Homemade Corn Broth: A Sweet Way to Stretch Every Kernel

 

After I finish prepping and freezing about 15 dozen ears of Ohio’s organic bi-color Montauk corn each summer, I’m left with a big pile of empty cobs. Instead of tossing them, I turn them into something golden, flavorful, and totally comforting—corn broth.

This recipe is simple, frugal, and gives your soups, chowders, and risottos an extra boost of sunshine flavor—even in the dead of winter. If you’ve never made vegetable stock from corn cobs before, prepare to be amazed!

 Ingredients

• 6–10 corn cobs (kernels removed)

• 1 onion, roughly chopped

• 2–3 garlic cloves, smashed

• 1–2 carrots, roughly chopped

• 1–2 celery stalks, roughly chopped

• 1–2 sprigs of fresh thyme or a pinch of dried

• 1 bay leaf

• 8–10 cups cold water

• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional add-ins:

• A few parsley stems

• Corn silk (clean and fresh, not brown)

• A dash of turmeric for golden color

Instructions

1. Prep the Cobs: After you’ve cut the kernels off your fresh corn, snap the cobs in half if they’re too long to fit in your pot.

2. Sauté Aromatics (Optional): In a large stock pot, heat a tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Cook for 3–5 minutes until fragrant. This adds depth to the broth but can be skipped if you’re short on time.

3. Simmer: Add corn cobs, herbs, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 45–60 minutes. The liquid should take on a pale yellow hue and a sweet, corn-like aroma.

4. Strain: Remove cobs and vegetables using a slotted spoon, then strain broth through a fine mesh sieve.

5. Cool and Store: Let cool, then portion into jars or freezer-safe containers. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

How to Use Corn Broth

• Corn chowder or potato soup

• Polenta or grits with extra sweetness

• Rice, quinoa, or pasta cooking liquid

• Creamy vegetable sauces

• As a base for vegetarian ramen or pho

Waste Not, Want Not

Corn broth is a cozy way to savor every bit of your summer harvest. You get all the sweetness from those Montauk cobs and none of it goes to waste. It’s a small act of kitchen magic that turns scraps into something nourishing and wonderful.

Find more favorite corn recipes here: 

7 Proven Strategies for Boosting Your Online Presence and Growing Your Business

 The online world has changed how we all do business and how we exist in life in general. For businesses, having an online presence is crucial for success, and it’s something that can be achieved by implementing the right strategies.

These strategies might not always work from one business to the next, but by adapting them and trying new ones, you’ll eventually find the processes that work well for building your online presence and growing your business.

In this guide, you’ll learn several proven strategies that are helping businesses of all shapes and sizes boost their online presence and grow their business.

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1. Optimize your website with SEO

Search engine optimization, or SEO for short, is one of the ways that you should be looking to maximize your efforts online.

When it comes to boosting your online presence, you need to be able to satisfy the Google Gods so that your site ranks high up on the search engine results.

This can be done in a number of ways, so it’s worthwhile brushing up on your SEO skills. As basic as you may feel they are, they can help a lot when you’re trying to optimize the site yourself.

Beyond just your internal teams, you may also want to utilize the services of an external company or agency, too. This can be helpful to take a weight off your shoulders and have SEO and PPC services, like EWR Digital, handle it all for you.

2. Utilize social media

Social media is a powerful tool and one you want to use when it comes to boosting your online presence.

There are plenty of social media platforms out there to choose from, but it’s good to know which ones will fit your business in particular. Some platforms are a lot more effective than others, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram being useful for businesses that have a lot of visual content to show.

Social media like LinkedIn, on the other hand, might be more appropriate when it comes to creating professional and more formal content, particularly when it comes to long-form text.

Experiment with social media to figure out which options work best for your brand and business in question.

3. Create engaging content

Content needs to be engaging. There has to be some level of value to what you offer to your audience when it comes to content creation. Not only that, but you also want to be mindful of the quality.

You’re not going to achieve the results you want with your content if it’s not providing value to your audience; otherwise, they’re probably not going to engage with it.

With that being said, consider what your audience is after and use this when it comes to creating said content. Be mindful of what content you’re creating and the quality you put into it. The better it is in production value or its benefit to the audience, the more likely it is to help boost your business success.

4. Invest in targeted online advertising 

To help boost your online presence, targeted online advertising is certainly important to implement. Think about the targeted online advertising you could include in your marketing strategies going forward.

While organic content is helpful in building a following and an online presence, targeted online advertising with a budget allocated can also help to boost your presence online.

This is where data is helpful to have on your audience so that you can spend your money wisely on advertising that has been tailored appropriately.

