Tag Archives: Chili peppers

Agriculture, Farming, Hawaii, Marketing, Uncategorized

Squash and Awe Podcast Interview

January 7, 2016 squash and awe 3 Comments

I had the wonderful opportunity to be a guest on Jackie’s Organic Gardener Podcast this past Thanksgiving. We spent just over an hour discussing all things gardening. From books, to heirlooms, to soil building and more, we covered a lot of ground. This interview was done the day after Thanksgiving, I chose that day, because it was the hardest year of farming for me yet, and having just met my orders for Thanksgiving, I was so relieved that I was almost giddy. This talk shares some of the things I have experienced in my first years farming

Squash and Awe on Organic Gardener Podcast

While you are there, subscribe to her podcast and listen to all kinds of ideas on gardening!

recipes

Lima Bean and Pumpkin Chili

December 9, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

Maybe it needs a better name, but for now, it will have to do. As I savor the last bite, I am filled and satisfied with this now much more nutritious dish. Holiday visitors passed through the kitchen as I was making the chili, and it seemed to be an unlikely recipe to most. My invented recipe intrigued an eight year old who dreams of being on a “kid chef” show on the Food Network. He watched me like a hawk. The recipe is made in a slow cooker, and can be adapted to all tastes.

This time of year, I often collect a nice amount of the heirloom Christmas lima bean. I am frequently pressing these beans into the hands of school kids in hopes that they plant them here in Hawaii. They should be grown in everyone’s home garden, school gardens, and on fences, banana trees, bamboo…you get the idea. They are perfect for Hawaii’s long, come and go seasons. It creates a pretty vine, and the bees love the delicate bloom. I’ve sung it’s praises before, and I am at it again. Plus the bean is big and very flavorful.

Above is an image that shows how they catch the morning light in the garden. In the photo, they are covering an unsightly windbreak that I made two years ago out of bamboo threaded through shipping pallets that were placed on their side. It has held up, and become a beautiful area that is also effective against the wind tunnel effect. I bought the first lot from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds three years ago, and since then, I have supplied half of the state of Hawaii with them, and also included them in many special meals. It was the best $2.50 I have ever spent in the garden!

But back to the chili. Lima beans make a lovely chili bean, especially these lovely burgundy speckled ones, and the spice of homegrown chili peppers mixed with sweet pumpkins is a wonderful, and thrifty match for my eat what you grow style.

So the concept is the take away here. Here is what I did: I picked, shucked and rinsed the lima beans, harvested a few chili peppers and selected a nice aged pumpkin. I soaked the beans for a couple hours, then decided just to cook them on low overnight in the slow cooker. I could have added a wedge of onion to the water that covered the beans, but I forgot. By morning, the home cooking filled my tiny abode. I had 1/4 of the crock pot filled with dried beans and then filled the entire crock with water.

In the morning, I drained the beans, saving the cooking liquid on the side. I did this by simply setting a colander inside a large bowl. I returned the beans to the 4 qt slow cooker, and added 1/2 a chopped onion, 2 packets of chili seasoning, 1.5 lbs of hamburger, one can of tomatoes, and a can of tomato paste, plus three cloves of garlic. Then I chopped about 1.5 pounds of pumpkin, salt and pepper. I also added about 3 cups of the bean cooking broth back into the cooker. Normally, I would add my fresh chili peppers, but this one was made with little kids in mind.

When I make this again for myself, I am going to make a meatless version. The lima beans and pumpkin make a satisfying chili, and the meat just isn’t necessary. The beans were already cooked, so it was a matter of waiting for the pumpkin to cook. This gave me plenty of time to shuck more beans for later cooking and planting, as well as give me some time to turn the home garden upside down section by section, in my December garden overhaul.

By 4 in the afternoon, I couldn’t wait any longer, and snuck a small sample bowl…and then another. I was waiting for the pumpkin to be tender. By this time, I was hungry, and this really hit the spot. I could have easily added more of the bean broth to thin it out a bit. I added some more salt at the end of the cooking. I smeared it with some sour cream and piled it on top of basmati brown rice. There were zero complaints about either the limas or the pumpkin.

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Planting Chili Peppers in Containers

August 3, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

It is an interesting year for chilis in Upcounty Hawaii. Cold, wet, Winter weather has changed their schedule. This is normally time for their big growth time, but this year the season is different. Am I ok with it? Sort of. This is why I plant so many heirloom varieties. Some are loving this weather, while others are waiting for their time. I learned many things this year. The importance of pruning, and timing the pruning to the plant’s growth cycle. I also learned how to grow chilis from cuttings. Though only one lone Thai Dragon Pepper was a successful grow out from a cutting, it is a lovely plant, and I learned that the method does work, and that I should try it throughout the year to find ideal times.

