Jalapeños

I have been on a spicy kick lately and when I saw these vibrant jalapeños at Tutti Frutti Farms, I knew I had to have them. The jalapeño and all of its varietals have been adding flavor and heat to cuisine for some 6,000 years. There is a compound in jalapeños called capsaicin. This compound is what makes peppers spicy, but it is also where a lot of the health benefits come from. Capsaicin is a natural pain reliever when applied topically, metabolism booster, and blood sugar stabilizer. Studies have also found that capsaicin may help fight cancer. Jalapeños are rich in vitamins A, C, Potassium, and carotene, which helps fight damage to our cells. They also contain folate, vitamin K, and B vitamins. Jalapeños and other spicy chiles have been shown to help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and yeasts that cause infectious diseases, making them a great addition to our diets for reducing foodborne illnesses. Let’s take these beauties into the kitchen and create a drink that is super special and full of farmers market finds. 

Strawberry Jalapeño Mint Julep 

Yield: 2 Servings

½ cup water 
½ cup unprocessed organic sugar
2 to 4 each jalapeños, halved 
¼ cup strawberries, chopped 
16 each mint leaves, plus more for garnish 
4 ounces bourbon
Ice 
2 – 12-ounce seltzer cans 

Garnish 

Strawberries 
Jalapeños, thinly sliced 

Directions: 

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, and jalapeños. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Discard jalapeños. 

2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the strawberries and mint. Add the bourbon and 2 tablespoons of the simple syrup, then fill with ice. Shake. 

3. Fill 2 cocktail glasses with ice and strain mixture over the 2 glasses. Add seltzer to both. 

4. Garnish with mint, a strawberry, and jalapeño slices.