Sometimes it’s the side dishes that are the most interesting as the sensual sidekicks to the main course. At this time of year tomatoes and corn are center stage and can be a great duo when served together as a side-dish pairing.

Baked summer pudding

Baked summer tomato  pudding

Two of my favorites are a baked tomato casserole and a corn dish. The tomatoes are baked with good crusty bread, akin to a tomato pudding.  And the corn is an interesting devise in which you cook fresh kernels off the cob in some butter and cream to soften then add steamed or boiled summer squash that’s mashed and added to the corn mixture to cook for a while longer until the two become even richer.  The corn helps to thicken the stew, something like an embellished creamed corn dish, with the squash added for texture and sweetness.

Velvet corn and squash

Velvet corn and squash

I made these two dishes last night while the evening was still steeped in a chilly rain.  The main course was pork chops served with an accompaniment of beets and carrots.  The meal offers a lot of vegetables, but at this time of year everything is at its prime.

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