Chilli Up North Blog » using chillis http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk Spicing Up Your Life Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:56:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Ways of using excess chillis – Number 5 : Dry your chillis http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-%e2%80%93-number-5-dry-your-chillis/ http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-%e2%80%93-number-5-dry-your-chillis/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:20:51 +0000 Andy http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/?p=670 Drying chillis is a great way to preserve them for future use, my favourite way is to make a ristra, a guide to this is coming very soon.

Once dried you can leave the chillis whole or grind them up into chilli flakes or chilli powder, they give a lovely deep flavour if used dried or a slightly more mellow flavour if you re hydrate them in water first.

In the mean time if you would like to dry your chillis there are 2 ways i would suggest:

The first is to put your oven on a very low setting say 50 degrees, place the chillis on a baking tray in a single layer, place in the oven and bake for a couple of hours until dry, turning occasionally.

The second method is to simply leave them on a plate on a light and airy windowsill, making sure they are dry and any moisture is wiped away, this takes longer but it’s a great process as you can see the chillis drying out almost daily.

]]> http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-%e2%80%93-number-5-dry-your-chillis/feed/ 2 Ways of using excess chillis – Number 4 : Save the seeds http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-%e2%80%93-number-4-save-the-seeds/ http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-%e2%80%93-number-4-save-the-seeds/#comments Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:16:51 +0000 Andy http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/?p=668 Saving the seeds from your chillis not only lets you grow them next year it also means you can use the chillis without adding too much heat to dishes.

I will post a full seed saving guide on the website as soon as i can but in the mean time the quickest way to do it is as follows:

  1. Gently scrape the seeds from your chosen chilli
  2. Remove as much of the white pith as possible.
  3. Place the seeds onto a piece of kitchen towel and then fold up securely or place another piece on top.
  4. Leave in a warm dry place until the seeds become snappable.
  5. Place in an air tight container and keep until next year.
]]> http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-%e2%80%93-number-4-save-the-seeds/feed/ 0 Ways of using excess chillis – Number 3 : Cook with chillis http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chilli-number-3-cook-with-chillis/ http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chilli-number-3-cook-with-chillis/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:55:41 +0000 Andy http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/?p=663 Yes, i know this is an obvious one but it really is amazing how many things you can use them in so i thought i would give you a couple of reminders of some of the recipes on here.

There are loads more recipes in the chilli recipes section of the blog too, i hope you enjoy cooking and eating them, either way please let me know what you thought by leaving a comment on the blog.

]]> http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chilli-number-3-cook-with-chillis/feed/ 2 Ways of using excess chillis – Number 1 : Share them http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/using-chillis-chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-number-1-sharing-chillis/ http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/chilli-growing/using-chillis-chilli-growing/ways-of-using-excess-chillis-number-1-sharing-chillis/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:49:41 +0000 Andy http://blog.chilliupnorth.co.uk/?p=658 I know what you are thinking…Share them, why should i share them? I have spent the past 6 months watering, feeding and talking to (ok maybe not the last one) my plants why should i give the fruits of my labour away.

The answer is simple, by giving a way a few chillis to friends and family not only do you put a smile on their face and save them some money but you can show them how easy it is to grow fruit and vegetables and with any luck you can inspire them to give it a go for them selves.

You could even show them how to save the seeds to get them started next year, then with any luck they will grow something you haven’t, then you will have someone to swap produce with.

I always remember picking my first chilli and how it inspired me to learn more, little did i realise how much i would become addicted to growing things and how much i would enjoy it.

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