Habanero's from fresh picked to drying

Fresh picked habby's.....

Sliced and layered on a cookie sheet.  

Next into an oven on the lowest setting available or 100 degrees, over night, with the door cracked.

I highly recommend leaving a window open as the fumes are pretty sharp and pungent.  

The next morning you can put them in a blender or what we like to use.. an old coffee grinder to make into powder or flakes.  Grind longer for powder.  Now, here is a bit of advice... Let it sit for 5 or 10 minutes before lifting the lid.  

The powder will billow right into your face and you will be sneezing and coughing uncontrollably.  Just letting it rest makes this step much more safe.     

What is a Scoville, or Scoville unit?

A lot of folks have asked me about the word scoville.  How did I come up with it?  What does it mean?

Basically it is the measurement of heat in a chili pepper.  

The following is from Wikipedia and describes it very well.

Also a Scoville chart at the end of the page

The Scoville scale is the measurement of the pungency (spicy heat) of chili peppers.

The number of Scoville heat units (SHU)^[1] indicates the amount of capsaicin present per unit of dry mass. Capsaicin is a chemical compoundthat stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings in the skin, especially the mucous membranes.

The scale is named after its creator, American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville. His method, devised in 1912, is known as the Scoville Organoleptic Test.^[2] A modern method to directly measure capsaicinoid content in peppers is high-performance liquid chromatography.

In Scoville's method, a measured amount of alcohol extract of the capsaicin oil of the dried pepper is produced, after which a solution of sugar and water is added incrementally until the "heat" is just barely detectable by a panel of (usually five) tasters; the degree of dilution gives its measure on the Scoville scale. Thus, a sweet pepper or a bell pepper, containing no capsaicin at all, has a Scoville rating of zero, meaning no heat detectable.^[3] The hottest chilis, such as habaneros and nagas, have a rating of 200,000 or more, indicating their extract must be diluted over 200,000 times before the capsaicin presence is undetectable.^{[citation needed]} The greatest weakness of the Scoville Organoleptic Test is its imprecision, because it relies on human subjectivity. Tasters are given only one sample per session. Results vary widely, up to 50%, between laboratories.^[4]

Spice heat is usually measured by a method that uses high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This identifies and measures the concentration of heat-producing chemicals. The measurements are used in a mathematical formula that weighs them according to their relative capacity to produce a sensation of heat. This method yields results, not in Scoville units, but in American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) pungency units. A measurement of one part capsaicin per million corresponds to about 15 Scoville units, and the published method says that ASTA pungency units can be multiplied by 15 and reported as Scoville units. Scoville units are a measure for capsaicin content per unit of dry mass.^[6][7][8] This conversion is approximate, and spice experts Donna R. Tainter and Anthony T. Grenis say that there is consensus that it gives results about 20–40% lower than the actual Scoville method would have given.

Scoville heat units	Examples
1,500,000–2,000,000	Trinidad Moruga Scorpion[9]
855,000–1,463,700	Naga Viper pepper,[10] Infinity Chilli,[11] Bhut Jolokia chili pepper,[12][13] Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper,[14] Bedfordshire Super Naga,[15] 7-Pot Chili
350,000–580,000	Red Savina habanero[16]
100,000–350,000	Habanero chili,[17] Scotch bonnet pepper,[17] Datil pepper, Rocoto, Piri Piri Ndungu, Madame Jeanette, Peruvian White Habanero,[18] Jamaican hot pepper,[19] Guyana Wiri Wiri, Fatalii [20]
50,000–100,000	Byadgi chilli, Bird's eye chili (aka. Thai Chili Pepper),[21] Malagueta pepper,[21] Chiltepin pepper, Piri piri (African bird's eye), Pequin pepper,[21]Siling Labuyo (native chili cultivar from the Philippines)
30,000–50,000	Guntur chilli, Cayenne pepper, Ají pepper,[17] Tabasco pepper, Cumari pepper (Capsicum Chinese)
10,000–23,000	Serrano pepper, Peter pepper, Aleppo pepper
3,500–8,000	Espelette pepper, Jalapeño pepper, Chipotle,[17][22] Guajillo pepper, New Mexican peppers,[23] Hungarian wax pepper, Tabasco sauce
1,000–2,500	Anaheim pepper (cultivar of New Mexican peppers),[23] Poblano pepper, Rocotillo pepper, Peppadew, Sriracha sauce
100–900	Pimento, Peperoncini, Banana pepper, Cubanelle
No significant heat	Bell pepper, Aji dulce

Ultimate Guide to drying chili peppers

To the folks asking about drying chili peppers.  This link provides the many ways with instructions.
Ultimate Guide to drying chili peppers

We use the oven drying method at Scoville Zone 
These are the leftover Habanero's from jelly making

Dried Habanero's just from the oven

Little guy swears Jalapeno's are not hot! Cute!

