Jalapeño Booster

This season it was a special treat to celebrate the arrival of the jalapeño blossoms with a ceremony to honor Tlaloc, the ancient Aztec god of the rain, earthly fertility and water during the blood moon that occurred earlier last month. It was much simpler than the ritual for Tonacatecuhtli as no Vestal Virgins were required. And legend says that because of the lunar event, the peppers should be especially spicy.

How Devilish Can You Get?

You would think that National Deviled Egg Day would occur on Halloween. But nooooooooooooo! I guess the egg producers wanted a day with no other distractions. Although, placing it on the second of November definitely puts it within shouting distance of All Hallows Eve.

There are many ways to dress up the ordinary nature of eggs and make them devilish. And when one thinks of the devil, the thought of fire most certainly comes to mind. So here is a recipe that uses two garden products that are easily grown in pots(indoors or outside) or in the ground to bring some heat to your delectable,  devilish delights.

Jalapeno Deviled Eggs Recipe

6 large hard-boiled eggs, cooled and peeled
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons fresh, chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white vinegar
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1 fresh sliced jalapeno pepper, for garnish

Halve the eggs lengthwise.  Carefully remove yolks and place in a small bowl; mash yolks with the back of a fork.  Add jalapeno pepper, mayonnaise, cilantro, mustard, pickled jalapeno juice and cayenne pepper.  Season to taste with salt and black pepper.  Spoon mixture into hollowed out egg whites.  Garnish with fresh jalapeno slices.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.  Serves 6.

Orale! It's National Fajita Day!

Damas y caballeros(ladies and gentlemen), this is the official day to celebrate one of the most popular products of Tex-Mex cuisine, the fajita. 

And if you're like me, nothing goes better with Tex-Mex meals than the heat provided by jalapeños. They are just one of the many types of peppers that have been cultivated for thousands of years. They are a must have in my container garden and easy to grow. And the larger your container, the larger the plant will grow. But even something as small as a one quart container/pot will do. So do yourself a favor and make sure to include a pot or two of flavor enlivening jalapeños in your container garden.

Pepper Mystery Solved

Well, it turns out that my mystery pepper seeds were jalapenos after all.

Children Of Abundantia

Presented for your consideration(clockwise from top left) Rumi Banjan tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, straight neck summer squash, banana peppers and Black Vernissage tomatoes.

The Last Hot Kiss Of Summer

I knew it had to happen and I knew I'd be dismayed.

For today I had to face the fact.

That my last homegrown jalapeño had to be chopped and sauteed.

Poor Man's Raised Bed

Pepper Patch September 2012

Pepper Patch June 2012

This is my pepper patch for this year. I would call it a raised bed except for the fact that I don't think the frame is quite as high as the ones you would purchase in a store. In fact, it's only eight inches high. It is the inside frame from the bottom of a piece of furniture that was at the end of its life. So I thought I would repurpose some of it. As you can see, it may be near the end of its life as the wind, rain and sun have certainly taken their toll and caused one side of the frame to collapse. This didn't have any effect on the peppers though. The jalapeños, pizza and sweet pepper plants are all doing just fine. And the hot, dry summer has given the jalapeños an extra kick that makes them extra delicious.

A Yearly Ritual

The first jalapeños of the season have arrived so I have performed the annual ritual of setting afire the entrails of a goat by the light of the full moon while facing in the direction of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan and reciting a poem of praise to the deity Tonacatecuhtli. The actual ritual is not that complex, but it seems that with each passing year it becomes more and more difficult to find the requisite number of Vestal Virgins. Just another sign of the times I suppose.