It might seem a tad counter intuitive to want to set fire to your mouth when the weather is stuck in a three digit holding pattern, but eating spicy foods can actually provide some relief. The heat created by spice causes your body to sweat, which cools you off.
Despite this scientific encouragement, when it comes to spicy peppers, it’s normal to be a little hesitant. We expressed our hot pepper intimidation to Jonas Jones, one of the farmers at Gray Gardens Buda and his response was simple. “Never be nervous [about] peppers. They are nature’s gift of color and flavor from black to white and sweet to hot.”
Photo Credit: Gray Gardens
Situated in the middle of Buda, Texas, Gray Gardens is a sustainable urban farm that believes in the power of food and the community around us that enables to pursue the dream of a quality existence. Originally founded by the Gray family, the farm as it stands today is the product of a friendship made over a farmer’s market stall.
Jones and his friend Nick Leonard came to Texas knowing they had a passion for growing food, all they needed was a place to put down roots. The two met Billy Gray, the owner of Grey Gardens, at the downtown Buda Farmers Market and soon enough a relationship blossomed into the vibrant farm that provides many of Farmhouse Delivery’s sweet and hot peppers today.
These passionate farmers have a love for all things peppers- sweet and spicy. “Our favorite sweet peppers are white and purple bells, shishito, cubelle, and our favorite hot peppers are habanero, Thai, scotch bonnet. We like to dehydrate our three favorite hot peppers and sprinkle them on everything! Capsaicin is so good for blood flow!” They also suggest treating peppers like onions in every dish hot or cold. They can be chopped and sautéed with a bit of garlic and other veggies or eaten raw atop a salad.
Cooking with Fire
If eating peppers straight still seems a bit too hot to handle, try your hand at a homemade hot sauce and ease yourself in one splash of flavor at a time.
5 Homemade hot sauces from Food & Wine
Springdale Farm Carrot Habanero Hot Sauce
During the summer we can’t get enough of the juicy melons that come our way. Pairing a refreshing melon with a spicy pepper is the perfect way to mesh heat and sweet. Experiment with our favorite melon and pepper recipes. Mix and match varieties as you please.
Tomato Melon Salad with Basil & Chile Salt
Melon and Cucumber Salad with Crispy Shallots, Peanuts and Thai Vinaigrette (Take a page from Jones’ book and garnish with thin slices of your favorite hot peppers for the ultimate flavor adventure)