Found some killer cayenne peppers at Nagy’s Peaches.
Upon embarking on the preserving process for drying hot peppers, I looked up how to make a ristra and quickly decided to just string my cayenne peppers with a needle and twine. The guy in the video was extremely adept at tying knots but I was not in the mood for learning slip knots or cinched loops. Any needle and strong thread or nylon twine will work fine. Just string them up by pushing the tip of the needle through the thickest part of the green stem. You will have to tie 2 knots at the top and the bottom of the twine. There’s no getting around those knots.
The next step is drying your ristra which requires you to move to New Mexico or Arizona. Hang the ristra on the north side of your hacienda for a few weeks until completely dry.
Alternatively, since I have no intentions of leaving Upper Black Eddy, the peppers can be placed on a baking sheet in a 175 Degree F oven for 8 hours (don’t use this technique if you’ve used plastic twine or lay the peppers out before stringing.). Give then a peek every hour after the first 6 hours. They should feel dry but not be browning. Leave them whole or grind up for crushed red pepper. A coffee grinder used for herbs and spices will make short work of the grinding.
So I’m back to blogging and classes start September 26th (can’t wait!!!). It’s been a long year battling breast cancer with only 2 more chemo treatments to go. Then I ring the bell they have at the infusion center (corny, but I also can’t wait for that!!!). When it’s all over I’m looking forward to never talking about cancer again. So this is just the briefest of updates – just didn’t want to act like nothing’s been going on and I just disappeared for a few months.
THE wedding is finally over. It was a bit of a blur. Sewing proved the most challenging with chemo brain. Can’t wait to show you pictures! Kendra and Eduardo said it was the best night of their lives. They looked beautiful. Joy!
Tegan is off on her Fulbright adventure, spending 6 weeks in Mahberg for intensive language and culture classes before her year in Berlin.
Get thee to a farmer’s market; this is the time of year to gather some of your favorite things for the coming winter. Future posts will include Fall Chutney, herb pastes for freezing, and some of the easiest vegetables for stocking your freezer.
Ding, ding!
Sheila
PS Found this bowl, a set of 4 descending in size, in Tucson, AZ and just fell in love.
