I didn't realize.

Not doing any real farming any more leaves me with not much to talk about. I really wish I felt like growing more. I did grow a small garden. Tomatoes and chiles. Made a good chile crop, tomatoes not so much. what I did grow.
Chiles:
Serrano
Jalapeno
Aleppo
Padron
Criolla de Cocina
 Most of these chiles were dried, and made into chile flakes, for family and friends.
I did smoke the Jalapenos with hickory smoke. I would like to make a good adobo sauce to can them in. Haven't found a recipe I like yet. If you have one please send to billbradshaw at hughes dot net I would be happy to try it. Thanks Bill

Its Winter Time "inspired"

It winter time in Texas. So as you might expect there is nothing growing in the garden just yet. So I have been doing other things to keep me busy. I just finished making Chile Sauce. Have never made my own before. But I do cook almost every day. And when making "Enchiladas" I have always used the canned sauce. I am sure I have tried most of the store bought sauces. (not good). So to the net I went looking for the just right recipe and found one that sounded so good. I was Inspired to make my own  after visiting this site. http://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/ If you love Mexican food as well as I do you need to check out this site. You gonna like it.
 I didn't have the dried Chiles so had to buy them at our local Mexican market. I really enjoy going to there store. Bought 1 1/2 pounds of dried Chile's. And Its the only store we have with a real meat market. If you have a local Mexican store go there, you will be pleased you did. Bill Chilefarmer

Chile Sauce, 11 Pints of the good stuff: 

Forward on to next year.

Looks like our growing season is coming to a close. Just have a couple tomato plants hanging on. Our chiles have also about quit. Ok, by me I am kinda tired anyway. I haven't found any new chiles to grow for the coming year. So if anybody has any thoughts on something weird or different I am interested.
 We are looking like rain for tonight, I am happy been one dry summer. Thanks for viewing my blog. Bill

Padron Chiles in the UK

Martin thanks for the update on your chiles.
 Martin being in the UK, and growing the Padron Chile has been interesting for to me.
Me being in Texas and Martin in the Uk our climate are completely different.
Just for the readers of this blog, Martin is an internet friend I met on this blog. He and his wife travel to the
Galicia region of Spain often, this is where the Padron Chile is most famous. So any information is welcome.
Martin says that his Chiles in the UK are doing quite well and taste as good as those from Spain.
Not ever tasted the Spain Chiles for myself I don't know how mine compare.
 I can tell you for sure the weather here in Texas has turned off super hot and dry, most days being over 100 deg. Even the small green Chiles are hot. Let me just finish by saying, if you haven tried this Chile you are missing out on some good eats. Thanks y'all Bill

Speaking of good eats you might enjoy my new blog here:
http://curingandsmoking.blogspot.com/


 

New Twist on the Pimento de Padron

This has been an ongoing process for me.
 Frying the Pimento de Padron in the traditional way is a wonderful way to eat this chile. But I have grown way more than I can eat. Some have gotten quite large and  turned red and hot. So I says what to do, lets dry some and make use of them some how.
 I did just that, as in my last post you can see that I did dry and smoke them. But now have made chile flakes, they really good sprinkled on most everything. I will be using them when making sausage as I do like spicy sausage. This has been one fun Chile and good eats.

Pimento de Padron Chile Flakes:

Padron Chile Update

This I do believe is the most interesting Chile I have grown in a long time.

 Martin Thanks for your comment, Sure hope your plants are doing well.

I have harvested so many of these Chile's I don't know what to do with them all. well not really. But sure have found that we like them a lot, so have been eating them most every meal. And just like I have heard when older some are very hot. This is true, frying in oil small ones are super tasty.
 I have left some on the plants to ripen, they turn a brite red. I have smoked some and dried them. Going to make Chile flakes out of them. these I will use when making sausage. Here are a couple photos .

Red Ripe Padron chiles:

Smoked with Pecan Wood:

Strange Growing Season, But we have Padron Chiles.

