“It is not elegant to gnaw Indian corn. The kernels should be scored with a knife, scraped off into the plate, and then eaten with a fork. Ladies should be particularly careful how they manage so ticklish a dainty, lest the exhibition rub off a little desirable romance.”

CHARLES DAY, 1844

I do not even know who Charles Day is, but never have so many errors been made in one statement.

It is the time of year when fresh sweet corn is available at the market. By the size of the crowds gathered around the truck beds of corn, I know many Anderson County residents feel the same way I do about this sweet, succulent treat.

Unlike Mr. Day, I believe the best way to enjoy it is to grab an ear, hit it with some butter and salt, and start gnawing like a beaver working a tree. You will know you are doing it right when the juice and melted butter are dripping off your chin.

Who wants to wait until the kernels have been “scraped off into the plate”? The only time I eat corn with a fork is during the cold, dark months of winter, when the only corn I can get is what my mother-in-law froze during the summer. Otherwise corn should be gnawed on the cob, elegant or not.

Furthermore, don’t worry about the exhibition rubbing off “a little desirable romance;” a man worth having will appreciate your passion for the good things in life. My wife uses a technique I can only compare to an old-fashion typewriter, moving left to right, line by line until the tasty morsels are completely removed. No romance has been rubbed off here! In fact, I would say the buttery kernels of goodness create a happier family; it’s hard to be angry when you eat something this good.

Do yourself and your family a favor, and get on down to the Farmers Market and enjoy one of Anderson’s summer treats.