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Home and Garden Events
Friday November 22, 2024 Oak Ridge, New Jersey Saturday November 23, 2024 Sparta, New Jersey Sunday November 24, 2024 Ringwood, New Jersey Sunday November 24, 2024 Denville, New Jersey
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One of the most delicious summer crops
in New Jersey is the sweet white corn.
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Fruit and vegetable stand
near Hardystown, NJ
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Sweet Corn is a delicacy found at the many farm stands
that spring up every year along the highways and back roads of North
Jersey. The silver queen hybrids are the most common type. They measure
nine to ten inches long and have tight rows of milky white, small
kernels. Sweet Corn begins appearing at roadside farm stands in New
Jersey in late June.
Sweet corn needs a fertile, well-drained, moist soil.
New Jersey's clay loam is ideal for sweet corn. Sweet corn ready to
pick when the kernels are full and "milky" and the ear silks are drying
and browning. Usually the corn is ready 18-24 days after silk first
shows.
The unusual sweetness occurs because the silver queen
and other sweet corn varieties do not turn the sugar into starch during
growth. Sweet corn hybrids are produced to slow the conversion of sugar
to starch after harvesting.
Most corn is grown for its starch content.. The most
common type of corn grown in the United States is the "Dent" corn
variety which has a high starch content. The sides of the Dent kernel
contain "hard" starch while the crown contains "soft" starch. As the
Dent grain matures, the soft starch shrinks causing a characteristic
dent. Most of the corn grown in the United States is used for livestock
feed or is exported. The corncobs are an important source of furfural,
a chemical used in manufacturing nylon fibers and purifying butadiene
in the production of synthetic rubber.
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New
Jersey sweet corn!
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Sweet corn can be prepared in quite a few ways. Among
the more popular is barbecuing the corn in the husk or boiling the
husked corn in water for 8 to 10 minutes. Either way it is a a
delicious taste treat.
Driving along Route 23 on July 4, we
were able to find some great sweet corn as well as other fresh produce
near Hardystown, NJ.
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Delicious
tomatoes, garlic, eggplant!
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Bushel baskets of large, juicy jersey
tomatoes greet visitors to North Jersey farm stands as well as peppers,
lettuce, apples and squash. Beautiful purple and sweet white eggplants
are also for sale. But, local produce is not all there is. Freshly
delivered lemons, oranges and mangoes are also available. We filled our
basket with these delicious fruits of the Garden State in anticipation
of our Independence Day barbecue.
Farm stands with fresh New Jersey produce
can be found almost any weekend (some are open weekdays as well) in the
summer months. Sweet corn season starts around July first and continues
to September fifteenth, although it is sometimes available as late as
the middle of October. Many stands are located north of Wayne, New
Jersey to the end of route 23 near Port Jervis, New York. Take a scenic
drive on route 23 north and don't forget to stock up on the Garden
State's summer bounty!
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Preparing Fresh Jersey
Sweet Corn
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Nutritional analysis per
serving (77 g, approx. 1 ear, boiled): Calories, 83; Fiber, 2 g;
Cholesterol, 0 mg; Sodium, 13 mg; Percent calories from: Protein, 4%;
Carbohydrates, 25%; Fat, 10%.
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Boiling:
- Remove husk and silk
threads from corn.
- Wash corn with clean
water.
- Fill large pot 3/4 full
with water, boil water.
- Add corn, wait til water
noils again and time 5 minutes.
- Serve with salt and
butter.
Tips: Do not
add salt to water, do not rinse corn after cooking to cool
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Barbecue:
- Soak corn with husk
attached in water for 10 to 15 minutes.
- With corn inside husk or
also wrap corn in tin foil, put on grill away from fire.
- Cook for 20 minutes
depending on heat.
- Server with salt and
butter.
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Cancun Corn:
3/4 cup chopped onions or scallions
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 large garlic clove, minced
1-1/2 cups Jersey Fresh sweet corn kernels
2-1/2 cups cooked long-grain white or brown rice
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves |
1 can of tomato sauce, 8 oz. size
1 tsp. mild chili powder
1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 Tbsp. olive oil |
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In a 12” nonstick skillet,
combine scallions, parsley, garlic and oil. Cook over medium heat,
stirring frequently, until the scallions are tender. Stir in the corn
and cook, stirring, until the corn is heated through. Stir in the
cooked rice, cilantro, tomato sauce, chili powder, thyme, and pepper.
Simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Serves 5.
Per serving: 207 calories, 0
milligrams cholesterol, 1.9 grams of total fat (8% of calories), 0.3
grams of saturated fat.
NEW
JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
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Corn Chowder:
2 lbs.
white potatoes, diced
4 celery ribs, diced
1 bay leaf
3/4 lbs. onions, finely diced
3 Tbsp. butter
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
2 tsp. cumin seeds |
3 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp. white pepper
2 cups milk
3 ears of Jersey Fresh corn, blanched, and cut from cobs
parsley, finely chopped |
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Boil potatoes with bay leaf,
until just tender in one quart of water. Sauté onions, peppers,
celery, and cumin in butter until onions are transparent. Add sage,
pepper and flour to the onion mixture with some of the potato water and
stir to make a paste. Add potatoes and the rest of the potato water and
heat. Add the milk and the corn. Heat thoroughly and garnish with
parsley. Serves 14. This is an official 5 a Day recipe.
