A Nation Obsessed With Sweet Corn

When I first arrived here and had a tuna fish and corn sandwich for the first time, I thought "oh that's a creative idea," but it turns out there is no creativity in that. It is just what the English people do. They put corn on and in everything and insist on calling it sweet corn instead of corn. Farm friends, isn't all corn that humans eat technically sweet? English friends, feel free to shorten it to just "corn." Also, feel free to move on from canned corn. I never thought I'd say this, but there's a whole world of corn out there waiting to be eaten.

I've seen sweet corn available as a pizza topping, a can of Green Giant sweet corn littering the streets, eaten sweet corn in tuna hot dish, enjoyed it in cold pasta salads, and now have enjoyed it at a fast food restaurant. Perhaps the U.S. and the U.K. really are two peas in a pod. ;o)

Exhibit A: sweet corn as an optional veg at Subway to make your sandwich your way.


Exhibit B: a British recipe for American Corn Chowder, featuring sweet corn.
Ingredients
* 100 g streaky bacon, diced
* 1 onion, chopped
* 1 stick celery, sliced
* 1 green pepper, diced
* 2 medium potatoes, cubed
* ½ tsp paprika
* 1 stock cube made up to 600ml with boiling water
* 1 bay leaf
* 450 ml semi skimmed milk
* 2 tbsp cornflour
* 225 g sweetcorn kernels
* Freshly ground black pepper
* Chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Method

1. Cook the diced pieces of bacon in a large saucepan over a medium heat until the fat runs.
2. Add the onion, celery and green pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes until all the vegetables have softened.
3. Add the cubed potatoes and paprika, stir well then pour in the stock.
4. Add the bay leaf and then slowly bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Cover and cook for 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender, then add the milk mixed with the cornflour.
6. Add the sweetcorn and then simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the soup thickens.
7. Season and sprinkle with chopped, fresh parsley to serve.

Speaking of vegetables, it is definitely spring time here and I have a feeling a lot of English farmers and gardeners are getting inspired to do some planting with some great trees and bulbs like these to encourage them.