Ah, the homework must be delicious

Did you know there’s only one international non-profit constantly researching the chile pepper and publishing the results? And teaching people how to grow many varieties of chile, as well as displaying chile pepper art at its headquarters?

It’s true! Es verdad! And it’s the Chile Pepper Institute, housed on the campus of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. They’ve even sponsored the International Pepper Conference – now, there’s a hot topic for you.

Click here https://cpi.nmsu.edu/ if you want to learn a little more about chile, and you can print out a copy of the catalog too.

Hasta luego!
Diego

Recipes galore!

Here are some places to check out for really muy delicioso chile pepper recipes!

Even Martha Stewart gets into the act with almost two dozen recipes to try out with different varieties of chile: https://www.marthastewart.com/274984/chile-pepper-recipes?slide=3407846

Chili Pepper Madness is a fun site to browse. Whether you want chile peppers in cookies, jelly, or the main dish for dinner tonight, they’ve got something tasty for you to try: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes (Even with the misspelling of ‘chile,’ it’s still a good resource.)

You can explore the health benefits of chile peppers at Eating Well and not feel guilty enjoying your favorite spice: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/22239/mealtimes/dinner/chile-pepper-and-spicy-recipes/slideshow/chile-pepper-recipes-and-other-spicy-recipes/

Let us know if you find a new favorite recipe. The next chile pepper plants are already growing for this year’s harvest!

Su amigo, Diego

Mental gymnastics

We get to know our neighbors quite well around here, so the folks at Write Up The Road Publishing are very good friends. Sometimes I think they’re having an unusual effect on us vaqueros, though. They really like word games over there. So while on tumbleweed patrol, I was figuring out how many 5-letter words you could get from ‘Dixie Chile Ranch.’ (Can’t do crossword puzzles riding horseback.) Ay yi.

Well – why don’t you try it and let me know your answer to the puzzle in an email or a comment? And then we’ll take the top number, beat them at their own game, and challenge the WUTR gang to a chili cook off!

Hasta la vista,
Diego

One of the best articles ever

Hola, amigos! Just found one of the best articles I’ve ever read about the wonderful ‘manna from Heaven,’ or Hatch, New Mexico, green chile.

You may or may not know that Mr. Tim got his first seeds (and advice, and correspondence, and tips and …) from the Chile Institute in New Mexico, but you likely haven’t read a good explanation of why green chile is the ultimate complement (and compliment) to hundreds of delicious dishes created in the state.

Well – click on this link to a superb article by David Tanis, “Inside New Mexico’s Hatch Green Chile Obsession” https://www.saveur.com/hatch-chiles-new-mexico. You’ll get a little history, a wonderful glimpse of the lengthy process for fresh, smoked, roasted or dried chile, descriptions of some fiestas and a tantalizing insight into the world’s favorite spice.

Ahh – to be home during the harvest when you can smell the roasting chile and taste its hot spicy sweetness literally in the smoke. I hope all of you, our readers, get to be there in person someday. It’s really a special experience – and Señor Tanis does a fabulous job describing it. Enjoy! Con gusto! Diego