Healthy Southern Summer Corn Salad Recipe With Delicious Sunshine Sweet Corn #SweetLife

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom CentralConsulting for Sunshine Sweet Corn. I received a gift card to purchase a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I'm a Southerner through and through, especially when it comes to eating fresh fruits and veggies! When Spring rolls around each year I get so excited because that means the produce will be brighter, fresher and in season. April in Georgia means Strawberry pickin' time. April is also when we plant our corn and tomatoes, which are two must-haves for ever southern kitchen and meal. I love them all, but there is one that stands out much more than others: Sunshine Sweet Corn! No regular corn will do... I want the sweet, crunchy corn that makes your mouth water. These are the reasons Sunshine Sweet Corn stands out in my mind and why I pick it up as soon as it is in season. Nothing is as satisfying as that first bite in the spring, when the corn crunches between your teeth and the sweet taste makes you smile.

Here in the south, we use corn for many different recipes. In fact, last year I wrote about my favorite creamed sweet corn recipe, which just happens to be one of my favorite side dishes of the spring. Okay, I say it is a side dish, but many others, my uncle included, would tell you creamed corn stands on its own!

Enter To Win

Sunshine Sweet Corn is kicking off this Spring season with their "Livin' The Sweet Live" Pinterest contest! How do you enter? You "pin" an image from the Sunshine Sweet Corn contest homepage to your own Pinterest account using the hashtage #Sweetlife. You have a chance to win one of three amazing prize packages, each worth over $200!!

To celebrate this fun contest, we decided to make another one of our favorite side dishes, a Southern Summer Corn Salad! This dish is not only easy to make, but healthy and can be used in other dishes as well!

Southern Summer Corn Salad Recipe (serves 4)

• 3-4 large ears husked Sweet Corn
• 1/3-1/2 Vidalia onion, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1-2 peeled carrot, sliced
• 4 mushrooms, sliced
• 1 package cherry tomatoes, sliced
• 1 lime
• 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar (homemade or store bought will do)
• Salt/Pepper to taste

Some prefer to boil/cook corn for this recipe, but I like it raw because it is crunchier and sweeter! If you do decide to cook them, fill up a large pot full of water, bring to a boil before adding the corn on the cob. Once boiling, add the corn for 3-5 minutes. Slice up each of the ingredients except the lime and you will already see a beautiful variety of summer colors on your counter (this is when my mouth already starts to water:

One by one, add the ingredients to your serving dish beginning with corn on the bottom. Then, squeeze lime juice across the top of the mixture. Carefully toss the salad with your hands to spread each of the ingredients around the corn. Lastly, add your vinegar and toss again.

There are, of course, many other variations to this recipe, but I prefer this way since it is healthier. Sometimes we use cucumbers (but the one I bought earlier mysteriously disappeared!?), others use vinaigrette and some use oil with the vinegar. I find this way is just as delicious and makes a great summer side dish.

Have Leftovers? Do not despair! 

This is perfect for sandwiches and wraps! spread hummus onto your wrap, add the summer corn salad and you have a great lunch or mid-afternoon snack. Yummy! This is what we will be eating for for lunch tomorrow.

What is your favorite Sweet Corn recipe? Be sure to let me know in a comment below and don't forget to enter the Sunshine Sweet Corn "Livin' The Sweet Live" Pinterest contest! It ends on May 15th, so don't wait too long.

Southern-Style Creamed Corn with Delicious Sunshine Sweet Corn #MomCentral

One of our staple foods here is Georgia is corn. Nothing is better in the summer than fresh sweet corn on the cob. Some of us, including myself, eat it raw. I love the crunchy sweet taste! We are working with Mom Central and Sunshine Sweet Corn to tell you just how delicious it really is and how many great recipes you can make with it, not just in the summer, but in spring, too!

One of my favorite southern recipes is creamed corn. There is, of course, also corn souffle, corn chowder and even corn salad. All of those are at the top of my list. Not only is sweet corn delicious, but also great for you. It provides fiber and whole grains and is a great way to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and more. I didn't even know this until I did some research, but corn also contains antioxidants that help vision and protect eyes.

We looked at all of the great recipes on the Sunshine Sweet Corn site, but decided to cook my favorite corn recipe, creamed corn. This recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. My grandmother taught my mom and then my mom taught me how to make many, many southern dishes.The recipe does not have exact measurements, mind you... In the south, we like to taste our food as we cook it and add in more ingredients if needed.
Before making the creamed corn, you need to know how to cut the corn off the cob! These informational video shows you a great way to do so:

 Here's the recipe:

Southern-Style Creamed Corn

Ingredients:

6 ears of supersweet corn, husked
sugar
salt
milk
butter
water
all-purpose flour
reserved bacon grease

Directions:
After the corn is husked and wiped clean, cut the corn off of the cob with a paring knife into a mixing bowl. Then, use the back of the knife to scrap all of the delicious corn juice out of what is left on the cob.

Mix together: 1 Tablespoon of flour, 1 Tablespoon sugar,  1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Once mixed together with the corn and mix well.

Heat the skillet to medium-high heat and stay close-by. Use about 1-2 Tablespoons of  reserved bacon grease to grease the skillet well before adding the corn. Once it is melted, add the creamed corn mixture.

Turn down the heat to medium-low and continue watching/stirring the mixture. It will become creamier as time goes on. If you have added too much water, the flour will absorb the liquid, so add more. If you find it is too salty for your taste, add a bit more sugar and vice versa.

There is no exact science to making creamed corn. The best way to make it is to use the items you have on hand and taste as you go. You don't need fancy ingredients or anything impressive to make an absolutely delicious dish from corn! That's my southern style creamed corn in the picture above, served with some fresh black pepper. I think that's the best way to eat it. I made it look all pretty with photo editing, but honestly it looks a little plain... until you take a bite. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

What is your favorite way to eat corn? There are so many different ways to eat corn that it really is hard to decide. My husband loves corn chowder! Have a great spring and summer... and don't forget to eat lots and lots of fresh Sunshine Sweet Corn!!!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Sunshine Sweet Corn. I was reimbursed to purchase Sweet Corn and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.