Preserving Your Chillies - Smoking

OK. You've managed to grow a successful crop of chillies for yourself but now you have a problem. Well, not really a problem; more a challenge.

What can I do to preserve my chillies so that I can use them all year round? Fortunately people have been faced with this problem for thousands of years. As a result there are a number of solutions that you can use. Some of them ancient, some of them quite modern.

This ezine article will examine, in detail, the process of dehydrating chillies with an electric dehydrator.

However, before you start, there are a few basics that we need to cover to help you get the most out of your garden and the harvested fruit.

1) It is universally agreed that the best approach to harvesting your chillies is what is known as a 'staggered harvest'. No - you don't have to be drunk. What it means is that you harvest the chillies a number of times throughout the growing season. This will ensure you maximize the production from your plants. If the chillies are left on, the plant believes it has achieved it's reproductive goals and few new fruit will be produced. Staggered harvesting ensures that the plant 'keeps on trying' for the full length of the growing season.

2) Unless you are specifically after green chillies, the best approach is to harvest ripe fruit with tight, shiny skins that are firm to the touch. Fruit that are ready should come off the plant easily. If you need to use any force it's probably best to leave it a few days before trying again.

3) Give the fruit a wash and have a second look to weed out any fruit that have black spots as these will usually rot and/or go moldy.

OK, you want to smoke your chillies to make your own chipotles (pronounced chip-ote-lays).

The team here at Chillies-Down-Under.com believe that the chipotle is the ultimate chilli. The complex, smokey flavour and medium level heat are, without argument, the perfect combination to go with just about anything.

Smoking chillies is an ancient way of preserving them that, as far as we can tell, was started by the Teotihuacan Indians in central America around 500 BC. Their civilization peaked around 200 AD and the Aztecs subsequently adopted chipotles and took them to the art-form they are today.

Smoking chillies is one of those activities that is about two-thirds art and one-third luck. What we will provide below (and it is a fairly lengthy article) are reasonably detailed guidelines, however, you must remember that they are guidelines to be followed, not strict rules guaranteeing a successful result. There are an enormous number of variables that can change the results you get, however, a willingness to experiment a little will take you through to a successful technique that works for you.

Equipment

The team have used three different pieces of equipment in their quest for the home made chipotle.

The Portable Fish Smoker

These little guys are approximately 40cm x 30cm and 20cm high. They are made from galvinised steel also the body will not rust, however, make sure you oil the internal rack as that is not galvinised and will rust.

The base of the unit is about 5cm above the 'bottom' and has air holes in the sides so that the methylated spirit burner can be placed underneath.

Inside the unit, wood shavings or saw-dust(see wood further down this page) are scattered across the base, which is heated by the burner underneath. The rack sits inside, above the wood shavings/saw-dust and the unit is closed with a tight fitting lid. Because of the size, you won't be smoking vast quantities of chillies, but they are a good, inexpensive tool for starting to learn what works, what doesn't, what you like .... and so on.

If you already have one of these smokers and have used it for fish or other foods, we strongly suggest you give a good wash before smoking your chillies. Otherwise they will pick up all sorts of odd flavours.

The Hooded Gas Barbecue

These babies are great. Chances are you've already got one, and if not, you should consider making it a priority. It is our preferred way of cooking virtually anything; grills, roasts, baking, stir-frys, .....

You need to have at least one of the plates inside to be a bar-grill type (i.e. one that is not a solid plate) so that the wood can be exposed to the flame. Wood used here comes is usually in the form off of small blocks of a 3-10 centimetres square. It must be soaked in water before use.

If the wood or chillies to be used are small, we make up flat-bottomed wire mesh baskets (about 20cm square with sides 3-5cm high) to hold the prevent them falling through the grill. It also makes it a lot easier to move things around.

Kettle Barbecue

Virtually everyone is familiar with these barbecues. They were a must have item in the 80's and while their popularity has faded a little, they are still a great product to cook with.

