Chile Pepper Word Find Puzzle

I found this in a Word Find Puzzle Book I bought for a friend.  I knew she would never miss Puzzle No. 109 so I tore it out thinking it might be a fun thing some day.  I still haven't found them all, I want to make it last!

How long has it been since you played a Word Find Puzzle.  Well, that't too long!

Remember, answers are forwards, backwards, vertical, horizontal and on the diagonal.

And, if you print this, you just may find the answers, backward in a shadow ;-)

Have fun!

Brown Box Crackers: Mini Meat Loaves With Brown Beer Gravy

I love comfort food, especially when it makes leftovers that taste better the day after.  Meatloaf is one of those comfort foods and I like mine with rich, brown gravy...not with that tomato-y, ketchup-y topping some folks use.  I want mine with rice and some kind of fresh vegatable to make it a heathly thing.  Thank you, Mom, for putting me on the right path to meatloaf.

Since I have the Brown Box Cracker gig going on, what could be a better filler.  Yeppers, spicy crackers will do it and do it well.  And why not try some brown beer in that brown gravy?

B.B.C. Mini Meat Loaves With Brown Beer Gravy

Mini Meat Loaves
Ingredients
1 Lbs    Lean Hamburger
2    *Onion (Medium, Of Choice, Peeled)
1    *Jalapeno (or more to taste)
3    *Clove Garlic (or more to taste)
1    Egg, large
½ Tsp Black Pepper (or more to taste)
½ Tsp Salt (or more to taste)
1/2 C     Worchestershire sauce
2 C    Brown Box Cracker Crumbs

Los Gallitos Revisited

I took advantage of my Friday afternoon off yesterday and met a friend at one of my fave Tex-Mex restaurants, Los Gallitos, for a late lunch and margies.  I really do love this place.  I remember when it was a Red Lobster.  They still have the Red Lobster booths which actually fits seeing as they have many seafood items on the menu.  Extensive menu, too many choices for me, but I have enjoyed everything I have ordered.  My co-diners are usually more open to exploring the menu but am just a diehard for nachos.

Yesterday's visit on a coolish afternoon reminded me of my last visit on the evening of January 8th. It was so very cold, one of our coldest nights of this long winter.  Los Gallitos' fountain was running and had created wonderful icicles over a foot long.  Granted this may not be a rare sight to many above I10 but this is H-Town and a sight like this is a treat.

I don't care if I see icicles again for a long, long time, this photo will suffice just fine.

Friends & Foes In Training

I got Friends and Foes; Foes in training for the upcoming season.  Pest control at it's best!

Friend vs Foe Spider Game

Yeppers! Peppers! I am ready for Spring, tired of this "global warming", frozen tundra Winter  and I'm finding attraction to goofy online game pages.  I gotta say, I really like this mindless yet production game.  Make foe, eat foe.  Friends are the best, make them and keep them!

Oh Stuck! My Seed Cap Won't Let Go!

After years of starting chiles seeds and countless stuck seed caps there is one thing I have learned to be certain, leave that soldier to his own accord and he will take care of matters on his own.  There is a much better rate of survival of that little seedling just letting it grow out of that fearful constraint of a stuck seed cap than if you decide to become the "Hawkeye" of seedling surgery.  Chances are that if you take it upon yourself to tweeze and squeeze, tug and toil, you are going to put that little guy to an unmerciful death.  No matter how tempting it may be to get that seed cap off, leave it alone.  Just give it a little nursing assist and spritz with water or swab with spit to moisten.  In just a little bit of time those cotyledon leaves will overcome and kick that cap to the dirt and spread his wings.  Trust me in this truth.

Please pardon the cat hair!  As you can see, even the true leaves have come to join this battle.  Resist all temptation to become a seedling surgeon!

Peppermania Business Card Seeds

The seeds attached to my business card could be just about anything I offer, past or present, Capsicum, of course.  I started doing it years ago as a little promo thing to remind folks of my Peppermania for their chile seeds and other chile pepper-phenalia.  It seems to get folks' attention as I get lots of inquiries about them.  The black seeds are  Manzano C pubescens, the rest are collected from pods I forget the ID - got mixed up, I get tired of sorting, get Hunan Hand, have excess quantity or seeds that flick on the table, the mix is ever changing.  I don't cull them like the seeds I offer on my site.  Many folks grow them, find new favorites and send photos for ID.

Planting By The Moon

When do we set our chiles seeds in Peppermania Texas?
We plant our seeds during the waxing of the Moon, about 3 days before the Full Moon phase.  We find that we get the fastest and best germination when we sow our seeds at this time.

Why do we sow our seeds during the waxing of the Moon?
Just as the moon affects rise and fall of the tides, it also causes the moisture in the soil to rise in a more subtle way.

Planting of "above ground" crops, including peppers is best at the waxing of the Moon (as the Moon approaches Full Moon phase).
Planting of "below ground" crops is best at the waning of the Moon (after the Full Moon phase).


2012 Moon Phase Calendar At The Old Farmer's Almanac

Read More and Order or Download A Colorful Gardening By The Moon Calendar Here (No Affiliation)

Migas In The Morning, My Way

For a very long time, Migas were one of those mystery foods to me, with mysterious animal parts served for breakfast, something like Menudo.  No Tripe Face Boogie for me unless it’s Little Feat.  In my “skinny days”, I drove through the Taco Cabana daily for a bag of  breakfast tacos.  Migas were on the menu but I was afraid to ask what was in them for fear of ruining my hearty appetite.  I would often see them listed on the menu at my local taqueria, taco shop, but I still would not be brave to ask.

A Chile Gardener's Happy New Year

A Chile Gardener’s Happy New Year

H abaneros, Bhuts, Scorpions and Bonnets never ending
A bundant beneficials to keep the foes at bay
P erfect planting for the perfect harvest
P lentiful pods for you and for sharing
Y esterday’s buds become tomorrow’s pods

N ever a pepper pest nor disease
E arly ripening of all your favorite chiles
W arm sunshine and fertile soil

Y eppers, Peppers! Happy Chilehead New Year
E xtended season for those pods slow to ripen
A lways have time to tend the chile garden
R ain when your chile garden needs it

Happy New Year To All

I wish the very best in 2010 to my cherished friends and family...

H ours of happy times with friends and family
A bundant time for relaxation
P rosperity
P lenty of love when you need it the most
Y outhful excitement at lifes simple pleasures

N ights of restful slumber (you know - don't worry be happy)
E verything you need
W ishing you love and light

Y ears and years of good health
E njoyment and mirth
A ngels to watch over you
R embrances of a happy years!