We Called it Maize, I Called it an Educational Commentary

For the first time ever, I am boldly going where no keyboard has walked. So I do a lousy William Shatner impression. I never claimed to be. In all sincerity, I had a driving urge to present a brief-but-educational commentary concerning Corn and the Many Things that corn is possible for. Some of these things and items may cause you to relive a childhood memory that (hopefully) this piece generated. Thank you, Kenneth.

in the paragraph above the photo of Yellow Corn, everyone I know is familiar with corn. Corn has been a staple in the USA prior to Columbus and the Pilgrims. "Maize" was what our fore fathers called corn by the Indians. Why corn, I could never figure.

Corn was the "Bridge to Peace" among the Pilgrims and Indians who formed friendships and very valuable allies. The Indians, God bless them, saved the Pilgrims who did not one thing about agriculture from the planting to the plowing. This is where I need you to pat every Indian in America on the back for saving some needy-souls. If you had any ancestors among the Pilgrims that the Indians saved, please enjoy a prideful moment.

Corn is a great source for carbohydrates and natural sugars. I can say with a clear conscience, that if it weren't for my sainted mother, I would have never started eating vegetables. True. I hated veggies from the "V" to the "S." But if she prepared a meat item for a meal, I loved it. Meat loaf, a rare treat, was my favorite. But put the green beans on the table and I suddenly had to run outside to find something. ( I wasn't a prolific excuse writer as a kid).

Speaking of corn's multiple uses, here is a great recipe for Corn Cob Jelly:

1.) Cut corn kernels from cobs and reserve for another recipe.

2.) In a stockpot, place corncobs and water; bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, 10 minutes.

Discard cobs; strain liquid through cheesecloth. Liquid should measure 3 cups....

3.) Return to stockpot and stir in pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil.

I am so happy to have found so many different ways to enjoy corn. I remember when I was five when my sainted mother would give me yellow corn for lunch. She would cut off the kernels into an iron skillet and with a little water and a pat or two of margarine, lunch was ready. And I can tell you the truth. I did not like eating vegetables. But my mom tricked me into eating corn by calling it Natural Sugar and knowing my love for sweets, I dove into the corn and never turned back. She told me that the white corn was White Sugar Additive. I was no expert, but I knew what was good.

Along with Corn Cob Jelly, Yellow and White Corn, there were and are people who use real corn cobs for a pipe for using tobacco. No joke. I don't use it, but I found out in my Corn Research that Corn Cob Pipes and Straw Hats were the True Wardrobe for Hillbillies. The Corn Hole Game started me wondering if ever should look into a game such as this.

Then came "Kornfield Kounty" on CBSs "Hee Haw," the show that critics said would not last one day--and stayed on the air 20 years. So much for critics and "korny" jokes, huh? I was going to bring up people used to be called "corn fed," but what was too callused. Not from doing manual labor, but getting corn from the cob.