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cooler corn

July 19, 2012 By Linda 21 Comments


corn-on-cob-made-in-cooler

 

There’s a phenomenon that happens every summer along the Lakefront in Chicago …

 

chicago_beach_lifeguard_stand_loyola

 

… and I’m not talking about the hordes of people who flock to the beaches in their swimsuits and flip flops and matching towels.

 

I’m talking about the hordes of people who flock to the green spaces surrounding the beaches.  Along the Lakefront.   And it’s not just random groups of people flocking there.  It’s full-on families.  Extended families.  Moms and dads and toddlers and teens and grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles …

 

… arriving at dawn and staying till dusk …

 

… arriving with hibachis and grills and coolers and tarps and tents and blankets and chairs and boom boxes.

 

Moving in for the long haul …

 

And as I walk past them on my way to the sandy shoreline, I can’t help but to be fascinated about what their stories may be …

 

Like how far did they travel?  How early did they need to arrive to get that prime shady spot and that prime parking spot? Do they come every day?  Is there some kind of hierarchy among the various families?  Fights about who gets what tree?  Feuding among these Lakefront neighbors  … complete with star-crossed teen lovers?

 

And I imagine they live in apartment buildings with no or limited air conditioning …

… with no or limited outdoor space …
… so the Lakefront becomes their back yard.  A reprieve on sweltering summer days …
… a giant summer-long picnic.

And as I sat on the beach lastweekend chatting with a friend while watching a woman swaying gently on a giant hammock tied between two trees, I first learned about cooler corn.

 

And I don’t mean “my corn is cooler than your corn” cooler corn.

 

You see, when some of these families first arrive at the Lakefront – and before the sun has fully risen in the sky  — they put a giant pot of water on the grill.  And while it works up to a rolling boil they husk a bunch of ears of corn.  And they place those shucked ears of corn in a clean cooler.  And when that water boils, they fill the cooler with it …

 

cooler_corn_recipe_chicago_beach

 

… right on top of that shucked corn.

 

corn_on_the_cob_recipe

 

And then they firmly shut the lid.

 

cooler_corn_recipe_chicago

And that’s where those ears of corn cook.

 

corn_in_the_cob_cooler_recipe_chicago

 

And stay. Hot.

 

cooler_corn_cooking_in_cooler

 

All. Day. Long.

 

cooler_corn_on_the_cob_recipe

 

I mean, how cool is that?

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Comments

  1. Kirby Dunton Carespodi says

    July 19, 2012 at 9:41 am

    I have never seen this…what a great idea! (Of course, my husband and I have only recently discovered microwaving corn-on-the-cob, so we are a little behind the times.

    Reply
  2. Patricia Purcell says

    July 19, 2012 at 11:15 am

    Wow, I never heard of cooking corn in the cooler! Sounds like a good way to make it for a crowd.

    Reply
  3. NanaDiana says

    July 19, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    We have parks like this down the shore from us a bit, too. I love to see all the families enjoying themselves, swimming, playing guitar, some even fishing….but I have NEVER heard of cooler corn. Wait till I tell my son about this- He is going to be on that bandwagon- xo Diana

    Reply
  4. karen@somewhatquirky says

    July 19, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    Pretty dang cool. A must try! The cook in me has questions though…how long do they leave it before they first eat it? Does it taste any different at the end of the day than when it is first put in?

    Reply
  5. Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap says

    July 19, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    that is SO cool! or HOT!

    Reply
  6. Artsy VaVa says

    July 19, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    Very cool! I’ve never heard of doing corn that way!

    Reply
  7. Elena says

    July 19, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    I used to have those same thoughts as I walked along the lakefront. (And now I’m feeling a little nostalgic for Chicago.) Pinning your cooler corn now 🙂

    Reply
  8. Bliss says

    July 19, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    That is cool! Never heard of it, and I do have cool corn, so I’m gonna pin this to remind me how I can have even cooler corn.

    ~Bliss~

    Reply
  9. Amy@BuffaloRoam says

    July 19, 2012 at 3:18 pm

    Brilliant! Must pin and remember!!

    Reply
  10. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    July 19, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    that cooler corn IS in fact cooler than my corn.

    Reply
  11. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    July 19, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    I’ve seen this all over Pinterest, but haven’t tried it yet. It seems too good to be true!

    Reply
  12. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    July 19, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    OK…I have lived near the beach and had many a beach picnic all my life and have never heard of Cooler Corn…so much classier than wrapping it in foil and leaving it on the dashboard of the car!!!…Now just throw a couple of sticks of butter in the water and perfection!!

    Reply
  13. maritapollimages says

    July 19, 2012 at 5:52 pm

    Love it! Yes indeed, my grandmother would tell me that in the good old days in Chicago- they had no air conditioning- and on the REALLY hot days they would go down to SLEEP at the beach…but they didn’t bring any cooler corn. Gotta try that one!

    Reply
  14. Bronwyn says

    July 19, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    No way! I can’t believe it! Who would have ever thought! I have pinned this for future camping trips. Amazing.

    By the way – I love your porch makeover. That painted rug is extraordinary!

    PS I am your newest follower.
    Bronwyn @ Queen B Creative Me

    Reply
  15. Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made says

    July 19, 2012 at 7:53 pm

    Never, ever heard of this! I think this is just the greatest idea — you could boil the water at home and head out and enjoy your piping hot corn whenever you’re ready to picnic that day! Fantastic – thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  16. Jessica @ HomewithBaxter says

    July 20, 2012 at 2:35 am

    This post speaks of SUMMER! Love it! And no, I’ve never heard of cooler corn, but that’s genius.

    Reply
  17. Corn in my Coffee-Pot says

    July 20, 2012 at 2:36 am

    ha ha ha! What a fantastic way to cook corn!
    Now…if you have no pot with a fire to cook your corn…
    There is always the coffee pot method!
    🙂
    Pat

    Reply
  18. Merri Jo says

    July 20, 2012 at 4:12 am

    That is SO cool! We’ve wondered if there’s a lottery for those spots…one year on the 3rd for the fireworks, a family told us they had “staked their claim” two DAYS earlier!!

    Reply
  19. Eclectically Vintage says

    July 20, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    While I don’t like being body to body at the beach, I do love me some good corn (as long as I’ve got my trusty dental floss at the ready)!

    Never heard of this – but what a great idea! Now I’ll be sporting bits of corn in my teeth as I catch some rays!
    Kelly

    Reply
  20. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    July 23, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    NO NO NO! Don’t do it.

    Coolers have plastic made of BPA, which leeches into your food when it gets hot. This is SUCH a bad idea. BPA is nasty, nasty junk. Resist!!

    Whew. Sorry. I get a little bit crazy when it comes to BPA.

    Reply
  21. Sheila @sZinteriors says

    July 30, 2012 at 11:20 pm

    I’ve never heard of this, and until I read Kelly’s comment, was ready to share this all over FB and Twitter. I mean, this is just way too cool to resist… I love the idea of it. It’s so easy and perfect for the beach. But what Kelly said makes sense. Such a bummer to have to let this one go 🙁

    Reply

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