Nutritional analysis per cup:
Calories, 127; Fiber, 5 g; Cholesterol, 8 mg; Sodium, 146 mg; Percent
calories from: Protein, 13%; Carbohydrates, 68%; Fat, 19%.
NEW
JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
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Preparing Fresh Grilled
Vegetables
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Grilled Carrots:
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1 lb. carrots, peeled
and sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper
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Pile carrots onto a large
sheet of aluminum foil with butter and honey. Add salt and pepper to
taste. Close ingredients in foil and cook indirectly on grill 30 to 45
minutes.
Approximately 4 servings,
Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories, 134; Fiber, 3 g;
Cholesterol, 16 mg; Sodium, 157 mg; Percent calories from: Protein, 1%;
Carbohydrates, 17%; Fat, 6%.
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Grilled Green Beans:
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1 lb. green beans,
rinsed with water and trimmed
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
salt and pepper
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1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon sesame seeds |
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Mix soy sauce, sesame seed
oil and sugar in small bowl. Pile beans on large sheet of tin foil.
Cover beans with soy sauce/sugar/oil mixture and sprinkle with sesame
seeds. Close foil and shake to coat beans. Place on grill away from
flame and cook for approximately 1/2 hour.
Approximately 4 servings,
Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories, 83; Fiber, 4 g;
Cholesterol, 0 mg; Sodium, 83 mg; Percent calories from: Protein, 3%;
Carbohydrates, 8%; Fat, 5%.
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Grilled Asparagus:
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1-1/2 lbs. asparagus
tops, rinsed with water and trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 to 4 garlic cloves
salt and pepper
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Combine ingredients on large
piece of tin foil, close foil, shake to coat. Cook away from flame on
grill for approximately 15 minutes.
Approximately 4 servings,
Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories, 71; Fiber, 2 g;
Cholesterol, 0 mg; Sodium, 139 mg; Percent calories from: Protein, 5%;
Carbohydrates, 4%; Fat, 6%.
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Grilled Potatoes:
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1 to 2 lbs. potatoes,
rinsed with water and cut into pieces
3 tablespoons water
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream
salt and pepper
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1/2 cup sour cream
4 teaspoons dijon mustard |
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Pile potatoes into large
sheet of tin foil with water, salt and pepper. Close foil and place on
grill away from heat. Combine remaining ingredients in bowl for the
sauce. Remove potatoes form grill after 45 minutes. Place potatoes in
serving dish and spoon sauce over top.
Approximately 4 servings,
Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories, 248; Fiber, 4 g;
Cholesterol, 21 mg; Sodium, 121 mg; Percent calories from: Protein, 7%;
Carbohydrates, 33%; Fat, 13%.
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Shellfish Barbeque:
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2 lbs. mussels,
cleaned and washed
2 lbs. littleneck clams, washed
16 large shrimp
2 tbsp. grated fresh ginger
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1 tbsp. garlic
1 lime
3/4 cup equal parts cilantro, basil and mint
1/4 cup soy sauce |
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- Preheat grill or roating
pan in 450° oven
- On double sheet of
aluminum foil approximately 1 1/2 sq. ft., pile 1/4 of shrimp, calms,
mussels, ginger and garlic. Squeeze limeover top, add 1/4 of spice
mixture and wrap tightly. Amount of food should make four aluminum foil
"wraps".
- Put wraps on grill for 10
to 15 minutes.
- Serve over bed of rice.
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| If you have a Jersey Sweet Corn or
grilled vegetable recipe, tell us about it at staff@rt23.com! |
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Farms in
the Northern New Jersey Area
 Katterman Farms
Rt 23 South, Sussex, NJ, 973-875-8171
Farm View Roadstand
945 Black Oak Ridge Rd. (Rt 202), Wayne, NJ 973-839-1212
Lucey's Berry Farm
41 Beaver Run Rd., Layfayette, NJ 973-383-4309
Ideal Farm and Garden Centre
Rts. 15 and 206 (Ross' Corner), Layfayette, NJ 973-579-3893
Brook Hollow Farm
Pick your own apples and pumpkins, roadside market. Frog Pond Rd.,
Hainesburg (Knowlton Twp.) , NJ 908-496-4577
Denville Farms in Warren County
Pick your own apples. 10 Knowlton Rd, Knowlton , NJ 908-459-9869
Donaldson Farms
Pick your own pumpkins, gourds, free wagon rides, and farm store with
fresh-baked pies. All Road, Hackettstown, NJ 908-852-9122
Glenview Farm
Pick your own pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn. 2 Glenview Lane,
Blairstown, NJ 908-362-6904
Godlewsky Farms and Greenhouses
Pick your own pumpkins. 196 Alphano Road, Great Meadows, NJ 908-637-4927
Suffern Farmers' Market
Commuter Parking Lot Orange Avenue &
Lafayette Avenue Suffern, New York - The Suffern Farmers' Market is
open every Saturday from the end of June through the end of October. It
features locally grown veggies and fruits, organics, plants, fresh
baked breads & pies, boutique wines and homemade soaps and
shampoos. The market is open from 9AM to 1PM- rain or shine, and
features live entertainment on most days! (845) 369-1350
Other Links
5 a Day Center - Have you had your 5 fruits
and veggies? 5 A Day is a national health program to encourage you to
eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
New Jersey Department of
Agriculture
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