5. Monitor your analytics and adjust accordingly

Data can provide a real-time insight into your business, especially if you’re using the right analytics platforms. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take a look at your analytics closely to see what you could gain from the information you’ve obtained so far.

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There’s a lot that can be derived from the data you have, so it’s definitely worth looking at investing in this type of software and tools where possible.

From learning about your customer habits, their general demographic, and online journey, this data can be a real goldmine for investing your time more wisely into building your business through more informed practices.

6. Engage with your audience regularly

As a business, it’s important not to forget about your audience. You can often find yourself as a business, thinking about the next big break or level up.

However, in order for your business to make those big strides, you need to be engaging with your audience. Connecting with them is crucial to ensuring that you keep them engaged with your brand and business.

With that being said, explore the ways in which you could engage with your audience more regularly. It could be through direct messaging, reaching out for feedback through email marketing, or speaking with them face-to-face.

The more engagement you can have with your audience, the better. It helps to establish credibility and trust within the business, as well as that all-importantly loyalty that you’re after.

7. Maximize email marketing

Talking of email marketing, it’s quite possibly one of the best forms of marketing that you could take advantage of.

With that being said, it’s worth looking at how email marketing could benefit your marketing team and efforts as a business in general. Email marketing allows you to segment the people who’ve signed up to receive emails, and based on the information you have on them, you can then tailor the marketing they receive through this medium.

Email marketing is personal and therefore a lot more likely to be engaged with, especially if you personalize it with their name at the top of the email too.

These proven strategies are worth embracing for your business this year. It’s good to try them all, to see which ones stick. As you grow your business, you’ll find you're adapting your strategies as you go. So with that being said, remain adaptable and fluid to the change where you can.

Entertaining in Every Season: Adapting Your Space Year-Round

 Entertaining is one of the most pleasurable things to do as a host, and how your house welcomes people makes those occasions all the more meaningful. From lazy summertimes to icy winter evenings, the right setting persuades visitors to relax, interact, and feel taken care of. With prior deliberation, your space will perform flawlessly through the year, unmindful of the calendar.

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Spring: Light, Fresh, and Full of Energy

As the days get lighter and warmer, open up your home to exterior air and light. Substitute heavy fabrics with light linens and add muted greens, yellows, or pastels through throw pillows or table accents. Situate seating so it faces windows or patio doors so guests have the option of taking advantage of the view outside. If you have outdoor rooms, freshen them up with pots of flowers and outdoor chairs for those first alfresco hours of the season.

Summer: Open, Relaxed, and Outdoor-Friendly

Long days and warm evenings require an easy transition between indoor and outdoor rooms. Leave doorways unobstructed and easy to navigate so the guests can meander between the kitchen, living room, and backyard. String lights or lanterns will allow the event to go into the evening nicely. Prepare a mini outdoor drinks station or bar cart for self-serve drinks so everyone feels comfortable at home and you don't have to constantly provide host duties.

Autumn: Warm Hues and Cozy Get-toget

As the temperature lowers, bring in rich earth tones and heavy textures to provide a feeling of warmth. Hunkering down over intimate dinners is the business of this season, so set the table with multi-layered plates, linen napkins, and seasonably festive centerpieces of desiccated flowers or gourds. For bigger projects involving dining room refurbishing or insulation for more comfortable habitation, you may want to bring in specialists like FH home improvements and have them manage the transition process for you.

Winter: Comfort, Glow, and Togetherness

As soon as it cools down, coziness becomes everything. Arrange seating close together so that people can chat easily. Bring on the layers: the comfortable blankets over the sofas, extra cushions on chairs, and heavy rugs on the floor. Warm light is necessary, so combine table lamps and floor lamps for a gentle, inviting light. If you're so fortunate as to have a fireplace, put it in the center with seasonally-related decor and seating close by so a group may sit 'round.

Small Details That Work All Year Round

No matter the season, some recurrent details prepare your house for guests. Mood music has already got you covered: prepare playlists for specific times of day, the mellow jazz for brunch, energetic tunes for that night with pals. A serving tray is always useful so you can serve drinks or hors d’oeuvres anywhere in the home. Don’t forget that surfaces polished and entryways uncluttered provide an instant positive statement.

Design of a House That's Always Ready

Year-round entertaining doesn’t require ongoing redecorating. Instead, it involves thoughtfully using what you already have, seasonally layering in new touches, and thoughtfully making changes as necessary. Whether you're hosting a fun summer soiree, an intimate winter gathering, or something in between, your house can capture the feeling of warmth and welcome you're interested in sharing. With judicious changes, it becomes a home where every season becomes the ideal time of year to entertain.

How to Freeze Fresh Ohio Sweet Corn (the Easy, Family-Friendly Way!)

