We are on the verge: Today our program proved Fermat's next-to-last theorem. -- Epigrams in Programming, ACM SIGPLAN Sept. 1982
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Once upon a time, I lived in a beautiful house in the woods outside of Talent Oregon, with four guys. We were Snow Red and the four dwarves. One night I decided to cook everyone patty melts, I knew men like hot sauce, so I found some and "dumped"it on.
A few bites later the guys were trying to say the words "HOT", but they couldn't talk. Finally Tyler, with a look of horror on his face grabbed a small bottle and shook it in my face," thi???" He tried to say. Turns out that "Dave's Insanity Sauce" is the hottest hot sauce in the Universe. Thanks to the huge stockpile of beer there were no casualties. This was my introduction to the diverse world of chili peppers. Humans have been perpetuating this scenario for around 75,000 years.
Capsicum loosely translated means; "I'll bite you."The Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs utilized capsicum in many ways other than food. The tips of arrows were dipped in solutions of peppers to poison enemies. They were also used as a method of torture. Children were held over smoldering peppers as a form of discipline. Reservoirs were poisoned, and then they would collect the dead fish and considered it to be pre-seasoned.
The American Indians made chili bombs by filling calabashes with smoldering habeneros and throwing them into enemy camps in an attempt to asphyxiate them. Hopi Indians placed rows of peppers on their doorsteps to ward off enemies; didn't work! Ancient Panamanians tied capsicum to the prows of their canoes to ward off sharks. Crosses made of dried chilis are still hung over cribs for protection from evil.
Aztecs used chilies for digestive problems, a pain reliever and by mixing dried powdered chills with fat they made a balm for sore muscles. The Mayans and Aztecs made a chili pepper gargle for sore throats. The English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper 1653 wrote "it gives great relief to stomach problems, helped digestion, and gives an appetite and provocath the urine." We now know he was close to the truth, red pepper stimulates both saliva and gastric fluids cause hunger pangs.
Christopher Columbus found it fascinating that these Indians would not eat any meal without them, they seemed to need them. There are good reasons why, These people knew peppers would cool them off and they get them high. When we eat hot peppers a neurotransmitter called substance "P" is sent to tell the brain we feel pain, endorphins are then released causing us to sweat which cools us off. The high concentration of endorphins gives you that "rush."
All peppers contain vitamins E, A, and C as well as iron, calcium, potassium and other antioxidants. It is believed chilies can cure anything from hangovers to cancer. Capsicum is a natural decongestant and expectorant, it also protects the stomach lining from acids and alcohol, which cause ulcers. Ten drops of hot sauce in a bowl of chicken soup is recommended.
Hot sauce was created when British soldiers stationed in India (1700s) discovered good food by eating the local cuisine. Some hungry guys steeped hot chilies in some kind of alcohol, possibly sherry, until the chili essence was extracted; then the chilies were strained out, producing a very hot liquid that drowned out the taste of army swill.
A test for measuring the level of heat from peppers was developed in 1912. It was called The Scoville System; heat is measured in units. Five humans tasted samples then compared results. This method had its limitations; taster fatigue became a problem, before long, tasters couldn't taste anything.
The Scoville units are:
Bell peppers-0
Jalepenos-3,000-6,000
Habeneros-300, 000
The Red Savina pepper made it in The Guinness Book of World records with a recorded 577,000 (SHU). Peppers are a member of the solonaceae family, which consists of tomatoes, potatoes, patunias and tobacco. Strange family!
So next time a pepper bites you, and you know it will, eat bread, drink milk, or eat a banana, but for today's recipe, I recommend beer. Surprise your friends with " Dave's Insanity Popcorn"
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup popcorn, pop on stove on medium high keeping lid on, shake pan occasionally.
While corn is popping melt 2 TBLS butter, 1TBLS. Brown sugar, 1tsp Lawrys or any seasoning salt and ONE DROP of "Dave's Insanity Sauce".
Pour popped corn in bowl mix in sauce. Eat carefully and keep this away from eyes. Enjoy
You can find Dave's sauces online at www.Davesgourmet.com
Contact Crystal Hayes by E-Mail!
Added 24 May, 2007 by Crystal
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