We are considering only the charcoal ones here as we are not sure why anyone would bother with a gas one. If you want to cook with gas, get a hooded barbecue. While the charcoal does take a long time to cook meat (the main reason for it's popularity drop-off), it also imparts a great flavour that is unique to the charcoal.

Fortunately for you, if you still have one, they are ideally suited to smoking chillies.

Once the charcoal is burning, it is a simple case of putting wet chunks of your favourite smoking wood on the coals, put your chillies on the rack or in wire baskets (see above) and putting the lid on.

Commercial Smokers

Unfortunately I don't have access to one of these and we apparently can't afford one (something about clothes for the kids) - hence, I won't discuss them here.

Woods

To make smoke you essentially need to apply heat to wood, without setting it alight.

We've discussed the heat sources above, so now it's time to look at the wood.

There are a number of options available that are not particularly hard to lay your hands on.

* apple

* mesquite

* pear

* hickory

Are generally available at the bigger hardware stores (Bunnings & Mitre 10 in Australia & New Zealand) and barbecue stores (Barbecues Galore, K-Mart, etc).

We know a small producer here in Western Australia who smokes their chillies using jarrah. The convention has always been to use non-resinous woods as they impart quite an antiseptic flavour, yet these jarrah smoked chillies, while unusual, are quite acceptable. Those readers in the eastern half of Australia may like to try redgum - we'd love to hear how you went if you do ! Also, if anybody else has a different type of wood they use we'd love to hear about that too.

Whatever you use, there are a couple of things you need to know;

* if you are using a fish smoker, the wood needs to be in the form of saw-dust or fine shavings,

* if you are using a hooded barbecue or a kettle, the chunks need to be soaked in water for at least an hour before.

The Process

* Get your wood chunks soaking if that is what you are using

* De-stem your clean chillies and then slit them in half and de-seed. Most instructions tell you simply to put a slit in the chilli, however, once they are smoked they become quite leathery and it is a 'pain in the bum' to try and remove the seeds then.

* Fire up whatever type of smoker you are using. If it's a portable fish smoker you don't need much time as it heats up very quickly. If it's a hooded, pre-heat for 5 minutes, and if you are using a kettle, it will take 15 minutes for your charcoal to be properly burning.

* Put on your wood. In the portable fish smoker, scatter the saw-dust/shavings evenly across the bottom about 0.5-1cm thick. In the hooded bbq put the chunks over the open grill, and in the kettle, put them straight onto the coals.

* Put your chillies in. Whatever you are using, put them straight onto the rack or grill plate, or into wire baskets and then onto the rack/grill plate.

* Close the hood/lid and check them every hour. For the portable fish smoker, you may want to check them every half hour for the first couple of hours to get a feel for how they are going (it's a small unit and cooks a lot faster).

* Replenish wood if necessary.

* Cooking time is in the order of 5hrs for the portable fish smoker and 6-8 hours for the other two when using jalapenos Cooking times will decrease for thinner fleshed varieties.

* You may find that the chillies will not go totally dry. If so, you can finish them off in a dehydrator, oven, or outside. See our dehydrating page or our air-drying page if you are not yet familiar with these techniques.

* Fully dried smoked chillies can be stored for years in air-tight containers. Triple bagged, they can also be stored in the freezer, even if not totally dried out.

Nigel publishes a monthly newsletter covering all aspects of chillies that is FREE to subscribers. You can subscribe at http://www.chillies-down-under.com and receive the full Grow Your Own Chillies eBook as a free gift.

Nigel Laubsch is one of the world's leading chilli experts and has grown studied and cooked with chillies for over 20 years. Much of his experience was gained traveling through Indonesia, China and Fiji. In 2005 Nigel presented the world's first Chilli Sauce Appreciation course at the University of Western Australia and has received rave reviews for the innovative content.

