Freezing Corn for winter, and Good Tips for while you're at it!

This whole process took no more than a couple of hours, and was a perfect task to take care of with the cooler weather we've been experiencing.  For only two dozen ears of corn you'll end up with more than 6lbs of plump kernels in your freezer, making for super delicious summer-fresh chowder, or perhaps a scrumptious shepherd's pie, this winter.  That alone, I think, is worth two hours.

TIP: First, start with impeccably fresh corn--which you'll only find at farmers' markets or a well established farmstand.  Be wary of those roadside set-ups where corn is sold out of boxes from the back of a truck.  They're not always what they claim to be, with goods bought from out-of-state distributors and sold as "local" produce.

Barker's Farm corn.  So sweet and tender!

'New Hampshire' Fried Chicken Dinner

My mother procures 6 or 7 chickens every year from her local farmer in Tamworth, one of which found its way to my freezer recently.  Upon thawing, I promptly broke it down into pieces, oven-fried 'em, and served 'em up with all the rest of the usual KY-style suspects (what can I say, I'm a child of the 70's), the difference being my sides came from within 3-25 miles!

Red and green cabbage-carrot slaw, thank you Heron Pond; corn, blanched and frozen from last summer's awesome harvest, thank you Barker's; mashed potatoes, thank you Riverside Farm; gravy, with homemade chicken stock, thank you Brookford Farm for the awesome flour; and, herbed cream cheese biscuits, thank you Gagne Foods, Bath, ME. 

Best Corn Chowder--No Salt Pork Needed

This is a light, ridiculously delicious recipe for classic New England-style corn chowder.  It all boils down to the corn stalk.  No pun intended.  You'll see why.

Break out a large dutch oven or other soup pot.

Ingredients:

6 ears corn, shaved, kernels reserved (I like lots of corn.  Period.)

2 cups corn water*
corn oil
1 onion, chopped
2 red bell peppers, seeded, chopped
clove of garlic, pressed
5 or 6 medium potatoes, diced (I also like lots of potato.  Period.)
small bay leaf
Fresh herbs: bay leaf, parsley, thyme...and perhaps rosemary, or even basil would be nice.  Definitely have some chives on hand
1 pint heavy cream, warmed