Ingredients

  • 4 large ears fresh yellow sweet corn, with husks
  • 14 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 garlic clove, minced fine
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 grinds fresh black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced (or 1 tsp dried, crushed)
  • 12 teaspoon sugar

Method

  • Carefully strip husks and cornsilk from ears, discarding silk but keeping the husks as intact as possible.
  • Rinse and put between 2 layers of paper towels to dry, pressing flat with a weight (heavy cookbook, iron pot, your husband's 9 remote controls:):) Meanwhile, put the nekkid ears in a pot of boiling water and boil for about 10-15 minutes.
  • Drain and cool until easily handled.
  • Mix all seasonings with the melted butter.
  • (You can really add anything---I think mixed Italian herbs would be nice, or even a dash of curry to go with an Indian meal.
  • Or heavy on the Cajun spices and more Tabasco for the stouthearted.
  • ).
  • Okay, here's the fun part (La D does so adore a craft activity.)
  • Carefully wrap the ears back in the husks, and bind the covering with thin strips of the husk, tamale-style, tying securely.
  • Place on tinfoil that has been pinched at the corners to form a basin, and pour the butter, etc., over all everything.
  • Wrap in more foil to seal tightly, and place on the grill while any meats are cooking.
  • When meats are done, remove the foil and let the corn grill on the rack above the hot coals.
  • The extra butter will drip down and cause a little conflagration, which will set the husks on fire (fun to watch!)
  • and char the corn slightly.
  • Remove almost instantly, get rid of the burned husks, grab the salt shaker, and enter Paradise!