Sweet Corn and Honey Muffins That Taste Like Home

Each of us has those foods that magically evoke feelings and thoughts from our childhood. One of mine is corn muffins, which are wonderfully homey. In fact, this recipe is adapted from an original that my mom has been using for over 40 years.

When I was mixing the batter, I added some sticky sweet honey and plump, fresh corn kernels, which I wasn't sure Mom would like. Last week she made this new version and called me declaring: "Oh, Susan, those corn muffins are even better than the mine!" Well, there you have it, folks -- the best endorsement a food blogga could ask for.

To capture that old-fashioned chewy texture that I love, I used medium coarse rather than fine cornmeal. The result: golden, crisp muffin tops give way to soft, moist, honey-laced centers that are only enhanced when topped with a pat of butter and drizzled with warm honey.

The aroma of freshly baked muffins and a little nostalgia -- it doesn't get much better than that.

Sweet Corn and Honey Muffins
Makes 12 regular size muffins.
Print recipe only here.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup medium coarse stone-ground cornmeal
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons honey
1 cup fresh corn kernels

Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Spray a 12 mold regular size muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, butter, buttermilk, eggs, and honey. Add to the flour mixture and stir quickly until well combined. Fold in the corn kernels. Spoon the batter evenly into the 12 molds.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden and a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 5 minutes before removing each muffin and placing on a wire rack to cool.


You might also like:

• My article, "You Can't Judge a Corn By Its Color," on NPR's Kitchen Window with recipes for Mexican Grilled Corn; Corn-Scallion-Cheddar Biscuits with Cilantro Butter; Sauteed Corn with Ginger, Mint and Lemon; and Roasted Corn and Tomatillo Salsa
• Looking to preserve the flavor of summer sweet corn all winter long? Then check out my article "How to Freeze Corn for the Winter" on Fit Fare. It's easy!

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Try Grilled Watermelon for Your Labor Day Weekend Barbecue

I figure I’ve eaten about 20 pounds of watermelon this summer. Fortunately, it’s 92% water and 0% fat, so my clothes still fit fine.

Even as a kid, I ate a lot of watermelon. Everyone in my family did. I can remember my Dad, his face beet-red from the heat, coming through our back door beaming as he was carrying a colossal watermelon. He always did the same thing: set it down on the kitchen counter and proudly announced its weight -- 19 and 1/2 pounds! 23 pounds! Like his lobsta, the bigger it was, the better he liked it.

My brother Chris was always the one to cut the watermelon (seeing as none of the rest of us had his patience). With skills of a surgeon, he extracted every last seed while keeping the melon’s flesh intact. Come to think of it, I don't remember ever seeing seedless watermelons when I was a kid. Did they exist back then?

I do remember, however, that on a stiflingly humid New England day there was little else that could bring as much pure pleasure as a crisp cold piece of watermelon saturated with sweet juice that dripped down your arms and chin as you slurped your way along.

Indeed, my grandmother, Nan, who avoided the sun and heat at all costs, would stay cool in large part by eating chilled watermelon. And she always said the same thing to me when she wanted some: “Susan, I’m so dry. Would you get me another slice of that watermelon?” Then she’d say to me that I "look dry,” and insist I eat more watermelon. I always did and still do.

Even though it’s just the two of us now, I buy watermelon every week and announce the weight to Jeff when he comes home. 15 pounds! 18 pounds! (I told you I've eaten a lot of it). I only buy seedless now; Chris still lives in Rhode Island, and I still don’t have the patience to remove the seeds.

I've made many watermelon dishes this summer, and this grilled watermelon is one of my favorites. If you're planning a Labor Day Weekend Barbecue, then it's a simple and healthy dessert to make.

Wondering how to grill a watermelon? It couldn't be easier. Simply rub some honey on watermelon slices and place on a hot grill for about 2 minutes per side until marks form and they become caramelized. You could eat it just like that or top it with my tangy honey-lime syrup. It contrasts surprisingly well with the slightly smoky flavor of the grilled watermelon.

Grilled Watermelon Slices with a Honey-Lime Syrup

Print recipe only here.

Several slices watermelon
Some honey for brushing watermelon slices

Juice of 2 limes
the zest of half a lime
3 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons water
A few dashes of cayenne pepper
A couple of pinches of salt

Preheat grill to high. Cut watermelon into 1-inch thick slices. Brush each side lightly with some honey and place on grill. Grill until just browned, about 2 minutes per side. Place watermelon slices on a plate and drizzle with the honey-lime syrup.

