The Obsession with Chili Peppers

My obsession with chili peppers...  so I've had this obsession for a great many years.  Before moving back to Illinois I had a big house on a small, city plot; which translated to zero space for a garden...  however - we still always had about 10 different varieties of chili peppers in pots on the patio.  The peppers were started inside in the winter and put in pots once it started to get warm...  we babied those pepper plants, including building a make-shift greenhouse to extend the growing season.  It's amazing what you can do with a gazebo frame and some clear plastic sheeting...  lol!  Oh and an old electric blanket!  Even during the snow - it kept the temp inside around 65 degrees. 

So... I currently have 23 varieties of chili peppers on the farm.  I have approximately 250 or so plants.  I am OBSESSED with them.  I'm nearing the end of the growing season and it's killing me!  :-D  There aren't enough hours in the day to harvest all the peppers that are on the plants... and then figure out what to do with all of them!  So...  I'm getting creative.  I've pickled Carolina Reapers and they have been a big hit at the Farmers' Markets.  I've now pickled Tobasco peppers too...  and tonight - a strange mix that includes chocolate habanero, tazmanian habanero, jalapeno, tequila sunrise, lemon drop, scorpion, white habanero, cayenne...  and so many others have joined the mix.  Ya know what's interesting when you mix spicy peppers in a pickling brine?  They get crazy hot!  That's what they do!  lol!  But... oh, my goodness do they taste wonderful.  So the mixed pickled peppers will be debuting at the Illinois Products Farmers' Market this week. 

So...  back to my obsession with chili peppers.  What amazes me about chili peppers is the versatility of them.  Even the super hots have great flavor once you get past the heat.  I love seeing what I can do with them to bring out the flavor and reduce the heat level of them...  which if you've tried my products you know I've been able to do this.  So...  as we wind down the growing season - peppers are being cultivated in the greenhouse and I'm doing all I can to save EVERY last pepper so I can turn them into something delicious for the many fans of Addie's Pepper Patch products.