Click here

Jalapeno Jelly Making

My Jalapeno Jelly is very much the same as the Habanero Jelly I made 2 weeks ago, just the different chili used.
This jelly has that chili flavor that shines through.  The heat makes it sparkle but doesn't ruin the taste for the next bite.
A jar of this bright red jelly, a block of cream cheese and a sleeve of Ritz crackers makes the perfect hostess gift.  

Ingredients for Jalapeno Jelly

Ready to be simmered 

Sooo close to jelly

Jalapeno Jelly

Jalapeno Jelly with cream cheese on a ritz cracker

Sunday morning surprise!!

Very recently we moved from our country home to the city.  In the process of packing, I put all the chili pepper seeds and dried chili's in our giant stock pot.  In my mind I was sure I'd remember that chili seeds are in the "chili" pot.  Nope.  

We thought for sure they'd been lost in the shuffle.  It was with great surprise that when my hubby pulled out the chili pot this morning he found these.  

Now to remember what type of seeds those in 

the left top corner are...

Found chili seeds

Chili Pepper drain plug

A great gift idea for the chili-head in your life

Chocolate cup cake with chili flakes

I have a sneaky feeling that tiny chili on top of this cupcake could set your world on fire. 

Looks mighty tempting

;)

What type of drink do you think this is?

It looks like ice water.  

How ironic.  Ice water with a jalapeno sliced and floated.  

Maybe its vodka.  That might be yummy...  

What do you think it is?

A spicy photo series

Autumn Colors!  

Even chili's know its that time of year.  The colors are gorgeous...

Chili pepper muscles ;)

Cant be sure what type of chili this is, but the photography is magnificent.  

The shadows and highlights remind me of muscles.  This is so something I'd hang in my house.

Muscular chili art

Chili Pepper Cupcakes

These look like icing chili's, but I have seen cupcakes with 

real chili's perched on top, like this.

Betcha they are yummy!  Soooo pretty, too!

Chili Pepper Cupcakes

Chili Pepper Luggage tags

Luggage tags.  

Not only is it cool, it also makes it easy to spot your luggage faster.  

I love these!

Luggage Tag

Jalapeno Jelly Coming Soon!

If all goes as planned.... 

This weekend I will be putting up Jalapeno Jelly

Jalapeno's in the garden

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside [Official Music Video]

Yep, its a music video on a site about chili's.  

Fortunately the band is The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and what makes it even better, is that it is one of my favorite bands.  Even seen 'em in concert with my concert girlfriend.  They were stellar!  

Soooo, with that being said... I shall post a few of my favorite songs by them, now and again.

Thanks for looking!

Scoville Scale with the Trinidad Scorpion the hottest

We have grown about half of the chili's listed on this chart in the past 20 years

No chili's for you

Nothing here folks.  

Just a psychedelic lizard.  

  

Decisions Decisions

So many chili's, so little time.  

I imagine this is a market, like a farmers market.  

Can you name each one?  I think I can.. 

Look what the chili pepper stork brought!

How freaking adorable is this?
For the "baby" chili head in your family.
A great gift idea!  

Baby Chili

Chili Flake Dream

Some day, when I am something... 

I wanna sell chili flake in a container like this with a tiny set of tweezer-like things to get your pinch on.  

Chili pill box

Sriracha plug

My hub is the addict.  I use it when cooking.  

He uses it like ketchup.  Even calls it Chinese Ketchup.

Sriracha

The warning I should post with each jar of Habanero jelly

My newest batch of jelly makes this happen!

Float a chili in hot chocolate

It was chilly this morning... 

This would have warmed me up in more ways then one!

;)

Hot chocolate with a chili bite

For the chili pepper heads out there.... A mouse and backup storage

There are some crazy technology products out there.

