Mama’s Fried Creamed Corn

Corn and Bacon, Together at Last

After the casserole from a few days ago, I had some leftover Smart Bacon lurking in my fridge. The bacon just sat there, looking at me as if to say: so now what?

Luckily, Pandacookie had already done the thinking for me and suggested I attempt the fried creamed corn. Not wanting to dissapoint, and since corn is in season and an actual vegetable, well almost a vegetable, I decided to go for it.

But first I had to muster the strength to pry myself off of the couch, no easy task when you have been eating leftover cheezy hamtube and banana casserole for 3 days straight.

So you may be asking, what is fried creamed corn? Answer: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/mamas-fried-cream-corn-recipe/index.html

For those who do not want to follow the link, it is corn that is fried in a mixture of rendered bacon fat and butter. I would never subject poor corn to such a humiliating demise.

I went for a half batch, since I am only cooking for two, and it ended up being enough for 4.  The original recipe needed some help. First of all 12 ears of corn does not serve 4 people, it serves many many more than that. Second of all, I wouldn’t call this recipe “fried” there isn’t a high enough fat:corn ratio.

You Ain’t My Mama Fried Creamed Corn

• 6 ears corn
• 6 slices Smart Bacon (or other equivalent)
• 1/8 cup Earth Balance (EB), plus 1 TBS for bacon “rendering”
• A few drops of liquid smoke
• 1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk

1. Remove the corn from the cob, I find this is most easily accomplished by holding the cob at a 45 degree angle and running a chef’s knife down the cob in a gentle sawing motion. Make sure you scrape it to get the starchy liquid!
2. Slice your bacon into large-ish chunks. I found the Smart bacon to be difficult to separate out into individual slices, so I just left them in the stack that they came in, and cross cut them into 1/2 inch slices. The stacked slices separated easily once they were in the skillet.
3. Cook bacon in a large skillet, with 1 TBS earth balance until crisped and a slightly darker red in color, about 5 minutes total on medium high heat. Remove from skillet, leaving EB behind, and set aside.
4. Add remaining Earth Balance to the same skillet you used to cook the smart bacon. Add a drop or three of liquid smoke, to help emulate bacon grease. Allow EB to melt and get hot over medium high heat.
5. Add corn and fry in hot EB for 1-2 minutes, mashing lightly with the back of a wooden spoon. Add soy milk, lower heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the corn is done.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with reserved bacon and serve.