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Showing posts with the label pepper

Scent of spring: Songbirds, cherry blossoms, and warmer days

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    Spring, perhaps the most awaited season of the year, is about to grace this region of the world with its presence. I know spring is about to arrive in Delaware because after a series of unusually frigid mornings, which lasted from December through February, cheerful chirping of red-breasted robins, blue jays, and chickadees has now filled the morning air. In contrast to spring mornings, winter mornings are so hushed and uneventful that one may even question if birds exist in this land at all. To me, birdsongs are the harbinger of spring.  With the first sight of a bluejay perched on the backyard fence or a cardinal dancing on a leafless cherry branch, I know that my wait for spring is almost over, for I’ve learned from past experiences that an increase in bird activity signifies the approach of spring!  In this part of the world, during spring, nature comes alive with an abundance of activity. Everywhere I look, I witness signs of life. I witness new life in the ...

Habanero Pepper

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Habanero pepper is one of the very hot varieties of chili pepper. It is believed to have originated in the the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.  If you love hot and spicy food and sauce, this flavorful and aromatic variety is a right kind for you! But the heat could be too much for some people to consume and direct contact with skin can result in what is called pepper burning. I personally have experienced this last week when I broke a tiny bit from a habanero pepper. I soaked my hand in cold water but that did not help much, so I googled to find out what could give me some relief and applied everything from rubbing alcohol, cold milk to castor oil and dishwashing soap. I don’t know which one of these worked but the pain subsided after two hours. I am not writing all of this to discourage you - if you love hot and spicy foods, you will definitely love habanero pepper, just be careful about how much you are adding to your dish.  We bought a small seedling from Home Depot, a home im...