour drive from me, it's always a special treat.
A second restaurant a little closer to home would be India Garden in Lakewood.

To Try: I'd really like to try L'Albatros

Music and food go together so beautifully. You are hosting a dinner party, what would be on your playlist?
Hmm...I'd want nice melodies that didn't get too loud so that we could still talk. I think I'd go with something like Zero 7, Air, Joan as Police Woman, and Cat Power.

What would you choose to be your last meal on earth?
A fine assortment of sushi, baked scallops topped with a steamed egg custard I used to get in Columbus, raw oysters, and maybe some coconut shrimp.

For dessert, I'd be happy with a snoogle and a corner piece of cake from Kiedrowski's bakery (Amherst). Maybe even a well-frosted sugar cookie.

What are you currently reading?
Lately, I've just been reading food blogs and astrological websites. I've been getting pretty good at reading charts and figuring present aspects. Maybe I'll pick up a side job.

What is your favorite Kitchen Gadget?
Although I don't use it too often, I love the double boiler for making custards and ice cream. It has saved me a lot of unnecessary stress.

Do you have a signature go-to dish?
I make green bean salads a lot in the summertime. I'll pickle thinly sliced cucumbers before adding them for extra flavor.

I also make sushi or mozzarepas (corn pancake sandwiches filled with melted cheese) for pot lucks or parties.

What is your favorite thing about the Cleveland area?
Its history of immigration. It affects our restaurants, grocery stores and supplies tons of great ethnic festivals. It helped make me who I am.

Do you have a favorite meal from your childhood and do you cook it today?
There's a scalloped potato and ham casserole that I absolutely loved. I haven't thought about it in a long time, but it really sounds good now and it's easy to make.

Top 3 Movies of all time?
Matrix
Amelie
Tampopo

From left to right: Getting ready for the meatball eating contest at the Dean Martin Festival, Pawpaw Contest judge photo with the giant pawpaw, and the Dublin Irish Festival

What was your happiest moment in life?
There are actually a few moments that stand out:
1.) making a wish at a Japanese temple to find my soulmate
2.) learning that, before he died, a college professor got to read my letter and loved it
3.) driving down Route 2 during a fall overcast day and realizing that things were going to be OK
4.) Getting my first reply from the tons of letters I sent to Italy to find family - it changed my life forever.
5.) being with my girlfriend and family at my 100th festival last year and really feeling like I accomplished something
6.) learning that my wish in 1.) came true

I guess I'm just a happy guy!

Where do you do your grocery shopping?
I'm all over the place. Overall, I go to Giant Eagle, but I'll try to go to Marc's for cheaper produce and certain groceries and maybe Heinen's for fish and some things. If I can make it to some local farm market, then that's even better.

What is your favorite guilty pleasure when it comes to food?
I'm such a sucker for potato chips. I can't even keep them in the house.

Can you tell me about what you are most proud of?
Reconnecting my family's Italian heritage, the entire Ohio Festivals Project and the children's book I wrote and illustrated.

Do you have Culinary Resolutions that you would like to accomplish this year?
I think I would like to make grape ice cream (not sorbet). I had some in Geneva once at their Grape Festival and it was like a grape creamsicle. I loved it.

One word that best describes you is:

Effervescent

the newlyweds! 

And now can you please share one of your favorite recipes? 

Mozzarepas (or Arepas with Mozzerella cheese)
1 cup milk
5 tablespoons butter
1 cup freshly boiled corn on the cob (2 cobs)
1 1/4 finely ground yellow corn meal
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Mozzarella or Provolone (sliced)

After boiling 2 cobs, use knife to cut corn off and then grind in blender. You should have a nice pulp. Mix the yellow cornmeal (pass through coffee grinder to make finer if necessary), flour, sugar, salt and shredded mozzarella and mix well.  Add the corn pulp to the mixture and stir to combine well.

Bring milk to a boil as you add the butter (be careful not to burn milk).

Make a well of the mixture in the bowl and gradually add the hot milk mixture while mixing.

Get to a good pancake batter consistency. If you end up not needing to add the rest of the milk, so be it. If it's too thick, then add more milk.

Heat a lightly buttered griddle or pan and spoon batter to make small pancakes. Flip when golden brown.

you can add the cheese once it flips and then add the second pancake when done. Or you can just cook them all, make sandwiches with the cheese and nuke them in the microwave to melt the cheese.

Tortellini Soup

Here is your new favorite, Go-To weeknight dinner.  It comes together super fast, less then 20 minutes from start to finish!  But thanks to the rich, full flavor of the beef broth it tastes like it has been slow cooking all day long.  It is wonderful for the end of summer, utilizing the last of the sweet corn, zucchini and green beans of the season.  But the nice thing with soup, frozen veggies will work just as well in the winter months.  This soup truly is yummy, yummy, yummy!  

