Q: Hi Dave!I have a friend who cannot have any alcohol. What is a good substitution when a recipe calls for using wine, beer or sherry? Would non-alcoholic wines/beers work? Are there other suggestions in case they are not comfortable with non-alcoholic stuff?Thanks! –Cheryl A: Hello Cheryl:When cooking with alcoholic beverages, the alcohol evaporates very quickly, leaving only the flavor of …
Storing Roasted Red Peppers in Oil
Q: Hi Dave,Earlier you told me that if I store roasted red peppers in olive oil, “bacteria will grow and spoil everything.” But you can buy them like that at the store, can you not?Thanks, Cheryl A: Hello Cheryl:Good question, but I haven’t seen roasted red peppers in oil. I’ve seen peppers like that packed in water and vinegar, which …
Heat Level of Calabrian Peppers
Q: Hi Dave,Here in Italy most people believe that the peppers grown in Calabria are the absolute hottest. I know that’s not true (ex: habaneros), but at what Scoville level are Calabrian peppers and generally what kind of peppers do they grow there? Thanks in advance.–Christian A: Hello Christian:Since there are so many different varieties of Calabrian peppers, it is …
I Love Jalapenos But They Don’t Love Me
Q: Dear Dave,I love jalapenos but they don’t love me. When I eat jalapenos, they really burn the next day (if you know what I mean). Yet I can eat tons of Thai food or habaneros and it doesn’t seem to bother me that much.–JP Hayes A: Hello JP:Raw green jalapenos make me gag, but other chiles don’t. I think …
Looking for a Chile Smoker
Q: Hello Dave, I am a hot pepper lover and I want to start a small commercial production of hot pepper smoking. I’m looking for machines or smokers, or instructions on how to build my own pepper-smoking system. Please advise.Thank you, Taieb Dridi A: Hello Taieb:As far as I know, there are no commercial chile smokers being manufactured, so you will …