Q: Dear Dave,We have grown some hot cherry peppers. We plan on using them around Christmas in a cheese recipe we like to make. (We usually buy bottled peppers in the store.) How do we preserve the peppers so we can use them at Christmas?Thanks, Carl and Sandy A: Hello Carl and Sandy:Either freeze them or pickle them. See:http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/fresh_chiles.asphttp://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/pickle.html–Dave
Hot Hands
Q: Dave,We made salsa last night and put jalapeños in it. We cut up about 24 of them and took the seeds out. After almost 24 hours our hands are still burning. The skin feels like fire. We didn’t even eat any! We love them though. What should we do?–Bryan and Lisa A: Hello Bryan and Lisa:First, don’t touch your …
Homemade Chili Powder
Q: Hi Dave,I would like to know if it is possible to make homemade chili powder. I notice in most recipes call for store-bought chili powder like New Mexican red and green, etc. I live in Africa and we do not have access to anything like that. I believe my mother used some kind of brick-type chili she bought at …
Drying Peppers & Salsa Fresca
Q: Good Morning Dave! I have only just discovered this site & it is wonderful! I’m new at growing peppers & I need help. When I bought my plants they were labeled habaneros, but I have since been told they are serranos. I didn’t expect them to really make it…but all 6 plants are producing wonderful little peppers. My question …
Fermenting Peppers
Q: Dear Dave,What is the process for fermenting peppers? I have heard that it is suppose to make them hotter?Thanks! –Cecil A: Hello Cecil:Chiles are fermented during the process of making mash, a preservation technique. The pods are ground in a hammer mill and placed in vats with 10 to 15 percent salt by weight. They ferment and can be kept …