This is how our peppers looked growing in the garden last summer.
Yellow Cayenne.
This is how those peppers look today.
These were our Jalapeno peppers.
This is them today.
After months of drying them out in the mud room.
I got out the coffee grinder.
As you can see we have plenty of heat
for chili and Mexican dishes.
for chili and Mexican dishes.
I'm thinking that I may not want to use
our coffee mill ever again for coffee.
What do you think?
Keep Smiling!
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)
our coffee mill ever again for coffee.
What do you think?
Keep Smiling!
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)
How do you dry them, Connie? You might be spicing up your coffee! :D
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, we just laid them out on paper towel and let them air dry. A dehydrator would be much faster, but I don't have one. I think I might just dedicate our coffee grinder to peppers for now on, LOL.
DeleteOH My! Aren't you clever? Well, I can't take the spice but hubby can-that is a great idea on how to grind them up. The next coffee beans through there ought to have a real touch of Mexico in them....lol xo Diana
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, those yellow cayenne are so hot that one pepper steams up a whole pot of chili and we like it hot :) I don't even want to know how it would affect a pot of coffee, LOL
DeleteI'm thinking your coffee might have some extra heat if you grind it in that grinder...lol! WHat a great idea to use a coffee grinder to grind the peppers though, Good thinking! Hope you've had a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Vicky
Hi Vicky, thanks for stopping by . . . yes, I think that I am going to dedicate our grinder to peppers only from now on :)
DeleteThat would make a "hot" cup of coffee :) Looks like you've got plenty of spice in your life now...lol
ReplyDeleteHi Ann, after grinding those peppers and couching a few time during the process . . . I just might be a little bit spicier than before, LOL
DeleteI use a small coffee grinder too, but only for that purpose. I use it for dried garlic and onion as well as hot peppers. I love those spice jars. My Aunt sent me two and I just love them.
ReplyDeleteHI Kristina, I found those little jars at Walmart in the kitchen department, if you want anymore. I agree, our grinder is going to be dedicated to spices from now on :)
DeleteI have used our coffee grinder for herbs too but we never grind coffee so guess it is okay. We don't do hot either. Nice job you did! Nancy
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, we rarely buy coffee beans, so I think our grinder will be used for only peppers and other spices too, from now on. I like my coffee hot, but not that hot, LOL.
DeleteAs others above had said Connie, you'll never have a cold cup of coffee again! What a busy bee you have been, I'm impressed as ever :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, truth is . . . I like my coffee hot, but not that hot, LOL.
DeleteThanks for stopping by.
I never knew you could do that - just lay peppers out to dry and then grind them for spices! How long did it take to dry out the peppers - and were they in the dark? I have a coffee bean grinder, but I think I'd buy a separate one to grind my own peppers and spices. I've heard you can clean a coffee bean grinder by putting rice in it and giving it a whirl, but I don't know how well that works.
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie, it took us since picking them until now to get them dry. We just laid them out on paper towels for a few weeks and later in the cardboard boxes in the photo. I would just gave them a stir every now and then. A dehydrator would be handy, but I don't have one. This worked well, it just took a long time. As for our grinder, I think we will keep it just for spices from now on. I like hot coffee . . . but maybe not that hot, LOL.
Deletehello Connie! wow, what gorgeous plants they were, I cannot wait to see some green this year.....lol. I think I would invest in another coffee grinder for coffee...*grin*
ReplyDeletehave a super week!
sparkle & shine *~*
Hi Teresa, I think that you are absolutely right . . . I like my coffee hot, but not that hot, LOL.
DeleteYou're speaking my language!! Have grown up in Texas and have always loved spicy foods! My dad used to grow peppers of all kinds and would share. I've never used a coffee grinder but it's a great idea! Now, when are you buying a new one for your coffee? :)
ReplyDeleteThank you again for stopping by ~ I really appreciate it!
xo
Pat
Hello Pat, and welcome to my little corner of blog-land. I love spicy food, too. My husband makes a chicken gumbo that will knock your socks off, if you don't like it hot . . . it is one of my very favorite dishes :) The truth is Folgers is our favorite coffee and I don't buy beans often, so we will be okay for a while. Thank you so much for following me back. I'm looking forward to a sweet blogging friendship.
DeleteWell see...if we lived closer I would borrow you my dehydrator. I have seen them at thrift stores and pawn shops...but I don't think they are too expensive. I have dehydrated many things, but not peppers....those little jars of ground peppers sure look neat. Bet it gives you much satisfaction. have a good one.
ReplyDeleteLouise
Hi Louise, there is always a satisfaction when you harvest something that you have grown. It is a new experience for us, with last summer growing our first real garden. Before last year I was a container and flower bed gardener. Having this new space with so much room to garden is wonderful. We thank the Lord daily for blessing us with our little country home:) Oh, if you lived close I just might take you up on your offer, or buy one of my own and let you teach me all the things you do with it. Have a wonderful week.