Tortellini Soup
3 cups beef stock (chicken or vegetable may be substituted, but the beef gives a nice rich flavor)
3 cups water
1 ear corn, kernals cut off and "corn milk" scrapped*
1 medium zucchini, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

*Quick tip to Easily cut corn off the cobb- A bundt pan is the best bowl for this job!  It has a handy hole to hold the corn steady and then the bowl for all the kernels to fall into.  Gotta love dual purpose items!  Turn your bundt pan right side up, place the cleaned corn cob upright with the tip of corn resting in the hole of the pan.  Slowly slide the knife down the sides of the corn, cutting off a section at a time.  Once all the corn is removed, turn your knife around so the flat side is facing the cob.  Repeat the process, scraping down on the cob collecting all the sweet corn milk in the bowl.  This is special stuff, you definitely don't want to just throw it away! It is sweet, juicy and will give a great added flavor to the soup.

In a large stock pot over medium heat, add one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and sauté onion and zucchini until tender and beginning to caramelize.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer until vegetables are tender. Add tortellini's and simmer 7-8 minutes or until they are fully cooked and floating to the top.  Serve with nice crusty butter bread.

Fresh Corn Chowder

Toward the end of summer here in the midwest, the temperatures begin to get cooler and the hope of Autumn fills the air.  You can smell it in the breeze and feel the crispness in the evening.  We are surprised on our night time walks that dusk comes to us much earlier then just a few weeks ago, rushing home in the quickly darkening night.  I am in no hurry for winter, but oh goodness, Autumn could last months and months and months.  It could be year long and I would be one happy girl!  It is my favorite time of the year. I crave the juicy apples, winter squashes (especially pumpkins!) and the turning of the leaves.  There is just something so happy and joyous about fall.  It seems like there is just so much FUN to be had!  With the fall fests, yummy foods packed with cinnamon and sugar, and lot of maple!  Pulling the favorite comfy jeans out of the attic along with those cute boots, playing at the playgrounds for hours instead of squeezing a little time in between the hot sun.  Hayrides, family hikes, and not to mention Halloween and Thanksgiving- two wonderful family holidays.

This soup is the perfect introduction to Autumn.  You get to use the delicious sweet corn your local roadside stand is selling 20 ears for $2. And the thyme is in full abundance in the garden.  But you also get to have a nice pot of creamy, invitingly warm soup that gets you in the mood to snuggle on the couch with an afghan and a good book.  You get the best of both worlds in one delicious bowl.

The recipe calls for a crock pot, but a Dutch oven works nicely and quickly if you want to hurry the process along.  A simple stock pot is also fine, just increase your cooking time to about an hour to an hour and a half, checking the potatoes for tenderness.  They should turn nice and slightly creamy when the soup is done.

Fresh Corn Chowder
recipe adapted from Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly by Phyllis Pellman Good

4 large ears of fresh corn on the cob (1 lb bag of frozen corn can also be used in the cooler months)
1 large onion, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups of potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups water, divided
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
1 Tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
6 Tablespoons flour
3 cups fat-free milk

Combine 1 cup of water with the remaining ingredients except the flour and milk.  Cook in a crock pot on low for 6 hours, or until potatoes are tender.  You can also use a dutch oven or a heavy stock pot, cooking the chowder for about an hour to an hour and a half.

Once the potatoes are nice and tender, mix the flour and milk together and whisk until smooth.  Stir into the chowder very slowly, a little at a time until thickened.  Add in the additional 1 cup of water (or more) to achieve the thickness you prefer your chowder.  (I found one additional cup of water to be perfect). Serve with garlic toast or nice bread and butter.  This is a great "dunking" soup.

Reader Recipe Submission- German Sausage Chowder

Today's recipe and photo is a submission from a friend and reader, Bonnie Cork.  She sent it over to me saying that the soup is super yummy and full of flavor.  She and her husband both really enjoyed it and she knew I would to.  I am always looking for new soups to try so I was thrilled she passed this onto me.  Thank Bonnie!

Print this Recipe

German Sausage Chowder

1 pound cooked bratwurst or knackwurst -- cut into chunks
2 medium potatoes -- peeled and coarsely diced
1/2 cup onion -- chopped
4 cups cabbage -- shredded
1 can whole kernel corn (optional)
3 cups milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 shredded aged Swiss cheese
snipped parsley (if desired)

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven combine sausage, potatoes, onion, 1/2 tsp. salt, and dash pepper. Add 2 cups water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover; simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are nearly tender. Stir in cabbage (and corn if desired); cook 10 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Stir in 2 1/2 cups of the milk. Stir remaining 1/2 cup milk into flour; stir into soup. Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly. Stir in cheese till melted. Garnish with parsley.


