Take advantage of the last of the sweet corn for this rich soup, which makes an elegant appetizer but is also hearty enough to serve as a meal. For the full autumnal effect, eat it while wrapped in a flannel blanket and make apple crisp for dessert.

The natural sugars in sweet corn begin to turn into starch from the moment it is picked, so choosing locally-grown, fresh corn makes a huge difference in taste. This recipe combines the sweetest summer corn with creamy avocado and tangy lime for a refreshing salad or unique twist on salsa.

If someone were to approach you and offer to sell you a barrel of corn, it would be perfectly legal according to a D.C. law dating back to 1899 that remains on the books today.