There Can Never Be Too Much Corn!

We have corn lovers in our house.

I think it might be a combined case of genetics and environment.  The Doris Family has eaten A LOT of sweet corn over the years here at Dorisdale.  Now, I must make a confession.  According to Peter I didn't know what good corn was pre-Doris.  For me, the riper and starchier the better...and I even remember a few times snacking on cow corn because we just couldn't wait any longer for our first feed!

Our kids are definitely following in the family tradition - they can't get enough!  They're happy to eat a few cobs of corn twice a day...and have even been caught sampling a cob or 2 at breakfast with Peter.  They're following Grandma Bernadette's saying, "You can't sell something you haven't eaten!".

The kids have been doing sales today.  That has left me (with assorted help between customers) for other corn projects.  We have jars of Corn Zucchini Relish cooling, bags of Aunt Sara's Freezer Corn freezing for a winter treat (see below), Corn Bread ready to eat (baked by Maggie)  and even a big pot of Mexican Rice with Corn (and some extra zucchini) simmering for dinner.  And Liam is snacking on crackers with Corn Relish as I type!  Claire googled a Corn and Feta Salad she wants to make tomorrow.

I still have a few dozen corn on the kitchen counter waiting to be made into something else.  Maybe some plain blanched corn for black bean salad?

If you have a favourite recipe, send it our way!  Post it here or on our Facebook page - search Dorisdale Farm or click on https://www.facebook.com/DorisdaleFarm.

And don't forget to drop by for corn...time is running out!


Aunt Sara's Freezer Corn (thinking of her today!)
10 cups corn (raw, cut off cob)
3 cups water
1 tsp salt
6 tsp sugar

Bring to boil in pot and let simmer for 2 minutes.  Cool and bag into preferred servings sizes to enjoy!

Labour Day Corn Memories

We are coming into another Labour Day weekend.  By my count, this will be 41 or 42 years for the Doris family of selling corn and Labour Day is one of the busiest corn weekends of the year.

One of the memorable Labour Day Weekends for me was was 1991...it was my first summer in the "real world" (a.k.a after university) and I had started to work for the Ontario Cattlemen's Association.  I spent the Friday leading up to Labour Day in and around Grey County and ended up at the home of Joan and James McKinlay (friends, Simmental breeders and Joan was working for OMAF at the time). After a great supper and visit, I left the McKinlays's home about 9:30 or 10 p.m which put me back in Peterborough around 1 a.m.

I can still remember my father calling me from the bottom of the stairs at 6 a.m. to pick corn because there were around 100 dozen pre-ordered plus what we needed for table sales!  Wearily, I got up and picked with Mom and Dad and the orders were filled.

The worst thing about picking the corn is thinking about it in bed before you get up...once you're out in the field, it is all good!  Peter

P.S.  I mentioned Mom and Dad as a corn picking duo above;  I note that Carolyn is now apprenticing as a full fledged corn picker - she has been out picking most days for the last two weeks.  The training is arduous, the pay is not so good but the experience is priceless!  I will let you know when she gets her ticket as a fully qualified person from the Amalgamated Union of Corn Workers, Cow Chasers, Fence Fixers and Stone Pickers!

Corn, Corn, Corn!

The corn table remains a bounty of corn this week!   Like the past number of days, we continue to have 3 kinds of corn for your eating pleasure.

You may see during the week times at which the table is self-serve.  Watch the table signage to know what varieties we have each day.  Feel free to count out your Doris Dozen of 14 cobs yourself....and put your $$ in the container on the table.

For corn updates, check out our Facebook page and "LIKE" us at  https://www.facebook.com/DorisdaleFarm.  (or you can search Dorisdale Farm on Facebook...just note we're not "Doris Day"!!

Hope to see you at the table!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

All we have to say today is "YUM"!

Here's to Ears!

The weather forecast is predicting a great weekend of warm but not too hot temperatures.  Looks like a perfect weekend to celebrate summer....before September arrives!

So, this weekend is definitely the perfect time to host a get-together with a few friends and have a corn roast.  If corn roasts aren't your thing, then at least enjoy some amazing corn for supper (or breakfast like in our house....but that's another blog post!!).  It won't be around for too much longer.

The corn picking is great right now!  The heat over the past few days has certainly helped the corn mature and the cobs fill out nicely.  A little rain, along with the heavy dew each morning (sorry to say, but autumn is on it's way) has also helped the patch along.

All weekend long we will have 3 great-tasting corn varieties on the table.  Today we've picked a traditional bi-colour (that's like a peaches and cream), a bright yellow and a white that is "oh so sweet and tender".

Come and get it!  Hope to see you at the corn table this weekend!

We've Moved the Picnic Table

After over 40 years selling corn on the west side of the lawn, we've made a couple of changes!

