Aw Shucks!

One of the most notable events in this town each year is Musikfest, a 10-day celebration of music, food & beer that takes over all of downtown (and, this year, south side). I began this blog too late to cover it this year, but next time I’ll be sharing my experiences for sure.

The biggest reason (no exaggeration) I go to the festival is to get my hands on an enormous ear of Aw Shucks Corn. If I don’t get to eat this buttery, spicy, savory snack at least once during Musikfest, my year is not complete.

Granted, it is now possible to find Aw Shucks in a couple of other locations, like the Iron Pigs stadium, but it’s just not the same as navigating through the crowd in Volksplatz wielding a large ear of corn and a mug full of beer while listening to a man in a black plague mask play an obsolete bell instrument.

Our teensy garden, overflowing with herbs & tomatoes.

This year, I had some extra tickets at the end of the night and splurged on my very own bottle of Aw Shucks Southwest Seasoning. Oh, the possibilities! Not only will I be able to fulfill my insatiable corn cravings at home, but I can Shucks up anything I want! I am having visions of baked potatoes, shrimp, salad dressing …

It didn’t take long for me to open the canister and spice up dinner … My husband was making some homemade pasta (someday when he lets me photograph him at work, I’ll post that recipe), and I had just plucked some tomatoes and sage from our garden. Um … Pasta, tomatoes, sage, Aw Shucks seasoning? Yep, it’s good. And ridiculously easy!

Aw Shucks Tomato Pasta

Ingredients:

All local ingredients for this savory dish.

• 4 entree-sized servings of pasta (homemade makes it extra tasty)
• 1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes
• a handful of sage leaves
• 4 T. butter
• Aw Shucks Southwest Seasoning, to taste (You can order it on their site! In a true emergency outage of seasoning, use another southwest or Cajun blend)
• Parmesan cheese, to taste (mine is from Klein Farms)
• a few gratings Gouda cheese (optional, my husband snuck it in and it was good! Also from Klein Farms)

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta to al dente.
2. Meanwhile, slice the tomatoes in halves or quarters and chop the sage leaves.
3. Sauté the tomatoes and sage in a small non-stick skillet for a few minutes, just to loosen up the juices and bring out the sage flavor. No oil or butter necessary.
4. Sprinkle in Aw Shucks seasoning to taste. Stir and remove from heat.
   

   Such vibrant colors!

5. Strain pasta. Add butter and toss until coated. Grate in Parmesan and Gouda (if using).
   

   

   Kevin's homemade pasta, topped with Parmesan and sneakily added Gouda.

6. Add tomato mixture to pasta mixture and toss.
7. Serve hot, topped with a little more grated Parmesan and Aw Shucks seasoning.
   

   I want more!!!