67° and Clear
Image
by Francine Black
A Mediterranean chicken dish, rich with vegetables and aromatics paired with the quintessentially American corn on the cob.
Once again, a wonderful contrast of flavors, colors, and textures tempt our palates. The first bite into a perfect ear of sweet and crisp local corn makes me grateful to nature and to several Native American tribes.
Yes, we know corn, a type of grass, originated in Meso America at the dawn of time. However, it was field corn or maize -- and if you’ve tried it, I’m sure you’ve found it quite tough and not too tasty.
Somehow through a spontaneous mutation in their cornfields, the Iroquois identified the first sweet corn plant and what a delight that must have been! They saved the kernels of those plants, which they named “papoon”, and propagated the strain. They also were kind enough to share the seeds with the European settlers in their neighborhood, as well as their farming methods and, of course, how to prepare the delicious ears.
You may know that the Iroquois traditional homelands spanned from upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania into Ontario and Quebec, so not too terribly far from us. The Native Americans would dry the corn, grind it into meal, extract the syrup, make corn pudding, and hominy.
Corn was a member of a food trio they called the “Three Sisters”: corn, beans and squash, because they nurtured each other when grown together.
Today we enjoy “super sweet” and very tender corn and for that we can thank University of Illinois professor of botany and geneticist John Laughnan for his work in the 1950’s.
Enjoy the fruits of summer with gratitude, to all who came before us!
High in the mountains above Bally, where the dense groves of treetops seem to touch the sky, is Francine Black, Boyertown’s own version of chef Julia Child. Her daily activities reflect the things she most values: family and friends, music, and lovingly prepared food.
More News from Boyertown
- "Thank you" Cards on Exhibit at Studio B Encouragement from a trusted elder, along with a tangible gift, serves as the right motivation at the right moment.
- TODAY: Uplifting Voices Project Hosts Pottstown Writers Market Two Boyertown area residents offer a local writers' event today to boost local writers' voices.
