I didn't exactly find my grandmother's recipe for fried corn, but I did find a recipe that could be hers. I remember the onion, the bacon, and scraping the cobs to collect the "milk." Why not give it a try?
I'd love corn picked straight from the garden, but it's not in yet. The farmer's market is not open today, so I had to ride down to Miss Margaret's Fruit Stand on Carmack Blvd, just on the other side of the square. She had the prettiest produce, I was having a hard time deciding what to get. Ended up with corn, of course, and green tomatoes and nectarines. One nectarine was a little too ripe and smushed on the others. Perfect! I like them soft.
The Fried Corn recipe calls for an iron skillet, so I had to go next door and borrow one from my neighbor Miss Bobbie. She had several and I was able to select the size I needed.
First you organize your produce to know what you are working with.
Next, fry the bacon in the iron skillet and save the drippings. While the bacon is frying, remove husks and silks from each ear of corn. I don't purchase fresh corn often and never knew each ear was like a bottle of tequila, but it is. There is a worm at the end. Don't disturb him, just shake him off in the husk and silk pile and cut off the bit of corn he's eaten.
Run each ear through cold water to clean and remove more silks. Remove bacon from skillet and turn up the heat to high.
Leave 1/2 cup bacon drippings in the skillet and add to it 2 Tablespoons butter. When the butter melts, add chopped onion if you want. I did, but this step is optional. Let the onion soften a bit and add your corn. Don't disturb it for 3 minutes. It has to fry.
Stir corn and cook just a bit before pouring in milk or cream or combination thereof. I stopped by the Piggly Wiggly and picked up a pint of half and half, and it worked fine. Pour in cream and stir until the cream is absorbed.
Reduce the heat to medium and add another 2 Tablespoons of butter. Cook until butter is melted and mixed throughout. Add salt and pepper to taste. Crumble a couple of slices of cooked, crispy bacon on top. And voila! Some of the best corn I've ever eaten. But think about it. How can you go wrong with freshly picked corn, fried bacon, creamy butter, and fresh cream?
I printed the basil bisque recipe...going to try it later this week!
Posted by: Mark Goad | Wednesday, September 09, 2009 at 07:21 AM
What in the south do they NOT fry?
Posted by: Vicki Oswald Young | Wednesday, September 09, 2009 at 07:37 PM
At the Texas State Fair, Fried butter is among eight dishes contending for Monday's fifth annual Big Tex Choice awards. 2006 winner at the state fair....Fried coke cola.
Posted by: Andy Jones | Wednesday, September 09, 2009 at 07:38 PM
That just sounds like one of the best summer side dishes ever!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe at the Recipe Share Party.
Blessings!
-Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Good ole Southern cooking...the best in the world!!! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Becky | Friday, July 02, 2010 at 05:01 PM
I am not much of a fan of corn, but I love that you are a Memaw! I miss my Memaw so much, she was so awesome!
Cute little furbabies you have too!
Posted by: Our Nifty Notebook | Friday, July 02, 2010 at 06:17 PM
Oh, this takes me back to my grandmother's. She knew fried corn was one of my favorites and always fixed it when I was at her farm. You've got it right with the bacon grease and iron skillet.
Posted by: Lulu | Saturday, July 03, 2010 at 11:18 AM
I miss my Memaw so much, too! This was one of her best recipes. Still looking for the original, but for now this one I found will have to do. It tastes like pure heaven.
Susan
Posted by: Susan | Saturday, July 03, 2010 at 12:14 PM
I love making corn like this. Looks delish!
Posted by: Suzy | Saturday, July 03, 2010 at 11:24 PM
Hi! I love corn like this and make it too! Oh, my mouth is watering!
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Posted by: Shelia | Monday, July 12, 2010 at 09:19 AM
It feels so homey and nice in here.... I'm sure your family is a happy one! Thanks for participating in our "Show Off Your Cottage Monday" and letting us into your lovely home...
Cielo
Posted by: cielo | Monday, July 12, 2010 at 03:39 PM