General Friedrich von Steuben Memorial Creamed Corn Casserole

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 pgk 5 ears of fresh Yellow corn
• 1 14.75 oz can of Cream style sweet corn
• 1 medium green pepper diced
• 1 medium yellow onion sliced thin
• 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
• ½ teaspoon SWEET paprika
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 8 ounce tub cream cheese spread with chive and onion or cream cheese spread with garden vegetables
• ¼ of a 1lbs. pkg of Saltines crushed
  Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions

Lightly coat a 2-quart casserole with cooking spray; set aside. 

 

Heat a skillet to medium low with about 2 tbs of oil. Add the thinly sliced onion to caramelize.

Remember Listen! If it sizzles, the oil is too hot. You want this low and slow.

Dust with sweet paprika and stir occasionally for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Clean the ears of corn and slice off all of the kernels. Save back about half in a plastic bag to freeze.

In a large bowl combine the caned cream corn, the fresh corn kernels, and the cream cheese spread.

Add the diced green peppers to the onions in the last 5 minutes to soften.

Stir the contents of skillet into the bowl of corn. With a heavy wooden spoon, mix in the crushed saltines. Transfer to prepared casserole.

 

Bake, covered, in a 375 degree F oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until heated through, stirring once.

Serve this with a nice heavy dark bread and something light to drink. You will not miss having a big meat dish.

Makes 12 servings.

Variation

• Slow cooker directions: In a 3½ -- or 4-quart slow cooker combine fresh corn, cream corn, green peppers, and onion.
• Stir in the cream cheese spread and the crushed saltines. Pour over mixture in cooker. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. Stir before serving.

It is nice to have a vegetarian meal once in awhile! Not that slave is calling this a particularly healthy meal, it is a nice change!

Since this is Pride Month, slave is dedicating this dish to our Revolutionary War hero General von Steben!

In case it has been awhile since you have studied anything about our Revolutionary War or about LGBT History, allow slave this quick bit of pride!

 

Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben was born September 17, 1730, at Magdeburg, Germany.

In 1746, he officially entered the Prussian Army. Frederick the Great placed von Steuben on his personal staff as an aide-de-camp and in 1762 admitted him to the special class on warfare that he taught.

In 1776, von Steuben was forced to leave Germany due to rumors of homosexuality and accusations of his having taken improper liberties with boys.

He was introduced to Ben Franklin in Paris, who saw the much needed military abilities. Franklin always had a very progressive viewpoint towards sex and was more than willing to “overlook these unproven allegations”. Franklin also managed to “mis-translated” Steuben's military record and recommended him highly to Gen Washington.

Steuben brought his two “boys” and his favorite dog with him to America. They arrived at Valley Forge in 1777. Even though he spoke little or no English, he started to drill the men, at times yelling at the interpreter to “swear at these men!”.

Steuben was horrified by what he saw.

Men relieved themselves wherever they were. If an animal died, the meat was stripped off and the carcass left to rot where it laid. Steuben quickly made a new layout for the camp. Kitchens and latrines were on opposite sides of the camp, with the latrines on the downhill side.

Steuben's military tactics are credited with turning our rag tag forces into an army that could and did beat the preeminent military force of the world! His honors are impressive. But when did you ever hear about his gayness?

He died in 1794, he never married and left his estate to his two “aides-de-camp” with whom he had enjoyed an "extraordinarily intense emotional relationship”.

Everybody knew, but were more impressed by his abilities. May we soon find ourselves in such a society again!

Please take the time this month to learn more about our people and our history!

I wish to thank Capt. Jahara Matisek 80th Operation Support Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base: for his excellent article on von Steuben that brought this hero to my attention!

Hope you enjoyed this diversion! Slave is sure you will enjoy this meal. It feels so much comfort, exuberance, encouragement and joyousness just serving my Master Indy!

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon