My hubby is one of those people! Hot foods are his favorite and he is always adding sauces and peppers to the dishes that I make since no one else in the family can tolerate the heat. Recently when I was talking to my grandma, I mentioned that Craig loved jalapenos and, low and behold, she had a wonderful recipe for me--well, for Craig! This, as usual with my grandma's recipes, is one of those " a little of this and a pinch of that" types of foods, so feel free to add other spices or even use peppers besides jalapenos.
A couple of suggestions before you start making this:
---I always wears gloves or baggies over my hands when cutting jalapenos, because they have something in them that burns when your hands are exposed to it too long. I do this even if I am cutting just one jalapeno!
---When you are sauteing the jalapenos and onions, it is a good idea to open the windows otherwise your throat will start itching and you will cough a whole bunch. I am not sure why this happens, I just know that it does.
Here is what you will need for the recipe (this will make 2-3 pint jars):
10-15 fresh jalapenos, cut into 1/4 inch slices
4 TB. oil
one cup of coarsely chopped onion (one inch cubes is fine)
1 clove of garlic per jar
1 bay leaf per jar
1/2 tsp. mustard seed per jar
2 cups white vinegar
6 cups water
3 TB. Salt
Saute jalapenos and onions in oil until they begin to soften (approximately 5 minutes). During this time, place garlic, bay leaf and mustard seeds into your clean jars. In a saucepan, stir together white vinegar, water and salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Divide the jalapeno mixture among your jars and pour in the brine (vinegar mixture) until you are about 1/2 inch from the top of the jar. Put lids on the jars and let these cool completely on the counter before you place them in the refrigerator. The longer this sits, the more flavorful it will become. You can keep this in the refrigerator for about 1 month.
You can eat this straight out of the jar or you can use it on sandwiches, tacos, hamburgers or, my husband's favorite, cottage cheese. He swears it tastes great!
Enjoy!
