Quick Pickled Corn Food

QUICK-PICKLED CORN

Steps:

• Bring vinegar, 6 cups water, sugar, salt, and bay leaf to a boil, stirring to make sure sugar dissolves. Stir in chiles, and let cool until warm, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut corn crosswise with a heavy chef's knife into pieces about 1 1/2 inches long (you should get 4 or 5 pieces from each ear). Layer corn and onion in a very clean 4-quart glass jar with a clamped top or a lid and screw-top band. Pour warm vinegar mixture over corn and onion to cover completely (discard any leftover liquid). Leaving jar open, refrigerate until liquid is cool, about 1 1/2 hours, then shut jar. Refrigerate corn at least 1 day and up to 2 days. Serve cold.

PICKLED CORN

Steps:

• Shuck and clean corn silk from fresh corn. We usually give this job to the children while they sit on the back porch.
• Fill a large stock pot with water and bring to a boil.
• Scald the ears of corn 2-3 minutes and remove to a kitchen table or counter to cool just enough to handle.
• At this point you can leave corn on the ears and pack in 1 gallon jars, lay ears in an 8-10 gallon crock or cut the corn off the ears and fill a clean white cotton pillow case with the cut corn then lay in your crock. We find the most consistent results with a crock.
• Use 1 cup salt to 1 gallon of water and stir to dissolve making your brine 1 gallon at a time because the amount you use will depend on whether you leave the ears whole or cut the corn off the cob.
• Once the corn is in jars/crock pour the brine over the corn to cover.If you use a crock lay a glass or stoneware dinner plate upside down over the top and weight it down with a large stone. If you use the gallon jars very loosely screw flats and rings on so the tops will not bulge or burst as the vegetable ferments.
• Cover crock with a loose cloth or cover with plastic wrap and tape to keep dust and bugs out.
• Set in a cool, dry place to cure for 4 weeks. Be sure to check the brine level every 7-10 days and make more brine as needed.
• If scum develops because of the fermentation, skim off, replenish liquid and recover.
• At the end of 4 weeks you may can the loose corn in canning jars according to directions for saurkraut or you may leave in crock. You just have to keep checking the liquid level and replenishing as needed.
• If using gallon jars, hand tighten and keep under refridgeration or can as you would saurkraut.
• To use: you may rinse and heat to boiling with a little water and butter or if you have pressure canned it you may eat straight from the jar. My husbands favorite way.

PICKLED CORN

Steps:

• Place one quart canning jar and a ring into a pot of water. Bring to a rolling boil for five minutes. Meanwhile, put a canning lid into a small pot and bring to a simmer.
• Cut corn off the cobs. (A good way to do this is to place a paper bowl upside down in a large mixing bowl, and rest the stem end of the cob on the bowl. This allows you to slice the corn straight into the bowl without nicking your knife.).
• Carefully remove the jar from the water and drain. Add salt, vinegar and sugar. Pack the corn into the jar (4 1/2 lbs of corn-on-the-cob should make about 1 quart). Fill jar with water, leaving 1" headspace. Set the lid on the jar and loosely set the ring in place.
• Store jar in a cool place for 1-2 weeks, then tighten the ring and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Suggestion: rinse well with cold water, drain thoroughly, then saute in bacon grease with diced onion, and red and/or green bell pepper. Add crumbled bacon before serving.

QUICK PICKLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Blanch 1/3 pound each halved baby carrots, green beans and yellow beans, 2 to 4 minutes. Cool in ice water, then put in a glass bowl with 1/2 sliced red onion. Make the brine: Boil 2 cups each white vinegar and water, 1/4 cup kosher salt, 2 bay leaves, 3/4 cup sugar, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, and 1 teaspoon each peppercorns and coriander seeds; pour over the vegetables, then let cool. Chill at least 4 hours.

REFRIGERATOR CORN RELISH

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add corn. Boil 3 minutes and transfer to a bowl of ice water. When corn is cool enough to handle, pat dry and cut kernels from cobs. Set aside.
• In a medium-size, heavy pot combine vinegar, sugar, water, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, celery seeds and salt and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar has dissolved and add onion. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add peppers, garlic and chile and simmer for another 5 minutes. Stir in corn and simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat and pack into hot sterilized pint jars. Seal and allow to cool. Store in the refrigerator.

SPECIAL CREAMED CORN

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add cream, milk, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add corn; heat through., Transfer to an ungreased 1-1/2-qt. broiler-proof dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. broil 5 in. from the heat for 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

PICKLED CORN ON THE COB

Steps:

• Rinse the corn, and place in a large bowl with the salt and enough water to cover. Refrigerate until needed. Sterilize two 1quart jars in simmering water for 5 minutes.
• In a large stock pot, stir together the vinegar, sugar and pickling spice. Add the bay leaves and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to be sure the sugar has dissolved.
• Drain and rinse the corn under cold water. Add to the pot with the pickling mixture. Return to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove corn with a slotted spoon, and fill the sterile jars. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves from the liquid, and discard. Fill the jars of corn with the vinegar mixture to within 1/2 inch of the top. The corn should be completely covered. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean cloth. Seal with lids and rings.
• Process the jars in a hot water bath for the time recommended by your local extension in your area. Most areas require about 10 minutes in a water bath of 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Refrigerate after opening.