A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?

Thanks,
-bwg

wrote:
> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>
I've had huitlacoche in quesadillas and in tamales in Oaxaca but have
never seen it for sale in the States except in cans. Search
<www.gourmetsleuth.com> for 'huitlacoche' and you'll find some
interesting info. I'm pretty sure one of Diana Kennedy's books has
some recipes for it, too. -aem

On 18 Jul 2006 15:01:29 -0700, "aem" > wrote:

>
wrote:
>> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
>> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
>> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>>
>I've had huitlacoche in quesadillas and in tamales in Oaxaca but have
>never seen it for sale in the States except in cans. Search
><www.gourmetsleuth.com> for 'huitlacoche' and you'll find some
>interesting info. I'm pretty sure one of Diana Kennedy's books has
>some recipes for it, too. -aem

Also sometimes spelled cuitlacoche. I've had them in rolled tacos too.
Huitlacoche has been referred to as "Mexican cavier."


jim

wrote:
> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>
> Thanks,
> -bwg

Why would anyone want to eat corn fungus? We grow corn every year to
put in the freezer for winter and the last thing we would want on it is
corn smut.

In article .com>,
wrote:

> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>
> Thanks,
> -bwg


Check Lynn Rosetto Kasper's The Splendid Table on NPR/Minnesota Public
Radio (mpr.org, I'll bet). I *think* she was just talking about it last
weekend. . . .
--
-Barb
<http://jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 7-10-06, Rob's Birthday Lunch
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

wrote:
> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>
> Thanks,
> -bwg
>
Check out the website for NPR's Splendid Table (www.splendidtable.com)

You can listen to the entire show from the website. This last weekend,
July 16th I think, the hostess of this show took a listener call about
this topic. I don't remember the specifics of what she said, but she
mentioned some sort of custard or pudding that had this as an ingredient.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>
> Thanks,
> -bwg
>

Wait....are you talking about that fungal thing that grows on ears of corn
like a disgusting tumor?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
>> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
>> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> -bwg
>>
>
> Wait....are you talking about that fungal thing that grows on ears of corn
> like a disgusting tumor?
>


Yes. Think of it as Mexican truffles. (seriously)

Best regards,
Bob

On 18 Jul 2006 17:56:19 -0700, " >
wrote:

>
wrote:
>> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
>> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
>> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> -bwg
>
>Why would anyone want to eat corn fungus? We grow corn every year to
>put in the freezer for winter and the last thing we would want on it is
>corn smut.


So, do you eat mushrooms? Huitlacoche (sometimes cuitlacoche) is quite
good, but IS an acquired taste. But so is scotch.

I put a post up, but haven't seen it - this is considered Mexican
Cavier.


jim

"zxcvbob" > wrote in message
...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>>> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
>>> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
>>> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> -bwg
>>>
>>
>> Wait....are you talking about that fungal thing that grows on ears of
>> corn like a disgusting tumor?
>
>
> Yes. Think of it as Mexican truffles. (seriously)
>
> Best regards,
> Bob

OK....I'm thinking about it. I used to take a shortcut through a cornfield
to get to a spectacular fishing hole, and that fungus was truly disgusting.
But, cows eat it along with the corn, and they seem happy.

Michael "Dog3" Lonergan wrote:

>> I've had huitlacoche in quesadillas and in tamales in Oaxaca but have
>> never seen it for sale in the States except in cans. Search
>> <www.gourmetsleuth.com> for 'huitlacoche' and you'll find some
>> interesting info. I'm pretty sure one of Diana Kennedy's books has
>> some recipes for it, too. -aem
>
> I don't even know what it is. Is is a by product or what?
>
> Michael <- might want some
>
Scroll down about half way... you might not want some, lol.
http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives...ont_eat_it.php

In article >,
ensenadajim > wrote:
(snip)
> >Why would anyone want to eat corn fungus? We grow corn every year to
> >put in the freezer for winter and the last thing we would want on it is
> >corn smut.
>
>
> So, do you eat mushrooms? Huitlacoche (sometimes cuitlacoche) is quite
> good, but IS an acquired taste. But so is scotch.


http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000344.php
I'm not sure there's enough scotch in the world for me to acquire this
taste. Visuals are so important.
--
-Barb
<http://jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 7-28-2006, Raspberry Dessert
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

" > writes:
> Why would anyone want to eat corn fungus?

