We like things spicy around here. So last year when Rich decided that he wanted to grow habaneros, I supported him. Well, who knew that two little plants would produce so many peppers. I think that all year we used about 25 habaneros (and that is including recipes which used lots of them, like hot sauce, infusing vodka, and pepper flakes). I don’t know how people stand spicier peppers. So, long story short: we basically swore off super spicy peppers and decided to stick with the perfect pepper instead: Jalapenos.

A Jalapeno Pepper is just spicy enough. You get plenty of kick, but not too bad that you will burn your nose just chopping them or ruin a dinner by adding it to dinner! We still have more Jalapenos than we really can use without adding them to everything I cook (so the friends who I am sharing with aren’t complaining)!

One of the most popular jalapeno dishes around here has been Jalapeno Poppers. Now these are not your unhealthy deep-fried poppers, no – these are pretty healthy (low fat cream cheese & cheese, if you want to think “healthy” it is actually a well balanced snack: you have your dairy and your vegetable)! Even my mom and Rich’s mom, who  both do not like super-spicy foods, enjoyed these. As Rich said “you need to add the heat [from baking them] to take away the heat [spicy-ness]”.

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