Tag: Cape Cod

Local Corn? Native Corn? To Peel or Not to Peel? and Other Corn Questions

Sweet Corn from local farms is the only kind that we buy around here. Over on Chowhound there has been an interesting "Native Corn" discussion going on all month. This was triggered by the early appearance of sweet corn in the Boston market.

For our take on the subject, we're updating some information we ran back in 2010. What was true then is even truer today.

“Knee high by the Fourth of July” is a nice rhyme, but this year some farmers were actually able to bring their golden ears to market by Independence Day.

Early hybrid corn varieties not only extend the corn season, but also stay sweeter longer than the heirloom versions.

Great Varieties with Great Names
Ask about the variety of sweet corn a farmer is selling. That way you’ll begin to develop your own "favorites list." Look for these in local markets: Honey & Cream, Silver Queen, Sugar & Butter, Sundance, Sugar Buns, and Early Sunglow.

And, if you find one with “Mirai” in it’s name, grab it. It’s rare, but Penny says it’s one of the best she’s ever tasted.

To Tear or Not to Tear
One Cape Cod farm where we buy corn has a sign that reads, “Sweet corn 50¢ an ear, tear the husk and it’s $2 an ear.”

You don’t have to tear down the husk and make part of the farmer’s crop unsaleable to buy great sweet corn.

Look for corn that has moist, dark-brown, almost sticky silk and a husk that doesn’t feel dry. You can feel the kernels by pressing gently on the husk to determine if the ear is fully developed and plump.

Corn should not be peeled down until just before you’re ready to drop it into a steaming cook pot.

Do you have a sweet corn question? If so add your sweet corn thoughts or questions in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email. We'll talk to our favorite farmers and try to get an answer.

Related Links:

Cooking Sweet Corn: Microwave, Grilling, and Elote!
Penny’s Corn & Potato Salad

Penny’s weapon of choice for working with corn is her favorite Shun Santoku Knife. But, if you like gadgets, they make a lot of them for sweet corn.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010 – 2015 Penny Cherubino

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Our July Sparkler Is Bursting with Bubbles! Jean-François Mérieau Bulles (2009)

Edible Boston's Summer 2015 Issue Has Arrived!

Growing Fond of the Boston Public Garden Fence

July 23, 2015
Local Corn? Native Corn? To Peel or Not to Peel? and Other Corn Questions

Sweet Corn from local farms is the only kind that we buy around here. Over on Chowhound there has been an interesting "Native Corn" discussion going on all month. This was triggered by the early appearance of sweet corn in the Boston market.

For our take on the subject, we're updating some information we ran back in 2010. What was true then is even truer today.

“Knee high by the Fourth of July” is a nice rhyme, but this year some farmers were actually able to bring their golden ears to market by Independence Day.

Early hybrid corn varieties not only extend the corn season, but also stay sweeter longer than the heirloom versions.

Great Varieties with Great Names
Ask about the variety of sweet corn a farmer is selling. That way you’ll begin to develop your own "favorites list." Look for these in local markets: Honey & Cream, Silver Queen, Sugar & Butter, Sundance, Sugar Buns, and Early Sunglow.

And, if you find one with “Mirai” in it’s name, grab it. It’s rare, but Penny says it’s one of the best she’s ever tasted.

To Tear or Not to Tear
One Cape Cod farm where we buy corn has a sign that reads, “Sweet corn 50¢ an ear, tear the husk and it’s $2 an ear.”

You don’t have to tear down the husk and make part of the farmer’s crop unsaleable to buy great sweet corn.

Look for corn that has moist, dark-brown, almost sticky silk and a husk that doesn’t feel dry. You can feel the kernels by pressing gently on the husk to determine if the ear is fully developed and plump.

Corn should not be peeled down until just before you’re ready to drop it into a steaming cook pot.

Do you have a sweet corn question? If so add your sweet corn thoughts or questions in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email. We'll talk to our favorite farmers and try to get an answer.

Related Links:

Cooking Sweet Corn: Microwave, Grilling, and Elote!
Penny’s Corn & Potato Salad

Penny’s weapon of choice for working with corn is her favorite Shun Santoku Knife. But, if you like gadgets, they make a lot of them for sweet corn.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010 – 2015 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Our July Sparkler Is Bursting with Bubbles! Jean-François Mérieau Bulles (2009)

Edible Boston's Summer 2015 Issue Has Arrived!

Growing Fond of the Boston Public Garden Fence

July 23, 2015
The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor

We all know the standing joke about the wet dog who runs to the nearest dry human and shakes the water off his or her fur. On our last visit to Provincetown, I watched this group of very polite wet dogs.