Because it tastes good?

--
Richard W Kaszeta

http://www.kaszeta.org/rich

wrote:
> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>
> Thanks,
> -bwg

I can't imagine what the first person to eat that stuff was thinking.
After detasseling corn for a summer when I was a teen, and picking
sweet corn on my grandpa's farm, you couldn't pay me enough to even try
a smudge of it. Eww.

N.

"Richard Kaszeta" > wrote in message
...
> " > writes:
>> Why would anyone want to eat corn fungus?
>
> Because it tastes good?
> --
> Richard W Kaszeta

Maybe, but it looks like something that oozes out of a swamp creature's
mouth in a horror movie. Refried beans aren't exactly pretty, but they're
still a far cry from this corn smut crap.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "zxcvbob" > wrote in message
> ...
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>> > wrote in message
>>> oups.com...
>>>> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
>>>> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
>>>> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> -bwg
>>>>
>>> Wait....are you talking about that fungal thing that grows on ears of
>>> corn like a disgusting tumor?
>>
>> Yes. Think of it as Mexican truffles. (seriously)
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Bob
>
> OK....I'm thinking about it. I used to take a shortcut through a cornfield
> to get to a spectacular fishing hole, and that fungus was truly disgusting.
> But, cows eat it along with the corn, and they seem happy.
>
>


It is truly disgusting looking, and the name ("smut") doesn't help much.
I've never tried the stuff. If given the chance, I'll probably pass
unless I've had at least 3 beers.

Best regards,
Bob

"zxcvbob" > wrote in message
...
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> "zxcvbob" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>> > wrote in message
>>>> oups.com...
>>>>> A vendor at the farmers market near my office in Chicago was selling
>>>>> huitlacoche (corn smut) today. Is this common? Does anyone have any
>>>>> suggestions for using fresh huitlacoche?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> -bwg
>>>>>
>>>> Wait....are you talking about that fungal thing that grows on ears of
>>>> corn like a disgusting tumor?
>>>
>>> Yes. Think of it as Mexican truffles. (seriously)
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>> Bob
>>
>> OK....I'm thinking about it. I used to take a shortcut through a
>> cornfield to get to a spectacular fishing hole, and that fungus was truly
>> disgusting. But, cows eat it along with the corn, and they seem happy.
>
>
> It is truly disgusting looking, and the name ("smut") doesn't help much.
> I've never tried the stuff. If given the chance, I'll probably pass
> unless I've had at least 3 beers.
>
> Best regards,
> Bob

Maybe it'll become briefly trendy, like many things in cooking. Back in the
1960s, my mother became infatuated with ratatouille. All of her friends were
making it and comparing recipes. I suspect it coincided with something on
TV. The stuff always tasted like crap, but it was popular for a while.

I have a cookbook which says that according to trendy chefs, the spice of
the year in 1999 was salt.

JoeSpareBedroom sez:
>
> Maybe it'll become briefly trendy, like many things in cooking. Back in the
> 1960s, my mother became infatuated with ratatouille. All of her friends were
> making it and comparing recipes. I suspect it coincided with something on
> TV. The stuff always tasted like crap, but it was popular for a while.
>
> I have a cookbook which says that according to trendy chefs, the spice of
> the year in 1999 was salt.
>
>
>
With all due respect to your mother and her cooking, I bet you'd like my
ratatouille. Trendy?? I don't care about such things, but every season
when the ingredients are fresh and available at the FM, I make enough to
enjoy some fresh and then freeze the rest. Great with crusty, homemade
bread, perhaps some aioli, a handful of olives, a glass of wine . . .

Ratatouille is a catch-all vegetable stew, that's all; one can play
around with ingredients and seasonings, putting one's unique culinary
stamp on the finished product.

