Do you have too many peppers right now, and are worried you won't have enough to get you through the winter? Here's some easy techniques to keep your mouth hot while the weather cools!
String 'em Up!
Pull the peppers off the branches, and wash them in a colander. Take a needle and thread, and thred the peppers onto the thread. Hang the garland up in your kitchen so the air can get around the peppers and wait for them to dry (2-4 weeks). Once they're dry, cut the string, and put the dried peppers in an airtight jar, or powder them for use later.
Upside-Down Bouquet
This method works best if you're into the rusticated look in your kitchen. Take a bunch of fresh peppers on the stalks, collect the stalks together and use twine to bind the ends of the stalks together. Make a loop with the twine, and hang up the bouquet somewhere in your kitchen with airflow to dry. Wait 2-4 weeks for them to dry. Use them as is, or powder them or put them in a jar.
Slow and Low, that is the Tempo
Alternatively, you can slow roast peppers in the over, or smoke them in a cool BBQ or smoker (180 degrees or less). To do so, spread the clean peppers on the rack, for small peppers use a bit of screen to keep them from falling through the rack as they dry. Check on them periodically. Depending on how you large your peppers are, they will take 1 to 6 hours to dry. This method imbues them with a delicous roasted flavor, but be careful you don't over roast them and burn them!