This has been the strangest growing season I have ever seen. Maybe things are normal in your area, but not here. We started out cold then warm, back and forth, several times. Then got a late frost so lost most all the fruit. And the plants that I did get up just sit there because of the cool nights.
 But I do have my Chiles growing. The Pimento de Padron Chiles have done very well. I started them indoors. Then waited and waited to plant them out. I am now picking them. They are not hot when small but when bigger do pack some heat, maybe a little hotter than a Serrano Chile.
 I find them quite good. I have eaten them raw and roasted. I find that I like them better roasted.
  The plants are tall maybe 3' quite tender and the fruit picks easy, leaving the stem on the fruit. Here is a couple photos.
Tall Plants:

Very Productive:

Fresh Chiles:

Roasted and ready to eat:

Just add some course salt and you have some good eats. Bill

Sticker Shock

Yep, thats what I got. Maybe I am just living some where in the past. I know things are not what they used to be but. I am thinking that maybe just getting out of hand a bit.
 Was to order some seed today, just needed a few. Wanted to order a 30 count pack of pimientos de Padrón Chiles.
$0.12 cents each. OK I can live with thats only $3.60. So I ordered them on line after freight $9.55 total.
Damn, thats $0.32 per seed. The freight killed the deal. I can not pay $5.95 to ship a small packet of 30 seeds. Dang, just put them in an envelope add .45 cent stamp and send. And they are not even a hybrid seed. Gotta keep on looking. Bill

Wishing for a greenhouse

I have sure been wishing I had a greenhouse to start my baby plants. Can't see it happening anytime soon. I can grow them in the house with lights. Its a lot of trouble but it works.
I did that last year, guess I will do it again this year. I am only planing on about 100 plants, thats more than enough to keep me happy. I don't have a complete list yet. I need to get started on my raised beds. I sure want them this year. Soil and weed control is my goal. Bed size I am thinking is going to be 14' X 4' X 12" deep. Maybe have 6 total beds this year. Later y'all. Bill

Been busy, but not growing anything

Cold weather has come, garden is gone. We have had some heavy frost and looks like more are coming. I haven't started my Chile seed yet, but do have my potting soil and lights all ready. I also have been praying over the seed catalogs. Just looking to see whats new, so far nothing special. I save most all my own seed for the Chiles. Most are not hybrid anyway.

 Been working on a new blog http://curingandsmoking.blogspot.com/ Being of age and growing up a country boy. I have always enjoyed good sausage, bacon and ham. When growing up we always cured our own pork. I still remember those days, and dang I sure miss them. So that is what I have been busy doing. Building a smokehouse, smoking ham, bacon ,making sausage and all sorts of good stuff. Gonna smoke us a turkey for thanksgiving. I have never smoked a turkey before but have smoked chickens.
 So if anyone is interested check it out. Leave comments, good or bad. I am willing to learn.
Happy Thanksgiving y'all, Bill

Almost time to start.

Yes its almost time to start making new baby plant. I like to plant my seed in December. So by planting time I will have some strong plants. Our planting time is mid April. I have found that some Chile seed that I plant germinate very slow (not all) The Chile pequin is the slowest I have, it takes almost 6-8 weeks. I over winter a few plants in the house, just because.
 New Chile for the coming year is Pimiento de Padron. This is a Spanish frying Chile from Spain. I have never eaten them but have seen reports saying that they are very good.
pimientos de Padrón (Internet Photo not mine)

The recipes that I find are quite simple, Fry in olive oil until Chiles start to blister and have a slight char. remove and sprinkle with sea salt. Eat with a good bread. It is said that one in ten are hot.
 Sounds like my kind of food.

I am Thinking ?

