Sweet Corn Spectacular

The height of summer brings with it the bounty of fresh sweet corn. Grilled or boiled, slathered in butter and sprinkled with salt, corn on the cob is a mainstay of cook-out menus. But this "vegetable" can grace your plate in so many other ways. In fact, author and baker Marie Porter once devised an entire day's worth of corn-based dishes to celebrate her "corn freak" husband's birthday.

Sweet Corn Spectacular displays Porter's creative and flavor-filled approach to this North American original, making tasty use of corn kernels in the categories of appetizers, condiments, main dishes, beverages, and, of course, dessert. She shares tips for preparing fresh corn, from boiling to steaming to grilling to smoking, and then the fun begins. Follow her detailed instructions to find sweet and savory success with Corn Souffl , Roasted Corn and Potato Salad, "Midwest Goes Southwest" Hotdish, Sweet Corn Risotto, Sweet Corn Liqueur, and White Chocolate Sweet Corn Fudge. The recipes will inspire year-round use of this versatile ingredient and tasty experimenting in your own kitchen. As Porter reminds home cooks, the possibilities are endless

Sweet Corn Spectacular is the third book in the Northern Plate series, celebrating the bounty of the Upper Midwest by focusing on a single ingredient, exploring its historical uses as well as culinary applications across a range of dishes. Rhubarb Renaissance by Kim Ode and Modern Maple by Teresa Marrone are other books in the series.

Marie Porter is an award-winning cake artist based in the Twin Cities. She has published books on an assortment of topics, including The Spirited Baker, Evil Cake Overlord, Twisted: A Minneapolis Tornado Memoir, and Sewing for Skaters.