HOT PEPPER IMAGE RECIPES

Steps:

• ***Caution - you must wear food-safe gloves when preparing this***.
• Wearing gloves, seed and chop the chile peppers.
• Simmer vinegar, salt and peppers in a large saucepan over medium heat for 10 minutes. ***BE CAREFUL NOT TO BREATHE THE FUMES***.
• Let cool and then process in a blender until smooth.
• Store in a glass bottle and age for at least 3 months.
• Strain sauce into small bottles for gifts or for home use.

Steps:

• Cut the green tops off all the peppers. Discard tops and set peppers aside.
• Slightly smash each clove of garlic just enough that the paper loosens; remove the paper and discard it.
• In a medium, non-reactive (i.e. stainless steel, ceramic, or glass) pot, add the prepared peppers and garlic cloves. Pour in the vinegar and lime juice then add the salt, paprika, and bay leaf. Stir together to mix in the salt and paprika.
• Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and allow to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the peppers are soft.
• Remove from the heat and add to a food processor or heat safe blender (no need to remove bay leaf). Pulse until smooth and liquidy (be CAREFUL--it is HOT), adding more vinegar if necessary to make it more liquid.
• Smoosh through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl and discard any seeds and large chunks left in the sieve.
• Refrigerate in an airtight container for at least one week prior to using.