I am thinking that I can feel just a little fall in the Air. Maybe not, might be because it is cooler and is raining. Man, what a blessing.
 Our Texas weather, at least East Texas has been kinda different. More than normal anyway. I saw yesterday a dogwood with blooms starting to open. remember this is fall not spring, and no I wasn't smoking anything funny. It just looks like to me the weather is really mixed up. So is the whole world. Want to be careful here, stay off my soap box.
  My garden is gone by the wayside. I promise this next year I will have some raised beds for my garden. I am to old and to fat to work plants on the ground. Besides it will give me more control over the soil, plants , harvest and weeds. I just think I can grow a better garden with raised beds. Now the okra I may plant on flat ground. you know it grows kinda tall anyway. Right now the okra plants are about 8' tall.
  Now that I have quit farming full time I am doing more cooking. I like making sausage and curing bacon. And do lots of Bar-B-Que. Built a couple new smokers not long ago. I may just have to start a new blog about my smoking projects. If I do a smoking blog I will post the web address here. Hope you will give it a look. Wishing all a great day.
PLEASE, Pray For AMERICA, its our only hope. later Bill

Harvesting

Been harvesting some Chiles, tomatoes are done with, but Chiles and okra are still making fruit. I know a lot of y'all don't eat okra but when its fresh its pretty good food. I now have enough in the freezer to last until next year. Thought about drying some. My Grandmother used to dry okra, we also dried okra seed. When we ran out of coffee, okra seed roasted and ground would work just fine. By the way the tomatoes are all canned ready to be eaten.
 Chiles: I have canned some and dried some.Have made lots of what I call wonder dust, dried, ground Chile pequins. I keep it in a shaker bottle and on the table. I like it much better than hot sauce. The powder just adds heat and flavor, no vinegar taste.
This year I did something a little different. I smoked and dried some Chiles. We use lots of Chile flakes, so why not make your own. Besides that I built me a new smokehouse. Yep, I make my own bacon and sausage, really much better than store bought. And I know whats in it. For me now days that makes a lot of since to me.
Back to the Chile flakes: I think these are super good, I like the smoke flavor. I used hickory wood for smoke, just because I had some and I like the flavor it imparts on food. Here are some photos of the process I used with the Chiles. I hope to get about 4 more containers full of finished Chiles. I also use them in my sausage. Good stuff Maynard. Thanks for looking Bill

Chiles in the Smoker.

Smoked and dried.

Crushed Chile Flakes.

We got Rain !!

The weather man was right, 4.1/4". We needed every bit of it. I know some parts of the country are way wet. Hope y'all dry out soon. Didn't do my garden any good. because we got wind also. Layed down most of my chile plants. I didn't have them staked. My fault. Need to pick tomatoes,all this rain will bust them. But we have about all we need any way. I made tomato sauce this week. We try to can all we will need for the coming year. Later Bill
Canned tomatoes:

Heat Wave !!!

Hope all are dealing well with the heat. Heat not to bad here so far, high 90's. But the humidity is a killer, 46% right now. Weather man says rain coming over next several days. I really hope he is right. We do not need another summer like last year.
 Figs are ripening now, but the birds and animals are having a field day with them. Hope they will share with us. I want to make more fig preserves we have just about run out. Here is a good simple recipe I use. Thought you might like it to. later Bill

Old Fashioned Fig Preserve Recipe


Ingredients:

4 Cups whole figs

2 Cups sugar

4 Lemon slices, seeds removed (1 slice per jar)

3/4 to 1 Cup water

1 pinch salt

Yield: About 4 pint jars

Rinse your figs in the sink really well and then drain. Remove the stems. Leave whole or cut in half–your choice.

In a large, heavy pot, add all the above ingredients. Cook on low for several hours, about three, stirring occasionally so mixture does not stick or burn. DO NOT LEAVE POT UNATTENDED because burning happens quickly.

Cook until very thick.

Ladle hot preserves into hot jars, using canning funnel and oven mitt so you do not burn your hand.

Make sure your lids and bands are boiling hot!

