Some like it HOT!!

If this summer wasn't hot enough it is about to get hotter. Actually you may be cooled off by cooking with the hot peppers that are in season now. Spicy foods make you sweat which has an evaporative cooling effect. Hence spicy cuisine comes from hot climates.

So here are some recipes and tips to enjoy your hot pepper mix!

Tips
It is best to wear latex gloves when cutting hot peppers but if you don't have any on hand or forget try these tricks to get the hot off...

1. Dish Soap - Wash your hands with dish soap. Most dish soaps have oil-dissolving properties that work better than hand soap.

2. Rubbing Alcohol - Chili oil is more soluble in alcohol than water so use rubbing alcohol to soothe the burn. If all you have on hand is vodka that will work too.

If you bite into a pepper that has a little too much of the capsaicin for your taste buds DO NOT DRINK WATER!! Instead gulp down some milk or take a mouthful of another dairy product like yogurt or sour cream which contains the protein casein that breaks down the capsaicin. Acidic foods or beverages like lemonade or something tomato based can also neutralize the burn. And finally eating your peppers with carbohydrates like bread, rice or tortillas,

Recipes

Homemade Hot Sauce

Pickled Peppers (a peck!)

Stuffed Hot Peppers

Hot Pepper Jelly