Friday Fixin's and such....

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* RECIPE: SPICY CORN BAKE *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* INGREDIENTS: 1/4 lb. Bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces 1/3 C. Onion, diced 1/3 C. Celery, diced 1/3 C. Green Bell Pepper, diced 1 stick, Butter (1/4 lb.), plus 2 Tbsp. melted, 1/4 C. Milk 1 can (13.5 oz. ) Cream Style Corn 1 can (13.5 oz. ) Whole Kernel Corn 2 Tbsp. Jalapenos, chopped fine 2 Tbsp. Pimentos, chopped fine 1 tsp. Salt 1 Tbsp. Sugar 2 C. Corn Bread Muffins, Crumbled DIRECTIONS: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Add onion, celery and bell pepper and saute 2 minutes over low heat; set aside. In medium-size pan, melt 1/4 pound butter; add milk, corn, jalapenos, pimentos, salt and sugar; heat over low heat. Add bacon-vegetable mixture and 1 C. corn bread crumbs to corn mixture. Heat well, stirring frequently. Transfer to an 8-inch-square-by-11/2-inch pan. Moisten remaining corn bread crumbs with remaining margarine and sprinkle on top of corn mixture. Bake at 350 degrees until crumbs are light brown Yield: 8 Servings

CORN ON THE COB...HOW TO COOK IT? Boiling: Length of cooking time depends on the freshness of the corn. If the corn is young, fresh and tender (picked that morning), remove the husks and cook for 2 minutes maximum in rapidly boiling unsalted water (salt makes the kernels tough) and forget the sugar, the corn is sweet enough. If the corn is a bit older or has been refrigerated, boil it for 4 minutes. Microwave: Best for cooking only one or two ears of corn. Cook with husks off at the highest setting (one ear for 2 minutes, two ears for 5). Rub ears with butter or olive oil before cooking, if desired. Roasting on the grill: Husks on or off, there's really no need to soak the ears or remove the silks (they'll come off with the husk). Place on hot grill. If husks are on, let them char a bit to impart a wonderfully smoky flavor to the corn and grill six to eight minutes. Or remove husks for beautiful color and taste (the heat caramelizes the sugar in the corn) and grill for 3 minutes. Roasting in the oven: Set temperature to 450 degrees and roast six to eight minutes with husk on. If you desire seasoning, first pull back the husk, rub with flavored butter or olive oil and pull the husks back over the tops. more... ENJOY! (P.S. get plenty of toothpics...!)