What To Do With Too Many Jalapeno Peppers From My Garden

Jalapeno Pepper Jelly

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Process: 10 min.

Makes

About 5 half-pints

My family relishes this jelly served with meat or spread on crackers with cream cheese. It's in hot demand as a gift. —Bev Elliott, Peotone, Illinois

Jalapeno Pepper Jelly

Jalapeno Pepper Jelly Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

5 cups sugar
2 medium tart apples, peeled and coarsely chopped
1-1/2 cups cider vinegar
3/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
8 to 10 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup water
6 to 8 drops green food coloring
2 pouches (3 ounces each) liquid fruit pectin
Cream cheese and assorted crackers

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, apples, vinegar, green pepper, jalapenos and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Strain mixture and return to pan. Stir in food coloring. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Continue to boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat; skim off foam. Ladle hot mixture into five hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.
Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool. Serve with cream cheese on crackers.

The processing time listed is for altitudes of 1,000 feet or less. Add 1 minute to the processing time for each 1,000 feet of additional altitude.

Chili Peppers - What's Hot?

When it comes to chili peppers, some are hotter than others. Can you please provide some guidance? TOH: When it comes to rating chili peppers' heat, looks don't help: It's the seeds and membranes that count. Scoville Heat Units (SHU), named after researcher Wilbur Scoville and used by heat experts, indicate the amount of capsaicin, a potent compound that gives chilies their sizzle. Although the method for determining SHUs relies heavily on subjectivity, the scale is a respectable gauge. Use the following information from chiliworld.com to put the heat into perspective: Sweet bell pepper - 0 Cubanelle pepper - 100-1,000 Texas Pete Hot Sauce, T.W. Garner Food Co. - 747 Anaheim pepper - 500-2,500 Poblano pepper - 1,000-2,000 Jalapeno pepper - 2,500-5,000 Chipotle pepper (a smoked jalapeno) - 5,000-10,000 Serrano pepper - 6,000-23,000 Tabasco brand Habanero Sauce, McIlhenny Co. - 7,000-8,000 Cayenne pepper - 30,000-50,000 Habanero pepper - 100,000-350,000