Every summer, when the sweet corn stands pop up across Ohio, I load up on organic bi-color Montauk sweet corn—the kind so sweet and tender, it barely needs butter. For years now, it’s been my tradition to put up around 15 dozen ears for my family, making sure we have that summer flavor all year long.

If you’ve ever wanted to freeze fresh corn but weren’t sure where to start—or you’ve tried and ended up with chewy, tasteless kernels—this guide is for you!

🛒 Step 1: Pick (or Buy) the Right Corn

Look for:

Ears that are full and heavy

Tight, bright green husks

Silky tassels that are slightly sticky but not dry

My go-to is bi-color Montauk corn grown right here in Ohio—it’s organic, sweet, and perfect for freezing.

🧽 Step 2: Prep Like a Pro

This step is best done in a team (let your kids help shuck!).

Husk the corn and remove all silks.

Rinse under cool water.

Cut off any bad tips or damaged spots.

Fill a big bowl or sink with cold water to soak the ears briefly.

🔥 Step 3: Blanching – The Must-Do Step!

Blanching stops enzymes that cause the corn to lose flavor and texture in the freezer. Here’s how:

Whole Ears

Boil a large pot of water.

Drop in 4–6 ears at a time.

Blanch for 7 minutes.

Immediately transfer to an ice bath for 7–10 minutes to cool.

Corn Off the Cob

Cut the kernels off using a sharp knife.

Blanch loose kernels for 4 minutes in boiling water.

Ice bath right after.

⏳ Don’t skip the ice bath! It stops cooking and keeps that corn crisp and golden.

❄️ Step 4: Freeze for Freshness

For Whole Ears

Pat dry and place 4–6 ears per freezer bag.

Remove as much air as possible.

Label with date and quantity.

For Loose Kernels

Spread on a baking sheet to pre-freeze for 30–60 minutes (optional but helps prevent clumping).

Bag in meal-size portions (about 2 cups).

Press air out or use a vacuum sealer.

📦 How Long Will It Last?

Properly frozen sweet corn will last 8–12 months and still taste garden-fresh.

💡 Bonus Tips

Use reusable silicone freezer bags to cut down on waste.

Add a sprinkle of sugar (not salt!) to preserve flavor if blanching corn off the cob.

Save the cobs! Boil them into a sweet, mild corn broth.

Final Thoughts

Freezing corn isn’t just about stocking the freezer—it’s about capturing a piece of Ohio summer for your family to enjoy all year long. Once you taste that juicy Montauk corn in January with a hot bowl of chili or in a creamy chowder, you'll know the effort was so worth it.

Happy freezing from our kitchen to yours!

Buying An Old Home? Think About This

 Are you thinking about purchasing an older home? It’s fair to say that there’s something rather romantic about this possibility. You can buy a house that has seen better days and transform it into something new, exciting and most importantly, completely personal to you. While it is easy to get carried away with this romantic and wonderful notion, it’s important to be aware that there are always challenges that come with this possibility. So, let’s explore a few of these. 

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Dangers

First, you need to be aware of the dangers that can come with buying an older home. The biggest issue here is that the regulations that are now in place to protect us didn’t exist back when these houses were built. So, you might find that you have a problem like asbestos in the roof - as an example. If that’s the case, then it could danger your health, particularly if you are planning some DIY repairs. Now, while you won’t be able to make a legal claim because you were exposed to this, you could potentially sue if you can prove the buyer new asbestos was in the property and didn’t make you aware when they sold it. This however is difficult to prove even with the help of experts like Frost Law Firm, PC. The easiest way to avoid this is to arrange a complete and comprehensive inspection before you buy. 

Cost

It’s important that you think about what the asking price is for the property that you are interested in purchasing. When you purchase an old property, it’s essential that you have a survey conducted to check for any issues that could be costly to you in the future, as the last thing that you want is to spend a fortune into a property you have to continuously pour money into.

If there are issues with the property but you still want to purchase it, it’s worth offering a lower amount based on the fact that you’re going to have to make repairs. The chances are with older properties that there is going to be something, somewhere that’s going to cost you, so finding out what it is prior to purchase can help you plan your finances better.

Infestations 

Another consideration when it comes to buying an old home is the worry of being met with infestations. This can happen, especially if the home has been empty and on the market for some time. Consider hiring a pest expert to come in and ensure your home is free from any nasty bugs. They will be able to eradicate anything and everything they meet, including rats and cockroaches. 

Be sure to check out reviews of anyone you are hiring, the last thing you want is for them to damage your new home or not get rid of everything. You could also ask friends and family members if they have used anyone in the past. 

We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you should take if you are considering purchasing an old home in the future. By being aware of their issues, you can guarantee that you don’t end up with a money pit and instead find the house of your dreams that just needs a little TLC.