I also did two rounds of grow outs from seed despite my Spring travels. I have two new success with orange Habanero, and Purple Cayenne. Then back to making sure to care for the varieties that have already shown potential. Like Black Hungarian, and Aji Limon (Lemon Drop.) Two peppers from two different parts of the globe, but both like the highly variable conditions at the farm.

I love to plant and transplant when it rains. Though it is bright and sunny in the video, the skies opened and closed several times in the past few days as yet another tropical storm spins by. I decided to start an absurd number of chilis this summer, knowing that it was now or never. Germination becomes more difficult in the months ahead. Many chilis go semi-dormant in Winter, unless we have a warm Winter. I get them going when we still have longish days, then we will see what the fall brings. It may get hot in Aug and September, which would set them up with strong growth. Or we may be having our Winter now. We never had Winter rain this year…so in many ways this is our Winter.

What I am learning, is that I may love chilis as much as I love squash. They too vary in heat, texture, and flavor. They also have lovely foliage, and flowers. They also are more tolerant than I would have ever guessed. They let the squash smother them, then appear alive and well from under the vines. I have some plants that are 2.5 years old now. They love my homemade fish fertilizer, and the Ghosts seems to like more water than I would have ever guessed. I harvested about 15 Ghosts off one yearling plant that is set right out with the squash. I have it in a container tub, and let it get some of the spray in route to the squash. It is a great way to have them be accessible, while also lifting them up above the squash leaf shade so they have optimal sun. Not to mention, it is easy to collect them so to cook with them, and one watering will water the whole lot. Containers can dry out quickly, so this is ideal. The peppers are healthy, happy, and thriving.

Ghosts warn you of heat with color and a strong scent

So here is a video to give some beginning farmers and gardeners an idea of how to make your own soil mix for your container garden. I recommend that everyone grab up large pots and tubs when they seem them being discarded. They come in handy, and it allows you to have a garden on your lanai, doorstep, or in my case, containers mix right in with other plants on the farm.

I choose to transplant my chili peppers when they get a couple pairs of leaves. That gives them a more substantial root system, and they are less likely to wilt and die after transplanting. I get several plants going in each big container, if they all take, I can always transplant some of them, giving the others more space. I often add a squash vine to the mix ( I know I know) or a basil plant, so to get a variety going. These containers will be put on a wire mesh table top where nutrients, and water will drizzle onto the squash vines. I give them fish emulsion monthly. It works wonders. The two year old plants have over 100 blooms this year…even in partial shade, and unusual weather.

I began fermenting this past week, and I am excited about the flavor of the orange Habanero in one of the squash ferments. More on that later…I am just throwing that out so to encourage you all to grow more than you think you will use. Many people struggle with growing a variety of peppers, so they may be likely to trade for some of your chili bounty.

recipes

Spoonable Heirloom Chili Pepper Oil

May 9, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

No matter whether you like your meals spiced mildly or for maximum heat, here is a simple way to capture the delightful tastes of heirloom chili peppers. This ten minute process will allow you to keep some summer heat long after production stops, or for those of us with come and go chili seasons, it captures the bounty until it returns.

Ghost, Thai Dragon, Lemon Drop, Hawaiian, Fish, Cayenne, Banana, Jalapeno

When I returned from the Ozarks, there was a wide array waiting for me to select from. I decided to make a nice hot version with the sun ripened fresh chilis. You can make a mild oil by using mild green chilis, then up the heat with ripe ones. The olive oil diffuses the flavor in a way very different from hot sauce. I like to start with a couple handfuls of peppers fresh from the plants. I cut off the stem end, and reserve the cuttings for my fire-breathing flock of hens. Cayenne tends to be the top poultry pleaser. They often get into a scuffle over the pepper bits. I have read that it is healthy for them, just like chilis are for us.

Then simply drop the trimmed peppers into the food processor container that is fitted with the chopping blade. Be careful not to breathe in the crushed chili fumes, as it will irritate your lungs. Some people prefer to use safety glasses and gloves as well. This process allows the food processor to do most of the chopping, instead of you, but use caution regardless.

Pulse them to a fine chop, and add a bit of olive oil at the end, so to make the mixture easy to pour. Garlic lovers: peel and add a couple of cloves to the container and pulse them right along with the chilis.

With a rubber spatula, scrape the sides of the container as you pour the chili mix into a clean 1/2 pint or pint jar. I make this by the pint, because I use it in so many things. It adds a refined chili infusion rather than over the top heat. Top off the jar with more good quality organic olive oil. Place on the lid, and shake lightly. I will leave this jar on the counter overnight for the flavor to set, then invert the jar onto a plate, and place in the refrigerator.

Inverting the mixture allows the chilis to be dispersed evenly

As the oil is refrigerated, it will solidify. Turning the jar every couple of hours, or at least once before it is solidified, will make the chilis more evenly dispersed. When I use up the top 1/2 of the jar, I often add more oil and mix it in with the glut of chilis that sunk to the bottom of the jar.

