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Ask Chef Mike: Why Heatless Jalapeños?

In Chile Peppers, News by Mark MaskerLeave a Comment

Q: I heard about some guy who has developed a jalapeño pepper with no heat. Why would anybody do that? A: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Some manufacturers of hot products prefer to use heatless chile varieties and add heat later during processing through the addition of concentrated capsaicin oleoresin. This provides a measurable, more …

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Unique Liqueur Recipes for Cinco de Mayo Sipping

In Alcoholic, Beverages, Recipes by Mark MaskerLeave a Comment

Contrary to popular belief, Mexican hooch isn’t all about fruity beer, worms, and margaritas. Not that there’d be anything wrong if it were. I’ve spent whole weekends living off of nothing but those three things, and aside from a recurring facial tic and a few flashbacks, I’m fine. Do a little digging and you’ll come across some great distilled treasure. …

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Improve Your “Foodprint”: Farming and Climate Change

In Book Reviews, Stories by Kelli Bergthold1 Comment

In an article posted on The Atlantic’s website last week, Gary Paul Nabhan, co-author of Chasing Chiles: Hot Spots Along the Pepper Trail, addressed the relationship between farming in the Southwest and climate change—both food production and food security have been cast into question with the growing scarcity of water and unpredictable growing seasons and weather patterns, such as drought. …