chiles

VON: Sweet with Heat

by alec on September 11, 2006

Habaneros in a GlassHarvesting peppers in the fall is becoming an annual rite around our house. To the left are a few habaneros I harvested yesterday, and then dropped into a wine glass for a photo.  Habaneros are the hottest peppers I’ve ever grown, and I was a little concerned that, with their 115 day season, we might not get any ripe peppers here in the great white north.  We got lucky, I guess.  We also brought in Jalapeno, Serrano, and Poblano peppers yesterday. 

I first started eating hot peppers after my doctors told me my cholesteral was too high.  I eliminated most fats from my diet, and looking for new ways to flavour food, stumbled onto peppers.  They’re fascinating because of the many flavours in them.  Serrano’s tingle your lips, and the flat part and tip of your tongue.  In contrast, Habanero’s are a slow burn in the back of your throat.  When green, peppers are mostly heat.  When allowed to ripen, they’re sweet as well.  When you smoke a Poblano, it becomes a sweet spicy delicacy called Ancho.  Smoke a Habanero, and you get a mellow deep Chipotle. 

The variations on this simple vegetable seem limitless!

The other annual fall rite I participate in is VON.  This year, I’m hoping for a VON like my hot pepper harvest — full of new ideas, interesting people, and opportunities to create.  More than any prior year, this year feels as if it’s going to be a breakthrough, especially in new voice applications.

I’m flying to Boston this morning.  See you there!

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Sugar and Spice

by alec on September 5, 2005


jalapeno, originally uploaded by Alec Saunders.

We’ve been harvesting hot peppers in the garden again. Here’s a selection of jalapenos. The red ones have ripened, and are sweet and hot.

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Hot Stuff

August 25, 2005

Hot Stuff, originally uploaded by Alec Saunders. This year we tried an experiment — growing hot peppers. Jalapeno, serrano, and poblano peppers will all grow in Ontario. We had massive success. Here are a few of the peppers we canned to eat later.

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