My dear friend who seems always to come up with great new additions in all aspects of life picked up a jar of African Bird Pepper AKA numerous other names. It is wonderful---the heat is on the same level as mid-level Habaneros, with a very agreeable flavor of their own. I think I am hooked

Interestingly enough, she found this at a local bulk food store run by an old order Mennonite family. Mennonite and Amish food could well be called "bland"---they are, for the most part, not into spicy foods. That said, my Amish/Mennonite green grocers are increasingly growing hot peppers---a change I much appreciate

Growing the best hot peppers in this area is labor intensive--which fits well in their plan. I used to start mine in March, then move them out in late May, in rows covered by black plastic to help warm the soil--and then pray they would ripen before the first frost.