Heirloom you say? Research & Development

Hello everyone, as usual I have been working hard in the kitchen and my garden.  Currently I am working on developing something very special to me and I hope it turns into my next venture.

During my childhood, my Grandparents had this "special spice" that they would add to a lot of different dishes.  When my Grandfather passed away last year my Mother was given this special spice and a portion of it was given to me.  Normally I would tell you what this "special sauce" was, but this is a family secret.  Inspired by this inheritance, I decided to add a Chile Pequin or "Tiny Chile" bush to my garden so I could create my very own special spice.  My goal for this venture, is to develop a new spice that people from all walks of culinary life will want to add to their go-to spice choice!

As you can see in the picture, this chile is very small in size (pequin means small;tiny), but packs a very powerful punch!  My research thus far has been very interesting, which is why I wanted to share it with the world.  Remember, as I learn new and exciting things I will share it with you in hopes of inspiring a new generation of home cooks!  During my research I discovered that these chiles are 10x hotter than a jalapeno.  They are closely related to the jalapeno and bell pepper, and they grow wild in Mexico.  I have also learned that you can preserve them by drying them.

This is just a few things I've learned but as I delve further into the research and then development I will share more exciting facts and finds about this unique chile.

Want to see more of my garden?  Visit JBistro Styles "My garden to your dishes" to see all that I have to offer.  And remember to Follow the Food with me!

Magnificant Mint...It's not just for gum anymore!

Sweet Mint

Good morning my fellow food lovers!  As some of you might know, I have a pretty descent sized garden and one of my herbs is mint.  Actually, I have three types of mint; peppermint, sweet mint, and chocolate mint.

Mint is a very hardy and fast growing herb, so I have more mint then I know what to do with.  This dilemma has inspired today's conversation.  What to do with all that mint?

Simple Syrup:
This option is my favorite!  Simple syrup is the best way to infuse almost any flavor into almost anything.  Follow these simple instructions and add a sprig of mint to transform instantly your simple "simple syrup" to mint simple syrup.

Interesting Ice Cubes
I am excited about this option!  Not only is this a great way to use mint leaves, but it also provides a touch of food art.  Here is how-to properly do mint infused ice cubes.  Remember to add the ice cubes to your tea, lemonade, or mojito.

Fruit Salad
We all have our version of a fruit salad, so why not take something we all love and give it a fresh update?  Adding mint leaves is simple but provides a huge flavor boost nobody will be expecting, but will certainly love.

I hope these ideas have inspired everyone to think inside and outside their culinary boxes.