A Spicy Take On Summer Corn

There's nothing like summer corn.It's sweet yet versatile, pairing with everything from butter to tomatoes.The best part is is that it can be made into any dish.One of the best is a tasty corncake,griddle cooked and topped with fresh from the garden toppings. David Tanis know this and wrote about them in his column ,A City Kitchen in yesterday's New York Times Dining section.Like most of us he prefers his ears of fresh picked and newly shucked slathered with butter and salt. However by now that can grow old.He suggests other recipes to keep up the veggie's appeal.First though, he gives a quick guide to picking the perfect ear.The husk should be a bright green and plump.There should be heft to it.That means that it's mature, with fully formed kernels and ready to take home with you.Cooking it is a matter of choice.You can easily boil it or grill it for a smokier taste.You can even microwave it.This last just requires the corn to be cooked with it's husk on and the silk(those strings that hang from it).One ear only takes three to five minutes to fully cook. Mr. Tanis opts to make corn cakes.These are a nice and tasty alternative to other corn based dishes such as chowder, creamed corn and succotash.He gives it zing with scallion and sliced jalapeño peppers.There's a homeyness to it by the addition of buttermilk and corn meal.This last is a cup and a half to give the griddle cakes a more corn cake like texture and chew.Keep the griddle medium hot to give the cakes a nice crunchy exterior.Mr.Tanis creates a kicky topping that goes well with them.This also can have your garden's or farmer's market's latest harvest.His salsa has bell peppers along with red onions and tomatoes.Lime is added to give it a Mexican vibe along with more chopped jalapenos and cilantro leaves.Sprinkle with quasi fresco, or if you don't have it, mild feta.You could also add ham bits instead of jalapeño to the batter and serve with a good dollop of sour cream or Plain Greek yogurt too for a heartier lunch or dinner. There's nothing like fresh corn to enjoy on a summer's day.However corm cakes, fresh from the griddle is taking it to a whole new level.They're a yummy way to enjoy the best of the warm weather harvest.