A kind man waited patiently on the sand to throw and rethrow the balls the dogs love to fetch.

Perhaps that man had worked on some special beach training to direct wet dogs racing his way to the place where he wanted them to shake.

If it did, the training was a success because these dogs did their shaking far from him.

This one had a good shake before leaving the water.

This one shook as soon as his paws hit the sand.

The trio would line up politely and wait for the next batch of balls to be tossed.

This young pup was the strongest swimmer but the other two did get their share of the prizes.

Thanks for the fun I had watching you romp and swim. See you all next trip!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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My Little Sunday Dog …

A Sunday Beach Dog Playing on the Tidal Flats

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June 21, 2015
The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor

We all know the standing joke about the wet dog who runs to the nearest dry human and shakes the water off his or her fur. On our last visit to Provincetown, I watched this group of very polite wet dogs.

A kind man waited patiently on the sand to throw and rethrow the balls the dogs love to fetch.

Perhaps that man had worked on some special beach training to direct wet dogs racing his way to the place where he wanted them to shake.

If it did, the training was a success because these dogs did their shaking far from him.

This one had a good shake before leaving the water.

This one shook as soon as his paws hit the sand.

The trio would line up politely and wait for the next batch of balls to be tossed.

This young pup was the strongest swimmer but the other two did get their share of the prizes.

Thanks for the fun I had watching you romp and swim. See you all next trip!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

My Little Sunday Dog …

A Sunday Beach Dog Playing on the Tidal Flats

Wolfgang: Tiny Dog with a Big Name

June 21, 2015
Get Ready for Amtrak’s “All Aboard” for Dogs & Cats

It was just a couple of weeks ago when we asked you to "Lend Your Support to Allowing Dogs & Cats on Amtrak." The good news is that the bill we asked you to support has passed. While the bureaucrats slowly set up the program, you can get your companion animals ready to be great passengers.

Train on Local Trains

Our Poppy is a subway pro. We take her on the MBTA often enough to keep her acclimatized to the noise, crowded conditions, and movement of the trains. But, as someone who has ridden trains along the Northeast corridor, I know that the motion of those trains is not exactly the same as subway sways.

Commuter rail photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism

Under MBTA pet guidelines, your dog or cat is already welcome aboard the Commuter Rail. Pick a destination where you and your dog can have some fun and plan a day trip this spring.

How about Salem as a first trip? It's a fairly short, half hour ride with lots to do when you get there. (In summer, there is also a ferry to Salem which can be a great way to get a dog ready for boat rides.)

If that works out, you could try Newburyport for the next destination – it takes a little more than an hour to reach and should be a good test.

It would be a good idea for us to get Poppy used to riding in her Sherpa Pet Carrier because we usually travel off-peak on the subway and can hold her in a lap or in our arms.

CapeFLYER Is Pet Friendly

If a trip to Cape Cod is more to your liking, you and your dog or cat can ride the CapeFLYER to one of its stops, once the train resumes for the summer season. Pets ride free aboard this popular service. And, I have to wonder if the pet option is one of the reasons it was an immediate success.

Acela photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism

New York, Portland, and Philadelphia Here We Come!

Once we are allowed to take Poppy with us, we'll be on board for three of our favorite car-free destinations: New York City, Philadelphia, and Portland, Maine.

Downeaster photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism

The Downeaster to Portland should be one of the first test routes considering how dog-friendly that city happens to be. And, we look forward to spending more time in New York and Philadelphia.

Where will you go by train with your favorite companion animal?

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

*

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: istockphoto for the traveling dog image. Trains are courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism used under this creative commons license.

March 8, 2015
Describing Provincetown, MA

Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod is a place so beautiful that it has attracted generations of artists and writers who have found the light that bounces around from sea, sand, and sky inspiring.

Michael Cunningham, in his book Land's End: A Walk in Provincetown, writes:

"… the land on which Provincetown is built is essentially a sandbar, tenuously connected to the mainland, continually reconfigured by the actions of tides. When Thoreau went there in the mid-1800s, he called it 'a filmy sliver of land lying flat on the ocean, a mere reflection of a sand-bar on the haze above.' It has not changed much since then, at least not when seen from a distance. Built as it is at the very end of the Cape, which unfurls like a genie's shoe from the coastline of Massachusetts, it follows the curve of a long, lazy spiral and looks not out to sea but in, toward the thicker arm of the Cape."

