At 10:29 AM -0500 9/6/01, Chad A Gard wrote: > >I only add a couple. Then, to round off the burn a bit (there is a missing >bit - that little bit right behind the tip of your tounge has thus far been >ignored), I add cayenne powder. I like to grind dried cayennes in a >little coffee grinder right before I add them. Otherwise, I find myself >using a lot of supermarket canned cayenne powder, and the flavor still >isn't as good. But, the best thing I've found about cayenne is that it >tends to unify flavors. I even use a bit in my non-spicy dishes, like >sausage gravy for bisquits and gravy. Definately not a spicy dish, but >adding the cayenne serves to unify the flavors. Ah Grasshopper, you've come across a bit of wisdom there indeed. I was instructed in the art of the use of ground cayenne by a wee woman who was my boss at a vegetarian restaurant in which i worked. We made soups most every day, offering at least 2, sometimes 3. Regardless of the make up, the design, the intent of the soup, we normally put 1/4 tsp into an average making of 2 quarts soup. As you said, cayenne seems to have this ability to unify flavors...allows a melding of sorts to occur. Mind you, this cayenne usage wasn't limited to soups, no, but soup-age was where I learned my lessons. Whilst serranos are my favorite all-purpose fresh chile, cayenne is my favorite all-purpose ground chile...and cayennes are my second favorite fresh too <g>.... Mind you, the ground chile i carry w/me is of a higher caliber, and higher voltage...some of Brother Jim C's apple smoked chile powder has been a partner of mine for a number of years...will make your coffee smack you back in the morning, it do... Anywho... -- Peace, Hendrix, and Chiles....... Rael64