DeleteHi Connie,
ReplyDeleteThere sure is a lot of work, that you have put in there. You are well stocked up.
My D.I.L has a dehydrator.. but she used it about twice.
If the grinder is well cleaned and washed..i am sure there will be no taste.. but you would soon know, if you tried. );-
happy cooking.
val x
Hi Val, you are certainly right, we would absolutely know when we made that first cup of coffee. Do I hear a dare in there? LOL
DeleteI just entered a comment but don't think it took it...... yikes.
ReplyDeleteI love how your peppers came out; I especially like the jars with the handles on them. I'm a sucker for jars anyway. I love to see what's inside them. I don't blame you for not really wanting to use your grinder for coffee any more. Maybe if you want a bit of spice in your morning brew.
I'm with Steve. My retirement date is somewhere around 2017. That's my goal anyway; we'll see what happens between now and then. My health will play a big part in the decision. As long as I'm doing well then I'm happy working - waiting for that larger pension. I can see us hanging out in your craft barn, going to yard sales to discover new uses for old things!
Hugs,
Kay
Hi Kay, crafting and going to yard sales with you sounds like a lot of fun. Do you have any plans to travel around after you retire? I know that we are talking about maybe taking one big road trip and then seeing what happens from there. Of course we have three years from now until Steve retires so there could be a lot of changes in that length of time, you never know what tomorrow may bring:)
DeleteI vote 'no' on using the coffee grinder for coffee again! I can't eat spicy foods, but I admire your taking produce from the garden and preserving it the way you do.
ReplyDeleteHi Norma, thanks for stopping by to visit. I have a pot of black beans on the stove with some of those jalapeno spices in them . . . beans with pork over rice for dinner and an apricot glazed monkey bread coffee cake for dessert. We had tons of apricots on our trees last summer. I'm with you on the coffee grinder . . . I think it might be getting retired from grinding coffee beans for now on, LOL.
DeleteYes I think I would think twice about using that grinder for coffee now, how neat to make your own
ReplyDeleteHi Connie, we all like hot coffee, but maybe not that hot, LOL.
Deletewhat a great idea, connie:) my husband just loves anything spicy and hot...well, anything but his coffee:) have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn, Coffee is great hot, but maybe not spicy, LOL Thanks for stopping by to visit.
DeleteI never knew how to do this. Hubby would love me forever, but I do not like hot things. I love the little shakers you used for it. Perfect size to have handy.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, You know that your Hubby is going to love you forever, hot spices or not, LOL There were a few times when the spices got in the air and cause a couching spell, especially the cayenne, it is four or five times hotter than the jalapeno. Steve went out to his shop and got a dust mask for me to wear :)
DeleteThat is just outstanding to have all that goodness from those peppers! You have given me some ideas friend! Happy gardening! SO looking forward to a new season!! Nicole xo
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole, me too! I've been burying my nose in seed catalogs the last few weeks and dreaming of gardening :)
DeleteGreat idea! I love that you saved the peppers and dried them to grind up!!
ReplyDeleteI've never done that before... I may need to give it a try.
I have frozen peppers, and I've bottled them before.. now I need to give drying them a try.
Have a happy day.
~K.
Hi Kerin, I have frozen a few of my garden items and then I dried these. I really want to learn to can, but I have a glass top range, so I've put it off. Steve has propane burners for outside and said that I can use them, so we'll see if I get brave enough to give it a go this year:) I bought four dozen jars last year and then didn't use them.
DeleteI bought one at a garage sale years ago that I use for spices only! I recommend you do that!!!
ReplyDeleteCindy Bee
Hi Cindy, I think that you are right. I like my coffee hot, but this could be a bit more than I would bargain for, LOL.
DeleteWell, that's something you don't see everyday...making your own spices! What a cool thing to do!
ReplyDeleteHi Debby, this was our first time to do this, but it worked wonderfully. It feels good too, being able to grow a garden and save your harvest this way :) Last year I made freezer jam and I put a lot of things in my freezer. Now, I need to learn to can. It's on my list of things that I want to learn, so maybe this year. I have a glass top range which I guess wouldn't work for canning. They say," where there is a will there is a way" and I've always lived by that :) Loving our new country life :) Thanks so much for stopping by. I wish that there was a way to have scones and tea ready when I have blogging company.
DeleteConnie, my husband wants to grow a garden this spring, and he mentioned planting bell peppers. Your jallepeno peppers look so nice. And I LOVE that blue cup. I am really into pretty and different tea cups right now.
ReplyDeletelove, ~Sheri
Hi Sheri, I have a very pretty collection of tea cups, but I hardy ever use them . . . and when it comes to coffee I like a big mug :) Last year was out first real garden, now that we moved to the country we have lots of room and plenty of space in the sun to garden. It was wonderful and I am planning on planting more this year :)
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