This is a very special place. It's our escape when we need a break from Boston. At the same time, it is an urban space where you can arrive by ferry or park the car and not really need it for the time you are there.

This photo and others from our site and published work are available in our Photo Galleries over on SmugMug.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

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Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

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May 13, 2014
Describing Provincetown, MA

Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod is a place so beautiful that it has attracted generations of artists and writers who have found the light that bounces around from sea, sand, and sky inspiring.

Michael Cunningham, in his book Land's End: A Walk in Provincetown, writes:

"… the land on which Provincetown is built is essentially a sandbar, tenuously connected to the mainland, continually reconfigured by the actions of tides. When Thoreau went there in the mid-1800s, he called it 'a filmy sliver of land lying flat on the ocean, a mere reflection of a sand-bar on the haze above.' It has not changed much since then, at least not when seen from a distance. Built as it is at the very end of the Cape, which unfurls like a genie's shoe from the coastline of Massachusetts, it follows the curve of a long, lazy spiral and looks not out to sea but in, toward the thicker arm of the Cape."

This is a very special place. It's our escape when we need a break from Boston. At the same time, it is an urban space where you can arrive by ferry or park the car and not really need it for the time you are there.

This photo and others from our site and published work are available in our Photo Galleries over on SmugMug.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

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The Canteen in Provincetown Is Added to Our Favorites List

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May 13, 2014
Poppy’s Provincetown Report

Duchess Poppy spent her second birthday in Provincetown. This is her report …

If you'd like to go to a very dog friendly place, I recommend Provincetown. Not only were the pups on the street happy to share a sniff, but you can even go to a restaurant patio with your people. And, lots of shops are happy to have a well-behaved dog (like moi) assist their family with a bit of shopping.

The downside of all this dining and shopping and sniffing is that vacationing can make even a young pup like me very tired. Make sure you catch a nap when you can. As you can see, I packed my Mambe blanket so I could stretch out on the sofa just like I do at home.

At the beach, I met this old gent who showed me how to walk on the rocks without hurting my paws. He's kind of a Yoda to younger dogs. He said he learned from Yoda who told him, "Always pass on what you have learned."

I really like "decking." That's when you share a chaise lounge with one of your favorite people while they read. I even liked doing this when the wind was messing up my hairstyle.

Lots of great dogs live in Provincetown. This Corgi was taking time to enjoy the sun and smell the pansies.

The bestest thing about Provencetown is that you get lots of snuggle time with your family. They are not so busy and after all the long walks we took, they were ready to settle down, and let me curl up and pillow my little head on them.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Duchess Poppy Whitehead as dictated to Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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May 11, 2014
Poppy’s Provincetown Report

Duchess Poppy spent her second birthday in Provincetown. This is her report …

If you'd like to go to a very dog friendly place, I recommend Provincetown. Not only were the pups on the street happy to share a sniff, but you can even go to a restaurant patio with your people. And, lots of shops are happy to have a well-behaved dog (like moi) assist their family with a bit of shopping.

The downside of all this dining and shopping and sniffing is that vacationing can make even a young pup like me very tired. Make sure you catch a nap when you can. As you can see, I packed my Mambe blanket so I could stretch out on the sofa just like I do at home.

At the beach, I met this old gent who showed me how to walk on the rocks without hurting my paws. He's kind of a Yoda to younger dogs. He said he learned from Yoda who told him, "Always pass on what you have learned."

I really like "decking." That's when you share a chaise lounge with one of your favorite people while they read. I even liked doing this when the wind was messing up my hairstyle.

Lots of great dogs live in Provincetown. This Corgi was taking time to enjoy the sun and smell the pansies.

The bestest thing about Provencetown is that you get lots of snuggle time with your family. They are not so busy and after all the long walks we took, they were ready to settle down, and let me curl up and pillow my little head on them.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Duchess Poppy Whitehead as dictated to Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Fumar, Smoking Up the Sand in Provincetown

Poppy Thinks Autumn Is "Sniffing Season"

May 11, 2014
Provincetown in Early Spring

We just returned from a two week escape to Provincetown, MA. Early spring gave us a new perspective on the town and another time when we know we can enjoy this lovely place.

This was the view from our new favorite deck. The moorings were empty, the sea was stormy, there was a mist in the air, but it was a beautiful, restful, and peaceful day.

In the next couple of weeks, we'll drop in more photos and give you more reasons why you might want to enjoy Provincetown now as locals and visitors return, shops and restaurants begin to open, and the quiet is deeply soothing.

Here's a link to all our Provincetown posts.

This photo and others are available from our gallery. Here's the link to this one.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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May 8, 2014