A Garden of Earthly Delights

It is that very special time of the year when we can be eating straight out of the garden.

Green beans from mine. Sweet corn from a local grower.

Boil green beans till al dente. Drain.Add olive or canola oil or your favorite healthy oil to a preheated saute' pan and add beans, season w/salt, pepper, garlic,crushed red pepper. Add dry roasted peanuts. Saute' over medium heat for a couple of minutes until beans are tender, but not overcooked.

Do fresh cooked sweet corn - either shucked and boiled - or roasted on the grill or a weber unshucked - you do not have to soak them in water - control the temperature and turn so you do not burn them up. Do yourself a favor and use a real wood fire in your weber - oak, maple, birch or whatever hardwoods you have available. The woodsmoke adds a dimension of flavor that you cannot get otherwise.

Shuck the roasted or grilled corn, and slice the corn off the cob. Make a batter like a scratch pancake batter - 1 cup flour, 1egg, 1 teaspoon baking powder, salt and pepper to taste. Stir in corn - 2 cups. Here's the best part - add garlic, fresh or granulated, diced green onions, and crushed red pepper( if you have hot peppers in your garden, use them but be careful they can be very hot). Add oil to your frying pan and fry big spoonfulls of cornbatter over medium heat for a couple of minutes till golden, turn, and fry till golden again.

Serve the corn fritters with a sauce of orange marmalade, balsamic vinegar, garlic, crushed red pepper( or your own garden hot peppers), chopped parsley and cilantro. and a little soy sauce to taste.. It is a spicy asian adaptation of the traditional southern fried corn fritters.

You will know that you are eating when you are eating these green beans and corn fritters. Have some cold beers at the ready.