Soul-Full Sisters: Summer Corn Chowder
From the recipe box of the Soul-Full Sisters
There was one day out of every summer where our Grandmother Pate, Mama, Paten and I would solely dedicate to shucking summer corn.
Grandma and Mama would ride to Wallace, NC and get about 3 bushels, and when they returned it was wheelbarrows, knives, corn brushes, trash bags, and cotton dresses. We would sit under the garage and work away, dreaming with every pull of husk of all the dishes Mama was going to prepare for us on the hot days to come.
Photo by the Soul-Full Sisters, Quinn Carlton Bostic, Paten Carlton
The corn was sweet and so are the memories of Grandma Pate’s laugh, wheelbarrows full of silk, and hot cast iron skillets full of bacon grease just waiting for that milky corn to sizzle. When the buckets were full and we were done shucking, we would transfer a third of it to a bag and put in the outside refrigerator. This was to be saved to have on the cob.
Mama would simply boil it and serve with butter, salt and pepper. Another third would be carried inside, cut from the cob & milked, and stored in zip lock bags and then carried into the deep freezer. This was used in the fall or winter for vegetable beef soup, or just for cream corn when Mama made a pot roast on Sundays.
The last third was to be enjoyed that day or that week. This was our favorite third.
Creamed corn is a family favorite. It is simply corn cut straight from the cob, slid into a hot cast iron pan glistening with bacon grease, butter, and salt and pepper. Paired with a spoon and fresh tomato slices. You can’t get much better than that.
However, if there were one thing to top Mama’s cream corn, it would be her summer corn chowder. This chowder is the summer’s bounty in one spoonful. Fresh corn, new potatoes, carrots, celery.. the deliciousness goes on.. bacon, cream, roasted red peppers.. We’ll just stop here before drool covers your computer or phone.
May your corn be sweet, bacon be crispy, and your shade be cool while enjoying this treat.
Photo by the Soul-Full Sisters, Quinn Carlton Bostic, Paten Carlton
Written by the Soul-Full Sisters, Quinn Carlton Bostic, Paten Carlton