You might also like:
Warm Citrus and Banana Cups
Watermelon and Green Olive Salad
Grilled Lamb Kebabs
Grilled Lamb Sandwiches
Jumbo Grilled Lobsta

You might also like to check out:
Jyothsna's recipe for a refreshing Watermelon Ice Cream.
Christine's recipe for a lovely Melon and Capriole Goat Cheese Salad.

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Ricotta Hotcakes or Tom Brady

I am one of those people who needs 8 hours of sleep to be a functioning member of society. So I boarded my first red-eye from LA to Boston with trepidation. The flight was full but fortunately it seemed everyone had loaded up on melatonin and martinis beforehand; 30 minutes into the peaceful flight, Jeff turned and said, “See, I told you this wouldn’t be so bad.” Then it started.

“So whadda ya think about A-Rod and that new hitting coach for the Yankees?” a voice bellowed behind me.

“It ain’t the new coach that’s helping his hittin'. It’s that new 'hawt' blonde he’s got on the side,” a voice from across the aisle boomed back, followed by a deep guttural laugh that shook my whole seat.

I lifted my cute little JetBlue sleepy-time-eye-mask and peered around to see my neighbors -- exactly as I feared. Two guys sitting across from each other, one with a Red Sox hat too small for his huge head and the other with a Patriots t-shirt. This was the beginning of a 5-1/2 hour deep bonding session between them and the end of my chances to get any sleep.

Fortunately, this being JetBlue, I had a distraction (my sleeping Jeff was no help); I slipped on my free headset and started flipping channels on the mini TV. Of course, I landed on the Food Network and started watching Nigella Lawson. I had never seen her before and was smitten by her tart speech and easy demeanor, which was comforting at 2 AM. Not to mention, her food looked fabulous.

When we returned from our trip, I checked out her book Forever Summer and found her recipes were easy and amazingly delicious. One of my favorites was for ricotta hotcakes.

Ricotta hotcakes look like American pancakes but are substantially different. They're made with whisked egg whites which create a pillowy texture and with ricotta cheese which gives a subtle richness reminiscent of cheesecake. Apparently they are a staple in Australia where the hip Australian chef Bill Granger has almost single-handedly made them de rigeur for brunch.

Though scrumptious plain, they are even better with fresh fruit. Since it’s peak season for stone fruit, I decided to dress mine with some luscious honeyed peaches and nectarines and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.

At least the next time we fly a red-eye, it will be football season. Unless Nigella is on, I might just lean across the aisle and start my own conversation: "So whadda ya think about Tom Brady being the best dressed man alive?" Almost better than hotcakes. Almost.

I am submitting this recipe to Glenna of A Fridge Full of Food, this month’s host for Weekend Breakfast Blogging. She has chosen an excellent theme: ethnic dishes with a twist. This recipe is adapted from Nigella Lawson’s cookbook Forever Summer.

Ricotta Hotcakes
Print recipe only here.

Nigella says this recipe makes about 25 hotcakes. That's if you like miniature ones. I made about 12 "American sized" hotcakes.

9 ounces (1 cup plus 2 Tbsp ricotta cheese)
½ cup low fat milk
2 large eggs, separated
¾-1 cup all-purpose flour (add more to make batter thicker if necessary)
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch salt
Canola oil for the cooking the cakes o the griddle

Add ricotta, milk, and egg yolks into a bowl and mix well to combine. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt, and gently whisk to make a smooth batter.

In a glass or metal bowl, whisk egg whites until they become foamy, then fold them into the ricotta mixture.

Heat the oil on a griddle or large frying pan. Pour batter onto the griddle. Cook for about 1 minute until golden, then flip and cook another minute. Keep the cooked hotcakes warm by tenting them with foil on a large warmed plate, while you make the rest.

Serve with honeyed peaches and nectarines below, or with a topping of your choice, such as maple syrup, fresh berries, or wild honey.

Peaches and Nectarines in a Honey Syrup

¾ cup water
1/8 cup good honey
2 Tbsp sugar
A few dashes each of ground cinnamon and nutmeg
¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
1 large ripe peach, sliced
1 large rip nectarine, sliced

Combine the water, honey , and sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Continue to simmer for 3-5 minutes. Add the peaches and nectarines, lower heat to a simmer, and cook for about 6-8 minutes, until fruit is soft but not mushy. The syrup should start to reduce and thicken a bit. Allow to cool slightly before adding to the hotcakes.

When ready, place hotcakes on a plate, layering with cooking fruit and drizzling with more of the honey syrup. Garnish with a couple of slices of ripe but uncooked fruit slices, if desired.

You might also like:
Heuvos Rancheros with Salsa Verde
Nan's Potato, Pepper, and Onion Frittata
Strawberry Rhubarb Sponge Pudding
Olive Oil Cake with Rosemary and Lemon


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