Re: [CH] Chile Powder
Jim Campbell (jim@wildpepper.com)
Tue, 17 Aug 1999 18:33:56 +0000
I use a 100 lb, heavy duty, industrial sized Hobart coffee grinder. It
has a large dial on the side that allows me to set the grind size from
'very coarse' to 'Turkish extra fine'. I usually pick 'very fine'. It
DOES produce some fly-away and causes some intense moments at times ;-)
I used to sift when using my Sunbeam Oskar (great!) at home until my
wife threw me and it out. I was allowed back :-) I make flakes by
blenderizing (a 35 gallon capacity VCM to be exact) the chiles BEFORE
drying them. It's a little easier to control the size while they're
fresh- they don't vaporize as easily.
Speaking of vaporization.... I was re-drying some previously dried
chiles today & some of them blew down onto the oven bottom. I was off
in another part of the facilty putting shrink wraps on bottles when I
felt that little tickle at the back of my throat. I also smelled smoke
which caused me GREAT concern. I made the mistake of running into the
room where the ovens were & discovered the smoke banking down from the
burning chiles (Habs!). I had one of those 'oh-no second flashes' as I
realized what had happened & that drastic action was required before my
next breath. I tried diving to the floor in mid run but it was too
late. Nothing like a blast of pepper mace to clear the lungs & sinuses
:-) About that time there was a knock on the door as the
laundry/towels/lab coat guy was doing his drop off/pick up. I opened
the door from the floor (that surprised him :-) & suggested he join me
pretty quick. Can only imagine what he thought :-) He took one step
and joined me involuntarily. I suggested tomorrow might be a better day
to exchange out the aprons and such. I assumed his quick scramble out
of there was agreement ;-)
Things are going okay at the State Fair. Sigh.... this list is such a
welcome respite from the 'needing to be educated masses'. If I have to
tell one more person that 'no- chiles don't cause blisters', 'no- the
seeds aren't the hot part', 'no- water doesn't make it worse', or 'Yes-
that's hot. Why do you think the sign says VERY HOT?!', I'll scream.
My not-so-tolerant booth buddy (http://www.redfoxsalsa.com) just answers
them 'I don't know if it is or isn't- I just put the mild sign next to
the jar of mild salsa to confuse you- obviously it works'. I'm
beginning to like his approach :-)
-Jim C
MWPH