how does your garden grow?

[Lady Cop]

from a Boston Herald blog. Hot Pickled ‘Maters sound good~



Kerry J. Byrne
Thomas Jefferson’s hot peppers

FISH PEPPERS - These are a Colonial-era heirloom hot pepper. I bought the seeds last year at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s mountain-top home in Virginia. Apparently, our third president ran quite a gift shop. They struggled early in the year to sprout, but are now happy as a hot sauce on a wing. The variegated leaves are beautiful. Peppers aren’t quite ready yet, but can’t wait to try them.





HOT PICKLED ‘MATERS - I preserve green tomatoes and hot peppers together each year to make something called hot pickled ‘maters, and eat them as a tailgate party snack. I read about them years ago in the book about Alabama football called “Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer.” I hunted down the author, who put me in touch with the guy who makes them. Damn hot!

The Hot Food Man’s Hot Pickled ‘Maters
Mason jars with caps and lids
A big pile of green cherry tomatoes
A smaller pile of jalapeno peppers (or other, spicier pepper)
Fresh dill
White vinegar

Clean jars, caps and lids according to directions that come with mason jars. Slice peppers in half, making sure to keep seeds with the peppers (the seeds have all the heat). Fill the jars with about 1 part hot peppers and 5 parts tomatoes – a few pepper halves at the bottom, a bunch of tomatoes, a few more pepper halves in the middle, and more tomatoes. Stick a couple sprigs of fresh dill in the jar.