After you’ve removed the kernels from corn-on-the-cob for a recipe, don’t throw away those corn cobs: make corn stock. It couldn’t be easier, and the stock is delicious.

CORN STOCK RECIPE

1. Place the corn cobs in a pot and add enough cold water to cover the cobs by an inch.

2. Bring to a boil over medium to high heat. Cook for 30-45 minutes, or until the liquid tastes like corn.

3. Discard the cobs and strain the liquid. Use the corn stock in place of water or chicken/vegetable broth when making soups or cooking pasta, couscous, even rice. You’ll love the sweet corn flavor it adds to dishes.

Turn your corn cobs into delicious corn
broth. Photo courtesy SXC.

You can turn the corn cobs into a drinkable broth with a few more minutes of work. You’ll need:

Ingredients

• 6 corn cobs
• 1 medium-large yellow onion, peeled and sliced
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2″ pieces
• 3 stalks celery, sliced into 1/2″ pieces
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1 bay leaf (optional)
• Fresh-ground black pepper to tastePreparation
  1. Place ingredients in a stock pot and add enough cold water to cover the cobs by an inch.

  2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes or until carrots can be pierced with a fork.

  3. Serve plain, with noodles or rice, or with chicken, seafood, tofu or other protein (a great use for leftovers).

• Find more of our favorite soups, stocks and recipes in our Soups & Stocks Section.

This packet of mix makes a delicious
and addictive salad dressing or dip.
Photo courtesy J & D’s.

J & D’s, makers of Bacon Salt and Baconnaise, keep pumping out bacon-flavored products using natural smoke flavor and other flavors to achieve an approximation of bacon. The line is certified kosher by KOF-K.

Our favorite product in the line is Baconnaise, bacon-flavored mayonnaise (read our review—it’s a Top Pick Of The Week).

Our second favorite product is J & D’s Bacon Ranch Dressing & Dip Mix. Mix a packet with buttermilk (our choice) or sour cream plus mayonnaise. You’ll end up with a thick, creamy, bacon-flavored dip that may not score high with cardiologists, but sure is a crowd-pleaser.

Compensate for the fat by serving the dip with lots of healthy crudités, or dot (not pour) onto salad greens.

• Find more of our favorite dressings and recipes in our Oil, Vinegar & Dressings Section.
• Our favorite dips are in our Salsas & Dips Section.

Star Wars cookie cutters, exclusively at Williams-Sonoma, might be the motivator.

Four cookie cutters that produce Yoda, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and a Stormtrooper are $19.95. Note that beautiful cookies don’t emerge from the oven: This is a lesson in decorating as well as baking.

There’s also a handsome kid’s Star Wars apron in black cotton twill, available with optional personalization.

If you don’t want to use the cookie cutters as a baking lesson, use them to get the kids to the dinner table. Tell them that Yoda and Darth Vader are coming for dessert.

• Find more of our favorite cookie products and recipes in our Gourmet Cookies Section.

It’s fun to bake with Star Wars cookie
cutters. Photo courtesy Williams-Sonoma.