After filling jars, wipe the rims with clean cloth so lids will form tight seal. Using oven mitt and hot pad, put the hots lids on the hot jars and then tighten the bands.

Process in boiling “granny bath” for 10 minutes. (Or preserves may be stored in fridge for up to one month without the bath.)

And there you have the most beautiful, tasty fig preserves this side of the bayou!

If you would like to cook large amounts, just remember that you use half the amount of sugar to figs.

We Can Take back America

Guy's its time to take back America !!!

Planting Time

Well have been getting rain (wonderful) It looks as thought the drought in East Texas area is broken.
West Texas is still needing more rain. I am not sure about down south.
 I have all my baby plants planted, but with our mild winter the bugs are plentiful. Looks like it is going to be a battle, I am planing to win. (might not though)
 I really felt bad for North Texas with the storms they have had. I saw some photos on TV showing hail stones big as baseballs. Yeah, they were real. Can you imagine what that would do to crops. I have had crops hailed on in the past. (not as big as baseballs) but big enough to destroy the whole fields. When you start plants in January for spring planting its to late to start over. Seeded crops maybe.
 My special Chile plants do look good. They are the elusive Aleppo Chiles. I only managed to get a few seed from Syria. One can buy the ground Chiles from spice company's but they contain no seed. And you cannot buy seed. Why? I haven't a clue.
Hope you all have a great growing season. Bill

Raining in our part of the world

Yep, finally received a good rain. Got 4" this last weed end. Our farm pond is almost full, it holds 14 acre feet of water. Course it dried up this last summer, so all the fish are gone. First time it has ever dried up in 30 years. I hope we never see another drought like this last summer.
 I have been out walking in the woods, just looking around. Some of the trees are budding out, but I am shocked at how many oaks have died.
 I have the garden area tilled, hope to plant a few things soon. Still might get a cold spell, so I am waiting until around April 15th to plant. My little Chile plants are almost ready for there new home. (in the garden). later Bill

Is it Time yet?

Is it time yet, I am so looking forward to planting my garden. Got little Chile plants growing all over the house. Wife will be super pleased when they are all outside. (me to) I am still thinking we might get a cold spell. I do however have my ground all tilled and ready to plant. Having the soil checked, I think I may need some lime this year. Our soil is pretty acid, so need to keep a check on it.
 Most Chiles like a PH of about 6.5 well drained soil. I have neither, sure makes for interesting growing.
 I have been drying and grinding my harvest of Chiles. I like the powder for table use as well as for cooking. Fresh Chiles will freeze in vacuum bags pretty well. I use those in soups and stew type cooking.
 We also will plant plenty of tomatoes. I have one this year given to me by a friend. It comes from somewhere in South America. supposed to be from the first native tomato plant. They are very small, not much larger than a pea maybe 3/8"-1/2" dia. But the taste is like a tomato is supposed to taste. (really good) Happy growing Y'all Bill

Is Spring close at hand?

Sure looking like spring around our house. We have had some small rains, love it. Trees and plants are wanting to bud out. I am thinking that it may be a little to early. I can tell a large amount of the oak trees are not gonna come back. The Texas drought has gone them in, limbs falling from there tops. I received a letter from the Texas dept. of water resources, suspending my water permit until further notice. The drought has been a bad one. It isn't hurting me too much, our lake we irrigate from is dry. Another sad thing we lost all of our fish. Thats 14 acre feet of water just dried up.
 I still have my potted Chiles in the house, although they are needing some sun. Artificial light works but not as good as the real thing.
I am starting some Chile seed, yeah a little late but better than never. Not growing to much this year. Do have a few new Chile variety's I am trying. Just because I like growing plants. I don't have my list at hand but will post it later. Matter of fact I don't have my list finished.

Really sorry about not posting very often. But when all I can do is complain about the weather, it gets kinda old. Heres hoping something new and exciting  will be coming our way.
Wishing you all a wonderful growing season. Let me know what your growing. Thanks Bill