At the peak of season, sweet corn needs little more than to be heated up! I like to shuck mine and just throw it on a hot grill to warm it and char it up for flavor. When it comes off the grill, I baste it or squirt it with melted flavored butters. Here are a few favorites:

Ingredients

Chili Lime Butter:

• 2 tablespoons lime zest
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons grill seasoning
• 1 stick butter

Directions

Garlic Gazpacho Butter:

1 large clove garlic

1 fresh jalapeno, seeded

A handful cilantro leaves

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1/2 cup vegetable juice (recommended: V8 or Bloody Mary mix

2 teaspoons hot sauce

1/2 stick butter, softened

Finely chop the garlic, jalapeno and cilantro and mash with the salt to paste it. Transfer to a small pot and add the vegetable juice or Bloody Mary mix, hot sauce and butter. Heat the combination over low heat until butter melts and transfer to a small bowl, for basting, or to a squirt bottle. Serve warm with grilled corn.

Yield: 1 cup butter topping

Prep Time: 5 to 6 minutes

Cook Time: less than 5 minutes

Ease of preparation: easy

Equally tasty are dry topping blends to sprinkle on plain buttered corn.

Pizza Corn Sprinkler:

1 cup grated Parmigiano or Romano

1 tablespoon dried oregano or Italian dried seasoning blend

2 teaspoons red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

Combine all ingredients and sprinkle on buttered corn on the cob or popped corn.

Yield: 1 cup

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: none

Ease of preparation: easy

TIDBIT:

Buttered corn with chopped chives is easy and adds just a little something extra to plain corn with no effort.