Growing up, one of the highlights of my summer was sweet corn season. We lived right on Highway 82 south of Geneseo and sold sweet corn from our yard each July.
Early in the morning, my father and brother would pick hundreds of ripe ears and we would get set up for sales. Back then, we called our favorite variety “Peaches & Cream”. Buyers would select a dozen ears from our pile and we received a dollar a dozen. I recall hearing that one year we sold 1,000 dozen and the money we earned was placed in our college savings accounts.
We moved to the north side of Geneseo in the early 90s and lost our premier spot for sweet corn sales. From that point forward, we have always grown a sweet corn patch, but we’ve enjoyed sharing it with family and friends.
My husband and I make freezing sweet corn a priority so that we can enjoy it throughout the year. We feel that the home-grown flavor of the corn is superior to any grocery store options. This year we really streamlined our process by using a turkey fryer to boil the corn. From the boiling water, the corn was placed in icy water and then cut off the cob once cooled. My kids helped place the corn in the bags and got it right to the freezer.
My recipe this week uses that homegrown sweet corn and transforms it into a both slightly sweet and savory dip that pairs perfectly with Fritos Scoops chips. Both fresh or frozen sweet corn can be used in this recipe, or even a canned variety will work. Of course, nothing is better than fresh summer sweet corn. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser for your next event.
From our kitchen to yours – enjoy!
Serves 12-15
32 oz. sweet corn (or equivalent canned, drained)
1-7 oz. can chopped green chilis
1-6 oz. can chopped jalapeño peppers, drained
1/2 c. green onion, chopped
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. sour cream
1 t. black pepper
1 t. garlic powder
8-16 oz. package shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2-3 bags of Fritos Scoops! corn chips
If using frozen corn, defrost and remove excess liquid before using. Mix all ingredients. Add the amount of cheese to your liking. Chill in the refrigerator for some time before serving. Serve dip cold with corn chips or tortilla chips.