Love these for the chili enthusiast

Chili Pepper mouse

Chili Pepper Storage

Do you think this is sexy, or HOT?

;)

Chili Pepper Apron

Stuffed Chili Pepper Grilling Stand

Hey Santa!
I have been a very good girl.
Can I have one of these for Christmas?

Chili pepper grilling stand

Can you guess the type of chili pepper plants these are?

All of these plants are chili peppers...

Can you guess what kind they are? 

This picture is from our garden of 2007.

Chili Pepper Plants

Chili's & Chocolate

MORE chili's and chocolate.  

When eating chili pepper jelly, I put cream cheese on a cracker and then a dollop of the jelly. 

I think it really takes the heat down a notch or three.  

I wonder if chocolate does the same.  Soon as I try it, I'll let you know

Chili's and Chocolate

Plasma Shake

These are the leftover Habby's from making jelly.  

They were cut in half and arranged on this cookie sheet in a 150 degree oven over night.

Then ran in the blender for about one minute.  You can run longer for more of a powder result.  

My hub shakes this on pizza, potato's, eggs, fried rice, barbq, he uses it in rubs for smoking meats.  

I think the only thing he doesn't put it on, is cereal.  

Dried Habanero's

Habby Pizza Shake

Chili Plasma ; )

Why is a Bhut Jolokia Ghost chili so hot?

CLICK HERE Why is the ghost pepper so hot?

Habanero Chili Pepper Jelly

This is the first time I have ever used straight habanero's in this recipe.  It usually calls for 1 cup of sweet chili's and 1/2 cup of hot chili's.  This time, I used all hot chili's.  Very, very, very hot chili's.

Even after so many chili's, the jelly turned out wonderfully.  I was worried it would have to much heat.  It does not.  It is still very spicy, but I think all of that sugar calms the fiery dragon.  ; )

The habanero taste shines right through!

This is my recipe

1 1/2 cups ground chili's

6 1/2 cups of sugar

1 1/2 cups vinegar 

6 oz of liquid pectin

Grind chili's and mix with sugar and vinegar.  Simmer 10 minutes, strain if desired <I dont> and add pectin.  Bring to a boil, turn off heat and pour in sterilized jars.

Fresh from the garden Habanero's 

Ingredients for Habby Jelly

Cutting off stem and removing seeds

Into the food processor 

Do NOT forget a fan for exhaust

Almost 1 1/2 cups of chopped habby's

Making jelly.
DO NOT BREATHE THIS

Finished Habby Jelly
12 tiny jars

A line of chili's

Chili Peppers as art.  

I love this!  Soo clean and colorful to gaze upon.

Makes me think of vacation. 

Chili Art

Stir-fry served in a pineapple Brilliant!

I might clean someone's car or house for this.

Shrimp stir-fry <mine would be loaded with various chili's> 

nicely served in a pineapple.  

<swoooons>

Stir-fry in a pineapple

Habanero Jelly, coming soon!

Keep checking back for habanero jelly recipe and pictures of it being made.  

No wimps allowed!

 ; )

Habanero on fire

Fire grilled chili's

Mmmm I love fire grilled chili's.

What kind do you think it is?

Pablano?  

Doesn't seem dark enough to be a Serrano..  hmm

What kind of chili is this?

Chili Pepper Taco Plate

How very cool!

A great item to hold your taco's for serving or decorating

Taco Plate

Are chili peppers fruits or vegetables?

Technically, it's both. 

A vegetable is defined as being the edible portion of a plant, 

which could be leaves (like lettuce or spinach), roots (like 

potatoes or radishes), seeds (like sunflower or pumpkin 

seeds), or the part of the plant that contains the seed 

producing ovaries of the plant.

But, a fruit is specifically defined as being the edible part of 

a plant that contains the seed producing ovaries. By that 

definition, things that we normally think of as being 

vegetables (like cucumbers, squashes, tomatoes, and even 

peppers) are actually the fruits of their respective plants.

Hors d'oeuvres chili pepper style

Oooh Yummmy!

I can only guess what either of these things are made with.  I'd like to think the drink is a mango slushy with pepper flakes and a lovely Thai Dragon floating around.  

I'd try that!

The snack looks like Jalapenos filled with black beans and topped with guacamole.

I'd try that!  

Something spicy to drink

Spicy bites