The holidays are just around the corner and here I go again…… What to give the neighbors or that special person that happens to stop in?? Is there something more original than wine to bring as a hostess gift?

Here’s an idea – You can’t go wrong with something made with love and picked from the garden!

On a bit of a whim, my spicy-food-loving-husband planted a few cayenne pepper plants around our garden this year. This one is next to our roses, there is another one next to the grapevine and another between the day lilies. They are a nondescript looking plant and we really kind of forgot about them. The only reason they got any water was because they were next to other “more important” plants.

Then they started to grow……

And grow!!

We have been harvesting bushels of cayenne peppers ever since summertime! We just picked what I thought would be our last harvest, but I noticed the other day that there are still more on the way!

I thread them with a needle on fishing line and we hang them in the kitchen to dry.  I’m pretty sensitive to spicy foods and peppers and I actually have to wear a mask while stringing these.

WARNING – Remember not to touch your eyes!!

The peppers on the left have been hanging for several weeks and are ready for preparation. The peppers on the right have just been harvested.

Husband chops them up a bit (pods, seeds, and all), spreads them on a cookie sheet and bakes them in a low oven at about 200 degrees. Smells sooooooo good! But, watch them very closely!!!! His first batch was burned after just a few minutes. I think he may have had the oven on too high.

After they have cooled, chop them up in a food processor or grinder until they are the consistency you want. Be prepared for plenty of sneezing!

Here he is trying to make ground cayenne with his mortar and pestle. A little too much work!  I suggest sticking with the food processor.

I think that is orange zest on the cutting board. Husband was playing around with a yummy new recipe – spicy orange chicken.  Like all produce fresh from the garden, these red pepper flakes taste soooo much better than what you buy at the store. Not as spicy, but more flavorful.

I found these cute little bottles at Michael’s in the wedding aisle. Now that we are all in the re-used and re-purposed mood, you could also use recycled spice jars. Why didn’t I think of saving them before?

Do you have any other garden gift ideas? I’d love to hear your ideas because there is always next year!

Happy Holidays, Everyone!