Corn visitors will remember seeing our new shed under construction last summer.  The shed gave us the chance to build a little more permanent site with a little shade.  In fact, 2 of our "staff", Liam and Ella are hard at work today!

 

So if you're driving by and see corn signs but can't quite see us on the lawn, drive on in.  We are here!

First Corn Famine, Now FEAST!

We're back and hope to be well stocked in corn for the next little while.

It's a golden day - the sun is shining brightly and on the table we have a yellow corn called "Golden Nugget". It's a favourite sweet tasting corn we've grown the last few years.  It'salso a great variety to freeze with that lovely yellow colour to brighten your winter dinner plate.

Here's some ideas from Eat Right Ontario about corn!  (Eat Right Ontario is a great resource - you can call 1-888-510-510-2 to talk to a Registered Dietitian or visit www.eatrightontario.ca to email your question or search up some answers about healthy eating)

TIP of the MONTH : Enjoy Sweet Summer Corn

 

Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob! Here are some tips to help you choose and prepare corn.  Local Ontario corn is usually available from July to October.

 

Shopping and Storing

Look for corn that has bright green and moist husks. If you can, try to feel the individual kernels through the husk – those are the best ones to choose. You want to look for corn with plump kernels, not ones that are dry and shriveled.

 

Cook your corn as soon as you can after you bring it home – this is when it will be the sweetest. Corn starts to lose its natural sugar soon after it has been picked.

 

At home, store the fresh corn in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. It will keep for two to three days.

 

Preparation

To boil: Remove husk and silk. Boil 3-4 minutes for young corn and 5-7 minutes for mature corn. 

 

To steam: Cook for 7-11 minutes depending on the size of the cob.

 

To microwave: Remove husk and silk. Place cob in a microwaveable dish and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 2 minutes then let the corn cool before unwrapping.

 

To barbeque or roast in the oven: Leave husks on the cob. To protect the corn from burning, wrap the husks in aluminum foil or soak the husks in cold water for 30 minutes before cooking. Corn should take 15-20 minutes to cook.

 

Did you know? Some varieties of corn are grown just for popcorn. These special kernels pop because they contain a small amount of water in the centre. When the kernels get heated, the water causes pressure to build up and the kernel explodes. 

 

Try it! Instead of butter on your popcorn, use hot sauce or chili powder.  Or for a little sweetness, add cinnamon.

(From August 2013 Consumer eNews from EatRight Ontario) 

Pop, Pop, Popping!

Sadly the corn table has been empty for much of this past week...fingers crossed though we'll be back in business on Saturday morning with the next planting and varieties of corn just about ready to enjoy!

In anticipation of a busy corn table, I took holidays this week to keep watch.  Instead, the kids and I have managed a week of some odd jobs, a little fun and pickles!

As I've blogged in past years, my FAVOURITE pickling recipe book is by local Home Economist and cook book author, Jennifer Mackenzie.  Every recipe we've tried over the past few years from The Complete Book of Pickling has been delicious and reminds me of the amazing smells in our farm kitchen growing up.

So far, we've had the pop, pop, popping sound from jars of dill relish, pickled dill chips and baby dills.....

..all because of Peter and his bouquet of dill!

We've also tried a couple of new recipes this year.  We have jars of Spicy Pickled Green Beans cooling that I think will be delicious in Caesar's this winter.  At Peter's request, we also have some Pickled Milkweed Pods (see picture below - on the left side)!  

Must admit the kids and I are a little skeptical about this one but since milkweed is in great supply around Dorisdale Farm, we'll give it a try!  

On the schedule for next week - corn relish, salsa and tomato sauce...if the garden agrees! So much for a Registered Dietitian recommending a lower sodium diet :)

Hope to see you at the corn table this weekend!

Bring on the Heat...PLEASE

Corn likes heat.  You may have noticed in early July the corn stalks in farmers' fields seemed to grow right in front of your eyes.  That's because it was doing just that.

The weather lately has been great - not too warm, nice sunny days but those cool nights, while great for sleeping, are doing NOTHING for our corn table.

According to Peter our "resident corn expert", the planting of corn that should be on your table right now is just not ripening in the field. Warm temperatures during the day and night are both critical for growing corn. Farmers refer to this as heat units and they differ in regions across Ontario.

Warm temperatures help corn to mature. With sweet corn, maturity means the cobs are filled and perfect for eating.  The cooler weather we've been having has been slowing that maturity.  I guess you can think of it as the same as putting vegetables or fruit in the fridge to slow down ripening.

So, our corn table will be empty today :(  We will keep watch and let you know as soon as we're back in business.

On the positive side, that gives us a little time to clean and peel more of our harvested garlic bulbs ready to sell (see picture below).  Can you hear the Doris kids groaning?  We might also have time to get a couple more changes completed!

Crossing fingers for a little heat!