This is my last blog about
the peppers use in our jellies at Flaming
Garden
I had only ever heard of
bell peppers growing up in my upstate New
York Colorado
Since that time, I paid
close attention to the foods I ate. I
learned about the hot peppers used in Chinese dishes and the hot spices in
Indian foods. As the years progressed I
saw the rise of the Habanero and now the rise of the Jolokia as the hottest
peppers. However, one thing has remained
steadfast, everyone’s love of the Jalapeno.
Basic Information: (There will be a test so take good notes)
The scientific name for the
Jalapeno is Capsicum Annuum ‘Jalapeno.’ Jalapenos are typically 2-31/2 inches in
length and we usually eat them when they’re green, before they ripen. When they’re fully ripe they are a crimson red.
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| Jalapenos |
As you most likely know, the
Jalapeno hales from Veracruz ,
Mexico Xalapa in Veracruz Mexico Papaloapan River Basin Mexico
The Jalapeno is just one of
the many cultivars of the Capsicum Annuum chili. Others you may be familiar with are the Anaheim , Cayenne , Fresno
One of the most sought after
pieces of information about the Jalapeno is it’s SHU or Schoville Heat Unit
measure which is from 2500 to 3000. (See
my Schoville blog post and my Capsaicin blog for more information about the
heat of a chili pepper.)
Handling Precautions: (You never know what might be on the test)
Despite being a milder
pepper, you can still get ‘Capsaicin Fingers’ from handling Jalapenos without
gloves. You can also still irritate your
eyes if you touch them after handling the peppers without gloves and not washing
your hands. However, the likelihood of
irritation to the lungs or eyes from fumes is quite a bit less, but isn’t out
of the question.
The same precautions apply
to Jalapenos as to any other Capsicum pepper.
Wear gloves. If you do not wear
gloves, wash your hands with warm soapy water immediately after contact and do
not touch your eyes or face. Wear a face
mask to protect your lungs when cooking with Jalapenos, especially if you have
asthma or any other breathing problems, just in case.
Treatment for skin
irritation with Jalapenos is similar to what you would do with the hotter
Jolokia and Habaneros. Rinse with warm
soapy water immediately. Use dairy milk,
alcohol or vegetable oil and soak the clean skin for 5-10 minutes to counteract
the capsaicin reaction.
If you get the juice of the
Jalapeno in your eyes, flush with water and get medical attention
immediately. There are creams and
medications to help with the irritation from the capsaicin. If you breathe in the fumes, get fresh air
immediately and try using any medication you already take, if any, to help your
breathing.
Uses and Recipes: (There will be a taste test at
the end, so get cooking!)
As you may already know,
Jalapenos are one of the most widely used chilis in our country. Here I will present some of the uses I have
found. Perhaps you will find some
familiar favorites or even some new, exciting ideas to try.
Fun Fact:
Bet you didn’t know that in Mexico
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| Chipotle Peppers |
A new name in the Foodie
world in recent years is Chipotle. This is simply a Jalapeno that has been dried and smoked. A restaurant has taken this name
and serves up big, delicious burritos.
This rich smoky flavor is now available in salsas, sauces, and
other common Mexican dishes.
Who doesn’t like a fresh,
hot Jalapeno Popper? I came across several different recipes for
this delicious appetizer. The most
common way to make them is by stuffing the Jalapeno with cream cheese then
breading and frying it. Another tasty
recipe called for stuffing the Jalapeno then wrapping it in bacon and broiling
or grilling it. Both are completely
delicious. I also came across different
cheese options for the stuffing. Be
creative and have fun with it.
Most everyone has heard of pickled peppers because Peter Piper
tried to pick a peck of them. I wonder
if Peter ever tried to pick a peck of pickled
Jalapenos. Hope he was wearing
gloves! Whether sliced or whole,
Jalapenos can be pickled using the normal pickling process. These are a great way to spice up your
favorite sandwich, salad, or even use the juice in a Mexican style sauce.
Flaming Garden does make
Pickled Jalapenos and they are the BEST.
We may not advertise them, but you can order them by calling or sending
an email.
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| Texas Toothpicks |
Now here’s a new on for me,
Texas Toothpicks. In this recipe, you
shave, or julienne, the Jalapenos and some onions into long, thin straws. Then they are all lightly breaded and deep
fried. This sounds delicious.
Here is the link to one site
that had a complete recipe and full instructions:
This next one is also new
for me, but some of you may have heard of it.
Chiles Toreados is simply a roasted Jalapeno. The cooking process is fairly simple, but the
taste is apparently excellent. I found
several recipes on-line to share when I looked them up, but liked this one the
best.
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| Chiles Toreados |
Flaming Garden uses the Jalapeno
the most in our products. Six of our
jelly flavors are made with Jalapenos. We
also make pickled Jalapenos, as previously mentioned, and spicy dill pickles
with Jalapenos. (You may order both of
the pickled products by calling or emailing us)
As you may already know from this blog and our website, our jellies are
very versatile in the kitchen. Our
Jalapeno flavors are no exception to this.
Each of our jelly flavors has its own special flare and flavors to offer
any recipe.
Conclusion: (Yes, there is the test. I told you
there’d be one)
The Jalapeno is a popular pepper. It can be used in a wide variety
of ways and is milder than many other peppers. It has a versatile flavor and will always be
a favorite.
And now for the test.
- Did you read to the end of the post? Y/N
- Do you like Jalapenos? Y/N
- Will you try to use them in a new way now? Y/N
- Have you tried our jelly? Y/N
- Will you use our jelly in a new way? Y/N
- Did you enjoy this post? Y/N
As for the taste test, when
you try your next jalapeno recipe, give us a call and we’d be happy to come
over and help you taste it to see how it came out!
Keep checking back with us
for more posts on Flaming
Garden
