Corn on the Cob for Beginners

A young city girl and her mom visit her country uncle and get lesson in Corn on the Cob.

Corn on the Cob For Beginners

“What’s that?”.
“Corn”.
“It is not.”.
“Sure it is Nat. Come ‘ere and help.”.
“No way!”.
“Come on, it’s fun!”.
“Not me! It’s dirty and what’s that stringy looking stuff?”.
“Your gonna love it.”.
“I’m not eating THAT! I want regular food.”.
“This is as regular as it gets.”.

Nat and Sylvia, Nat’s mom, are visiting Sylvia's brother. Nat is 10 and hasn’t in her memory ever been out of the city. Food, she is sure, comes nicely packed from the grocery store. For a 10 year old she’s not a bad cook. Nat follows instructions dutifully and it usually turns out OK. She is especially proud of her eggs over easy.

Nat rounded the corner of the house again.

“WHAT are you doing NOW?”.
“Plucking the chicken. Wanna help?”.
“That isn’t even what chicken looks like!”.
Rob turned it over so Nat can see the feet.
“THAT is DISGUSTING! Mom! This place SUCKS!”.

Nat went to her phone to get solace from her friends.

Rob is having fun.

Sylvia stepped out of the house, “What are you doing to my kid!?”.
“Educatin’”, you should try it.”.
“Shut up brat. Beer?”.
“Yes please.”.
“On it’s way.”.

An hour later they sat down for corn on the cob, fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

Nat said, “This smells good Mom, where did you order from?”.
Rob let her know, “We don’t order out much here. Dig in Nat.”.
“Is that the corn? How do you get it off that thing?”.
Mom said, “It’s called a cob Nat. Rob, why don't you show her how it’s done.”.

Rob put a cob on Nat’s plate and another on his.
“First, take a piece of bread and put a big chunk of butter on it.“.
Nat watched and did as he did, ‘big whoop.’.
“Good, now grab the cob in one hand and the bread in the other and roll the cob in the butter. Like this.”.
“It’s hot!”.
“Sorry, here…”.
Rob pushed a cob holder in each end and put it back on Nat’s plate.
“Try it now.”.
Nat held the cob by a holder and rested the it on the butter. She twirled with flare for a long time making sure the corn was thoroughly soaked in butter. Kinda fun.
“Great job! Now for a little salt and pepper. Rest one end on the plate and turn.”.
Rob did a few Nat twirls while shaking the salt and pepper mix.
Nat did the same, she was getting good at this and was sure it completed her cooking skills.
Rob said, “That’s it! We’re ready.”.
Nat asked, “So how do you get it off the cob thing?”.

Mom smirked, “Watch Uncle Rob, he’s good at this.”.
Rob opened his mouth wide and took a big bite of corn right off the cob. Bits of corn and butter dribble down his chin.
“Too messy!”
Mom gave her permission, “Messy is OK Nat. Messy is good. Go for it!”. She tossed a kitchen towel at her.
“Okaaay.”. Nat took a tentative bite.
“Hey, Go big or go home!”. Rob leaned over his plate and with a twinkle, looked her straight in the eye and ran the cob across his mouth chomping his way through a whole row of corn in one big, loud, messy, tasty bite.
Nat laughed and took up the challenge.
Cob to mouth, she took a big bite, stopped, looked her uncle in the eye and chomped her way across half the cob. Butter was dripping onto her lap. She took a moment, smiled and buzz sawed her way with wide eyes and great fanfare through the rest of the row.
“THE best EVER!”. She grabbed the towel and ran it up her neck and chin.

Mom said, “Good eh? Now for the bread.”.
“The soggy one I used to butter the corn?”.
Rob said, “That’s the one.”.
First a little bite. “WOW!”, she gulped some cold water and took a few more bites, not quite remembering any manners.

Mom reminded her, “Nat, try Uncle Rob’s chicken.”
Nat asked her uncle, “Is that…?”.
“Yep, try it.”
Nat trusted them more now so she took a bite, “Good, better than KFC!”.
“Gee thanks.”

Corn on the cob fascinated Nat, ‘So that’s were corn comes from and that’s how you make it.’.

She prepared her second cob thoughtfully carrying out each step.

1. Poke each end of the cob with a holder. It’s OK to hold it with a napkin or paper towel at first.
2. Put a chunk of butter on the bread... more butter.
3. Grab the cob by a holder. It almost fell off the holder, noted.
4. Twist on the buttered bread until all the corn is covered with melted butter.
5. Hold the cob by a holder and turn under the salt and pepper shaker.
6. Inspect. Perfect.

Nat was excited to teach her friends all about corn the cob. She went to her phone and talked with the air of an experienced expert.

Rob was thinking rabbit stew for tomorrow. Maybe a pig roast on the weekend.

Word count: 857