*If you have a favorite recipe you would like to share with My Retro Kitchen, please contact me {here}

Black Beans and Corn on Rice

Black Beans and Corn on Rice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can black beans, undrained
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp chipotle chile pepper (more or less to taste.  This is pretty spicy so add a little at a time and taste to make sure it isn't too hot for your liking)
2 bay leaves
1 cup water
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 tsp apple cider vinegar (red wine vinegar or white vinegar will also work)
salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup rice

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot.  Add onions and garlic; cook, stirring frequently until softened, about 10 minutes.  Stir in paprika, curry powder, chipotle chili pepper and bay leaves; cook one minute.  Stir in beans, corn and water.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stiring occasionally.

Meanwhile, prepare rice according to package directions for 4 servings of rice.

Remove bay leaves from beans.  Stir in 2 Tbsp oil and 3 tsp vinegar.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Serve beans over rice.

This was a wonderful accompaniment to the Huevos Rancheros I am posting tomorrow (stay tuned!).   But would really go great with any Mexican dish.

Candy's Chicken Tortilla Soup

After a little bit of begging (or asking really, really nice), I finally got my hands on my friend Candy's Tortilla Soup recipe.  Ever since she posted this picture on facebook I have been dying to try it.  I mean seriously, doesn't this look absolutely sublime?!  I want it right now.  I think I know what I am making for dinner tomorrow night!  

Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
1 cup white hominy
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
one small can of enchilada sauce
a bit of cayanne pepper, to taste
crushed tortilla chips
sliced avocado
shredded Monterey Jack cheese
chopped green onions

Directions
In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.

I made it in the crock pot, even though it says to use a stock pot. 3 hrs on high and then about 3 more on low.

Grilled Corn, Black Bean and Tomato Salad

Grilled Corn, Black Bean and Tomato Salad

4 ears of grilled corn, kernels cut off (you can use frozen or canned, but the grilled tastes best!)
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups edamame
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered
3/4 cup chopped red onion
2-4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (or Italian Parsley if you are not a cilantro fan)
1/2 cup Ranch Dressing (homemade or store-bought. I like the flavor of Buttermilk Ranch for this salad)
a few shakes of hot sauce, to taste
Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients. Serve chilled or at room temperature. 

This is salad is perfect for all that grilled corn you just made!  Two or three chopped avocado's can be a very nice substitution for the edamame as well.  They both taste great in this salad.  I used the edamame this time since we will be outside and they hold up just a bit better for outdoor picnics.  This salad is so versatile. It is great as a topping for chicken, wrapped into a flour tortilla, mixed with a green salad, or even to dip tortilla chips in as a salsa. Yum!  When I made it today, I also added a bit of Southwest Seasoning Salt for a bit more of a punch.  So play around to adjust the salad to suit your taste- or your pantry!

Have a FUN (and safe!) 4th of July!  Happy Birthday America!

Grilling Corn on the Cob

This is one of our most favorite ways to eat corn.  The way heat, smoke and fire from the grill effect the  ears of corn, it turns them into the sweetest, most delicious vegetable you have ever tasted.  Once you make it this way, you will never want to go back to boiling!

There a few methods for grilling corn; grilling it directly on the grill, wrapping them in foil first and also grilling them inside their cleaned husks.  Grilling the corn directly on the grill produces a wonderful char that adds a lovely, smokey flavor.  But unfortunately can dry the corn out pretty bad making it chewy and tough.  Soaking the ears for at least 30 minutes in a briny water prior to grilling can help in retaining the juices in the corn.

I have never personally tried grilling the ears in their own husks so we are excited to try that method next time.  But we have really fallen in love with the foil one. What you are virtually doing is steaming your corn, producing brightly colored kernels full of juice and sweetness.

It is super simple.  First, clean the ears of corn completely, removing all the silk and husk. Lay out a nice sized piece of foil and place the corn in the center.  Generously rub the corn in softened butter or margarine, sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper, salt and whatever other seasonings you would like.  Last night I made some with garlic salt replacing the sea salt and also a few with a Southwest Seasoning and they were delicious! Tightly roll up the corn in the foil, folding up the ends to seal.  Place on the grill, turning every few minutes to evenly cook.  They should be done in about 15-20 minutes.

Carefully unwrap from the foil, they will be HOT!  We like using these handy corn holders, especially when off the grill because the ears of corn can be so hot to the touch.

Let cool slightly and enjoy!

This is Jackson's most favorite!  Yummy!!

This corn is amazing as leftovers so be sure to make extra!  I love it best for a wonderful Corn, Black Bean and Tomato Salad- which I will be posting the recipe for this weekend, so stay tuned!