Thanks for your comments everyone - the panic is over, our photos are not lost. Unfortunately, the entire Windows operating system seems to have died, so I am trying to figure out Gimp for my photos etc.
It also seems that Chromium + Blogger is not a good mix - it seems to be ridiculously complicated to position my photos in posts now! So I apologise if the formatting of my posts is a bit whacky for a while.
When I came home to discover that a small, hairy animal had walloped one of our Hungarian Hot Wax chillis, I suddenly had to find a use for a large quantity of them.
When I came home to discover that a small, hairy animal had walloped one of our Hungarian Hot Wax chillis, I suddenly had to find a use for a large quantity of them.
We'd been talking about slicing some to
pickle, like a jalapeno, so I made a
couple of jars of those. I didn't really work from a recipe, I just read the label on the jar of commercial jalapenos in the pantry. I packed the sliced chillis into hot sterilised jars and poured over boiling pickle
(vinegar, salt, peppercorns and a touch of calcium chloride), then as the slices floated I packed in more.
I left them for a fortnight before we tasted them, and I am extremely happy with the result! They aren't quite as firey as our jalapenos, but the flavour and texture is exactly right.
I also made a jar of chilli relish. This was inspired by my brother-in-law's pizza relish,
a versatile, pungent mixture of minced chillis and garlic, the precise recipe for which is a closely guarded secret.
My version is not a closely guarded secret.
Hungarian Hot Wax Relish
6 or 7 Hungarian Hot Wax chillis - still green but beginning to change colour
6 or 7 cloves of garlic, peeled
1tbs coarse salt
75ml white wine vinegar
Grind the chillis, garlic, salt and vinegar to a chunky puree. Place in a small saucepan, bring just to the boil. Pack into a hot, sterilised jar and store in the fridge.
So far, this relish has appeared on burgers, in a toasted brioche with cheese and a fried egg, has enveloped prawns for some delicious tacos, and has snuggled up with mozzarella and gorgonzola in some killer quesadillas. I actually need to make another jar PDQ, with the rate we are getting through this one.
I won't let the cat harvest the chillis this time though.
21 comments:
Oh no, I hope you get your computer woes resolved soon. That relish sounds scrumptious and so versatile.
This post left me hungry! Especially the last photo with the calzone filled with goodies. Hum! I had a cat, but never worried about him eating peppers. Yours looks like he is quite a character! Hope everything works out technologically speaking!
It all sounds delicious!
Leafy - we can do most stuff on Linux, it is just a matter of learning how! Quite nice to be slightly independent of microsoft.
Joumana - she doesn't eat them, she just knocks the pots over. They get in her way and she won't tolerate it.
Martha - thank you! The quesadillas were amazing.
Glad your photos are safe. That chilli relish sounds great and that calzone looks fabulous too!
What a relief! The chili relish sounds awesome...I think I'd want to put a little on everything. I wish I had that sandwich right now, actually.
Independence from Microsoft is a good goal. It's not always easy, but with a bit of perseverance, you can win. Glad the photos are not lost. So, the battle between cat and peppers is about spatial control ;) Looking at your photos at lunch time has consequences...
Dharm - the chilli relish is such a discovery! I made a big jar yesterday!
Heather - a fried egg sandwich is a very comforting thing.
Simona - "spatial control" is a very good description! They were in her way so they had to go!
I am definitely a pickles person myself, although I am not sure I can handle the chili heat. BTW I will be trying the Dan Lepard burger buns tonight, and I am REALLY excited!
Oh naughty Urchin... ;-) It looks like you made the best of it though. Bummer about the computer issues but I am so glad you didn't lose all your photos.
I'm so glad you recovered the photos but I'm sorry the computer is still out-of-whack! that relish sounds delicious...I like your grilled cheese idea!
I thought your whole blog was lost until I realised I was typing foolycat! No Freudian slip or offence intended -- I am getting more incompetent with 'puters the more I use them.
Naughty kitteh but oh so cute :-).
Jo - these ones are quite mild in the pickle. Tasty though! Hope the burger buns went well.
Deb - she is a bad cat. We still love her though.
Joanne - thanks!
Cranky - Foolycat! No wonder you couldn't find me!
a cheese and spicy relish quesadilla sounds absolutely fantastic, and i imagine that all the other places you've snuck it in are better for it too! :)
What a relief that your photos are not lost. The relish is something to have in the fridge. It is so versatile and can use to make a quick meal.
Grace - It's hard to beat a quesadilla, but the relish was really divine on burgers!
Quay Po - I love having relishes and things squirreled away in the fridge! It makes cooking so much easier.
I know nothing about pickling but I want some pickled chillies too!
What does the calcium chloride do?
Su-Lin - it's a firming agent, apparently.
Tortas are SERIOUS sandwiches. And by serious I mean absolutely delicoius!
Mmmm chillies and all the lovely things you've used them with. Our chillies are still very far from ripening. We're preying it doesn't get too cold too quickly.
Joanne - seriously delicious!
Choclette - we're having the same hopes for our tomatoes!
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