Spitz
--
Mind the runner beans!

"Spitzmaus" > wrote in message
. ..
> JoeSpareBedroom sez:
>>
>> Maybe it'll become briefly trendy, like many things in cooking. Back in
>> the 1960s, my mother became infatuated with ratatouille. All of her
>> friends were making it and comparing recipes. I suspect it coincided with
>> something on TV. The stuff always tasted like crap, but it was popular
>> for a while.
>>
>> I have a cookbook which says that according to trendy chefs, the spice of
>> the year in 1999 was salt.
>>
>>
> With all due respect to your mother and her cooking, I bet you'd like my
> ratatouille. Trendy?? I don't care about such things, but every season
> when the ingredients are fresh and available at the FM, I make enough to
> enjoy some fresh and then freeze the rest. Great with crusty, homemade
> bread, perhaps some aioli, a handful of olives, a glass of wine . . .
>
> Ratatouille is a catch-all vegetable stew, that's all; one can play around
> with ingredients and seasonings, putting one's unique culinary stamp on
> the finished product.
>
> Spitz

I think the zucchini was the problem. You can't freeze zucchini. Some people
imagine they can, which harms nobody, but I know better.

In article >,
"JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:

> Maybe it'll become briefly trendy, like many things in cooking. Back in the
> 1960s, my mother became infatuated with ratatouille. All of her friends were
> making it and comparing recipes. I suspect it coincided with something on
> TV. The stuff always tasted like crap, but it was popular for a while.

It's still a favorite way to enjoy summer vegetables, Joe. Ptooey on
you! "-)
--
-Barb
<http://jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 7-28-2006, Raspberry Dessert
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

ensenadajim wrote:
> On 18 Jul 2006 17:56:19 -0700, " >
> wrote:
> >Why would anyone want to eat corn fungus? We grow corn every year to
> >put in the freezer for winter and the last thing we would want on it is
> >corn smut.
>
>
> So, do you eat mushrooms? Huitlacoche (sometimes cuitlacoche) is quite
> good, but IS an acquired taste. But so is scotch.
>
> I put a post up, but haven't seen it - this is considered Mexican
> Cavier.
>
>
> jim

They may both be fungi but there's a big difference between a mushroom
and corn smut. Corn smut is a disease. If all fungi were edible then
people would be eating the mildew that grows in their showers.

On 19 Jul 2006 12:33:19 -0700, " >
wrote:

>
>ensenadajim wrote:
>> On 18 Jul 2006 17:56:19 -0700, " >
>> wrote:
>> >Why would anyone want to eat corn fungus? We grow corn every year to
>> >put in the freezer for winter and the last thing we would want on it is
>> >corn smut.
>>
>>
>> So, do you eat mushrooms? Huitlacoche (sometimes cuitlacoche) is quite
>> good, but IS an acquired taste. But so is scotch.
>>
>> I put a post up, but haven't seen it - this is considered Mexican
>> Cavier.
>>
>>
>> jim
>
>They may both be fungi but there's a big difference between a mushroom
>and corn smut. Corn smut is a disease. If all fungi were edible then
>people would be eating the mildew that grows in their showers.


Hmm, haven't seen it described as a disease. It is good and has had no
negative effect on anyone I know. But, if you can't handle it, that's
a personal problem. It should not dissuade anyone from trying
huitlacoche.


jim

In article >,
Melba's Jammin' > wrote:

> http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/000344.php
> I'm not sure there's enough scotch in the world for me to acquire this
> taste. Visuals are so important.

Check out the rest of "Steve, Don't Eat It!" The price the author
pays for comedy is pretty high, but it _is_ a hoot to read.

In related -- er, veins -- are "The Cheap-Ass Cereal Hall of Fame"
<http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat_cheapass_cereals.php> and
"The Potted Meat Museum" <http://www.pottedmeatmuseum.com> ; the
site appears to be down right now, but you can grab a preview and a
link at <http://picks.yahoo.com/picks/i/20030414.html>

sd