I like to take a heaping spoonful, and use it as you would use olive oil in any recipe. I use it mixed with basil, garlic, and rosemary to marinate my pumpkin slices on the grill. It is lovely mixed into stir fry, with greens, spaghetti sauce, and mixed into plain rice. The olive oil will return to liquid at room temperature, so spoon out what you need, and return the jar to the fridge for storage. Try dragging a piece of toasted garlic bread through it, or drizzling over pizza instead of pepper flakes. The uses are endless, and it will make a well seasoned meal in minutes. This oil should last a couple of months in the refrigerator. Mine rarely lasts, simply because it is a part of so much of my cooking. Enjoy this little bit from pepper paradise!

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Chili Pepper Pruning and Rooting Cuttings pt 2

April 2, 2015 squash and awe 1 Comment

Updating on my first attempts at pruning two year old Ghost Peppers, Aji Limon, and Thai Dragon chilis as well as rooting the cuttings. It has been a week, let’s see where we are at

Here are two short videos that document what I have learned about chili propagation in the past week

Key Points: “Y” shaped pepper plants do not produce as well as those who have undergone severe pruning in year one and two

regrowth happens pretty quickly if timed to coincide with Spring growth cycles

Be brave! It is proven to work. Watch my attempts and other videos from chili experts before pruning

Spoil them rotten with care both before and after pruning

Give them fish emulsion fertilizer before and after to encourage powerful plants

document your attempts, as in before and after shots, so that when you are neck deep in chilis, you can laugh about your fear of pruning.

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Learning to Propagate Chilis from Cuttings

March 24, 2015 squash and awe 2 Comments

It was time to give the yearling Ghost Pepper plants a severe pruning. Reducing them by 50% was less painful, when I got the idea to propagate from cuttings. Here are my attempt to do so using the simplest of tools. Reclaimed growers rockwool are used for some, while potting mix is being used in others. Other tools needed are : large sandwich type plastic bags, rubber bands, or string, small containers, trays of water, a sharp knife, pruners, and liquid (or powdered) rooting compound.

I used cutting from my Ghost pepper plants, Aji Limon, and Thai Dragon.

Tips:

Keep them moist and out of direct sun (these were moved after being photographed)

Short stems with two sets of leaves are best

Avoid using woody stems

Slice stem at an angle to increase rooting surface

Remove all leaves except for growing one at tip

Use bags to keep humidity high

label varieties

roots should form in 3 weeks

Transplant into soil after 3 weeks

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A week in images

March 4, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

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A Week in Images

January 16, 2015 squash and awe Leave a comment

Essays and Reflections, recipes, Travel

Ghost peppers: from seed to hot sauce

October 5, 2014 squash and awe 1 Comment

Ghost peppers don’t align themselves neatly with other vegetables. They are one of the few veggies that you can simply name and people respond with fear. I am not going to pretend that I am any different. You might wonder why I decided to grow them, and nurture them even. Why I would put so much love and energy into a plant whose fruits I was scared to even touch. Well, it has a lot to do with my brother, the chili aficionado. He lost most of his sense of taste due to an accident years ago, but like many others in similar situations, he can “taste” chili peppers. So chili peppers quickly became his thing.

It seems to be a family affair, because years ago as I trekked through the volcanic regions of Sumatra, I earned my nickname of Sambal, or chili sauce in English. I took the heat in more ways than one, as I insisted on eating local in every regard. I love food, and travel led me to more and more dishes around the world. Some of the Indonesian regional cuisine is so spiced that redness would appear as a creeping line that progressed up my neck until reaching my face. It didn’t help that though I only have a slight natural touch of red in my hair, to the dark haired Indonesians, my hair was a chili top of sorts. I was munching away on chili pepper sambal sauces, with tears running down my face, and my hair seemed to get redder in the process. One could say that I earned the respect of the community one chili pepper at a time.

On a subsequent trip to Indonesia, I climbed a remote volcano in pre-dawn darkness with a man who was traveling the globe in search of chili peppers. I will never forget his gregarious personality that lit up all that surrounded him. I should note that years later, I often took an hour and 20 min subway ride in NYC in order to get Brooklyn’s best Jerk chicken. I also once took a near daily schlep through dangerously off kilter Medan, Sumatra in order to eat the sambal sauce soaked eggs over rice that the bicycle taxi men ate for lunch. I called them “fire eggs” and that says it all. Over the years I have eaten a fair bit of cajun food, soul food, and the like, but rarely do I pick up a bottle of hot sauce. I am more inclined to use fresh chopped chili peppers in a dish, or make a fresh salsa verde on the spot. I like the handmade over the store bought. Over the years when I asked many a restaurant server to bring me “their” sambal sauce, glowing faces would return with tiny bowl of pastes in colors to terrifying to be food.

So it is with all these people in my heart that I put on my mechanic’s safety glasses and make a seasonal series of chili sauces that would make any Indonesian, and also a certain family member, or volcano climbing chili explorer very proud.