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Celebrating National Pepper Month


Pepper Animation: Graphics Factory/ Giphy


November is National Pepper Month and gives you and your family a chance to try some new recipes and types of peppers. There are a variety of bell peppers and a number of spicy hot chili peppers to try. Peppers have vitamins and minerals and go well with meat, chicken, fish and other vegetables.


Did you know peppers are fruits not vegetables because they have seeds tha grow inside. They come in a variety of colors green, red, yellow, orange, and even purple. Peppers are low in calories and one cup has only 45 calories. Peppers help control blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and help with weight loss. They have Vitamin B6 which helps to renew cells and lutein that promotes healing the nervous system and your eyes.


You will find peppers at your local supermarket, farmers market, or health food store. Most carry a variety of both kinds.


Bell Peppers


Bell Peppers: Gif Image Giphy


Bell peppers are members of the nightshade family of eggplant, potatoes, and tomatoes. They are sweet peppers and larger that chili peppers. They have 3 or 4 lobes and can be filled with meat, cheese, and vegetables to make stuffed peppers. They come in green, red, yellow, orange, and purple. The green peppers have a slightly more bitter taste.


Over 9,000 years ago bell peppers were cultivated in South and Central America. In 1699 Lionel Wafer mentioned bell peppers growing in America. Edward Long in 1774 lists nine varieties of peppers cultivated in Jamica. Thomas Jefferson often used peppers in salads and removed the seeds.


Bell peppers do not contain capsicum the substance that make peppers spicy and hot. In Europe bell peppers were not popular and often scared cattle because another pepper grew inside.. This caused the peppers to clang in high winds frightening the farm animals. In 1908 Greg Carillon developed the first bell pepper that did not make this sound.


Chili Peppers



Chili Peppers Image: Wix Media


Chili peppers are grown around the world and provide different levels of intense heat and flavor. Hot peppers originated in the Amazon basin. They were used by indigenous people in Central and South America, Mexico, Southern US, and the West Indies.


There are many varieties of hot chili pepper, but few were domesticated or grown in earlier times. Birds spread wild chili peppers from other countries and regions. They ate the peppers, and the seeds remained intact because they were not digested whole. When they eliminated food waste the seeds were spread over large areas. Birds do not suffer from the heat of hot peppers because they lack the digestive receptors that recognize this.


Columbus introduced chiles to Europe and Portugal but others people spread them across the globe. Countries that use chili pepper frequently in their food are Mexico and India.


Chile peppers were believed to have originated in the lowlands of Brazil. Juan De Ornate brought chili peppers over in 1598 because King Phillip sent him on an expedition to colonize Mexico. Others claim it was the trade between two Indian tribes that spread the use of chile peppers.


Chile peppers have been grown for years on small farms scattered through Northen New Mexico. Fabia Garcia a pioneer horticulturist at New Mexico State University introduced a new chile pepper plant to the industry. It was called New Mexico #9 a commercial plant with a consistent size, shape, and heat.


This plant became a commercial success because farmers grew it and it produced consistent results. It made Mexican food popular in the United States. Dr. Garcia bred several varieties of Mexican chili peppers while working at the university.


Ways to Celebrate National Pepper Month



Stuffed Bell Peppers Photo: Public Domain Pictures


  • Try some different pepper recipes using bell peppers or chilies. Make them for your family and friends. Share recipes in clubs, work, or at home.


  • Visit the library and take out some books with pepper recipes or search online for bell or chile pepper recipes. Try something new to expand your horizons.


  • Go shopping with your children and buy some bell pepper or hot chili peppers. Prepare a recipe and let them help you prepare the recipe it can be chili, stuffed peppers or even roasted peppers for salads.



Roasted Red Peppers Photo Source: Food and Spice Blogspot


Websites To Find Bell Pepper and Chili Pepper Recipes



Animation For Chicken and Peppers Animation Giphy


23 Bell Pepper Recipes with Range by Joe Sevier and Editors, Epicurious




Top 8 Chili Pepper Recipes, by Katie Bandurski, Taste of Home, Jan 2022



Recipes


Bell Pepper Gif Source Giphy/My Pen Leaks

Green Peppers Stuffed with Ground Bison, Peppers, and Rice


You will need a cutting board, knife, measuring spoon, medium sauce pan, skillet, measuring cups, spoon, medium bowl, and strainer.


4 green bell peppers

2 tablespoons avocado or extra virgin olive oil

2 lbs. ground bison or beef

1 red pepper chopped fine

2 Italian peppers chopped fine

1/2 white onion chopped

1 cup cooked white rice

1/2 cup of vegetable broth

2 cups or more of tomato sauce


In a bowl of warm water soak green bell peppers for five minutes and drain. On a cutting board cut off tops and remove seeds inside discard. In a medium saucepan on top of stove boil water add peppers and boil for five minutes. Remove and let cool on a plate.


Take other peppers and onion and soak for five minutes in a bowl of warm water. Drain and chop on cutting board into small pieces. Remove seeds and discard. In a skillet add oil and peppers and onion. Over medium heat sauté vegetables. Add ground bison or beef to the pan after five minutes. . Add vegetable broth and let it cook well. Add tomato sauce last and let it thicken. Turn off stove when vegetables and meat are cooked.


In a microwave cook white rice according to package directions. Add to ground beef and veggie mixture. Mix well with a large spoon. Put green peppers in skillet and heat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff meat, vegetable, and rice mixture into four green peppers,. Spoon tomato sauce on and around peppers and add extra meat, rice and veggies mixture to cook with them.


Cook stuffed peppers in the oven for about 45 minutes until well cooked. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes. Serves 4


Roasted Red Bell Peppers


You will need bowl, storage container, measuring spoons, and cup, cutting board, sheet pan, parchment paper, and oven.


4 red bell peppers

5 cloves of fresh garlic minced in garlic press or diced fine

1 cup extra virgin olive oil or more as needed.


Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rub with oil or cooking spray. Wash and cut bell peppers tops off and remove seeds. Cut in half horizontally. Lay on sheet pan skin side up. Roast 15 to 30 minutes until skin blackens and blisters.


Remove bell pepper with thongs, turn off oven and put in Ziploc plastic bag or paper bag. Keep in bag 10 minutes. Wash pepper under cool water and peel off skins. Cut peppers into thin strip and put in bowl. Remove garlic skins discard. Press garlic clove sin press or chop fine using a knife. Add to peppers and mix well. Add olive oil to cover peppers and mix. Marinate for 1 hour.


Store in refrigerator for up to two weeks in covered container. Add to salads, main entrees, and sandwiches. Make 4 cups. Take out of refrigerator about 1/2 hour to bring peppers to room temperature.


Pepper Animation: Giphy


References:


The Bell Pepper A Vegetable History, by Paul Heltzer, Adirondack Almanac, April 4, 2018


The History of Bell Peppers, The Kitchen Project, Chef Steven Block, and Chef Steven Holloway, 2001


The Story of Chili Peppers, New Mexico State University, Chile Pepper Institute, 2024


Chili Pepper History Where Do Peppers Come From? by Mark Bray, March 2022, Pepperscale



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