Matt Bray 
If you’re wondering what to do with chili peppers that you may have sitting around your kitchen, here are five simple ideas that’ll help get your imagination going. They’re very easy to try, and each acts as a gateway to a lot of cool culinary exploration of some of the spiciest foods out there. Soon you’ll be wanting to put chilies into EVERYTHING, and we say welcome to the club!
Add some spicy zip to hamburgers and hot dogs… Turn a typical barbecue into something with a lot more spice by upgrading those condiments. This basic jalapeño relish puts the “HOT” in hot dog, and it tastes incredible on burgers too. It’s a refreshing mix …
Boost your energy. Loosen up congestion. Looking for a tea that’ll turn your body up a notch? Cayenne pepper tea does just that. It’s very popular as a coffee alternative as the chili pepper helps boost your metabolism. You just feel more energized, all without …
It’s super easy to turn a traditional hot chocolate into something spicier. All it takes is a pinch of cayenne pepper to make things hotter than hot! See for yourself through this simple spicy hot chocolate recipe. It takes no time at all to pull together.
If cayenne pepper is too hot, try the chili powder in your spice rack instead. It’s typically less spicy than pure cayenne, but you’ll still give a nice little kick to that cocoa.
One of those is beef jerky. Beyond its incredible flavor, it’s a favorite for campers, hikers, and survivalists simply because it lasts a real long time. But how long is long? How long does beef jerky last, really? Is there a point where it’s no longer safe to eat and how do you know? Let’s break down this tasty meat treat to find out.
A whole lot of Southern meals rely on one certain spice mix to punch up the flavor: Cajun seasoning. So what’s in this mix that does just that? What are Cajun spices, and where does it fit in along the pepper scale in terms of heat?
Let’s break down this seasoning mix to understand how the heat comes together.
Traditional Italian seasoning is one of the most popular spice mixes around. There’s good reason for that, it’s a tasty mix that uses some of the most popular herbs from the spice rack. But how about making it a little spicier? You can do that easily. This spicy Italian seasoning recipe adds a bit of flavor pop (via crushed red pepper) to the traditional recipe. Try mixing it in a marinara sauce for your next pasta, or sprinkle some on your next Italian hoagie.
Sure you can pick up a packaged cajun seasoning from the store, but if you have a well-stocked spice rack, you’ve likely got all the ingredients you need already at home.
What’s a family dinner tradition without a taco night? The crunch, the sauce, and the mildly-spicy beef all add up to a fun and tasty eating experience. But there’s always been one mystery about taco night for me…what are the taco seasoning ingredients really? What spices are in taco seasoning that make it taste so good?
It’s one of the simpler recipes out there, and all it takes is spices that are likely already in your spice cabinet.
We also love homemade taco seasonings because they are fun to make with the kids. It’s a cool way to make taco night more hands on. The kids will get to see what exactly make that ground beef as tasty as it is. This recipe makes a similar amount to your typical store-bought taco seasoning packet. If you’re concerned about overall spiciness, you can control that by decreasing the black pepper and chili powder in the mix.