Building Your House Help

Rain Gutters And Downspouts

Rain gutters and downspouts are obviously one of the more important aspects on the outside of any home. They help in protecting your foundation from eroding as well as your roof and siding from rotting as well. Not to mention preventing a complete muddy mess that you have to try and avoid walking in. The biggest question about rain gutters is, what do you really need for your particular home? Here is a quick look at some of the basics on choosing a gutter system for your home.

What size of rain gutter do you need?

Because gutters come in different sizes, as well as materials one of the first things you will need to know is what size you need. This will depend on what part of the country you live in. If you live in an area which receives heavy rainfall then you should go with a larger 7" gutter channel. You need the bigger size to handle the heavier amounts of precipitation to prevent them from overflowing. For those living in areas which get little rain then a 5" or 6" gutter will be fine.

What kind of material do you want your gutter made out of?

Your next step is deciding what type of material you would like to have your gutter made of. The most common materials are aluminum and vinyl. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but you can also choose to have them made from copper, steel or other materials. Obviously, cost will be a consideration when you are looking at copper gutters, but copper will last a lifetime if cared for properly. If you live in an area where you do not have extreme temperature fluctuations then a vinyl gutter system would make for a good choice.

Seamless or not?

Finally, you will need to decide on whether you would like to have a seamless gutter system or one that is in sections. Seamless gutters and downspouts are considered by most experts to be the best choice. It eliminates the "seams" that could eventually lead to leaks and sagging. Keep in mind though; a seamless gutter will still have seams at the corner breaks. Also, seamless will be a more expensive option. All in all though, it is the best route to go.

Installing rain gutters

Finally, whatever gutters and downspouts you decide to install, don't use the old style of putting them up with big spikes and ferrules. This is a very outdated method of installation and will only lead to problems down the road since these spikes expand and contract with the weather and wear out the fascia boards as well. Use gutter hangers and you will eliminate this issue altogether.

Once you have made your choice for the type of guttering you want you can have it installed by any number of contractors for a nominal cost. It is well worth leaving to the pros. Getting up on a ladder and trying to do it yourself is not a great idea, especially if you have ever fallen off a ladder as so many people have. Let a pro do it and you can enjoy the benefits of their work for years to come.

You can learn more about Rain Gutters And Downspouts as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com

Sunroom Installation

You need to take several things into consideration when you're thinking of a sunroom installation and there are many options to choose from. Maybe the first thing that will come to your mind is the price, but this all depends on how big you want your sunroom to be and what type of material she will be using. For example, if you want an aluminum sunroom and you're just thinking of adding a few windows, then it is going to cost you much less than if you had the entire sunroom constructed out of glass and wood. So there are a few factors that you must consider before you get started.

When building a sunroom you start with the foundation and it is important to build its foundation to the building codes of your local area. These codes will vary depending what kind of climate to live in. If you have a lot of freezing during winter, then it stands to reason that the foundation has to be deeper in the ground and this will mean more expense in labor and materials. But if you have an existing patio then the expense won't be as much.

Of course the major expense in a sunroom is the number of windows that you intend to use and also the type you have in mind. For example, if you are going with fixed windows will be less expense than if you order custom installation. Another cost difference would be in the type of glaze that you choose to put on the windows. This glaze can control sunlight and block out damaging rays but keep in mind the more your windows can do the more expensive it will be. You will find a difference in the materials that you choose and this will affect costs also. The cheapest material is PVC and the next one up the line is aluminum with the most expensive being wooden material.

For lots of information on how to build a sunroom and other sunrooms related topics, visit DIY Home Advice at home remodeling

Magnetsfortreatingwater

New Construction Windows

Hello, my name is John Rocco.I grew up around the window and door business. My father owned a glass shop that dealt in every aspect of residential and commercial glass.Naturally, when it came time to choose a profession, i wound up in the window and door business.I have been in the business for about 27 years, and i have been self employed for 20.

One of the things that separated my company from my competitors was my willingness to show my customers how to replace their windows themselves. Whenever i would encounter a customer with a curiosity or willingness to learn how to install their own windows,i would offer to sell them the labor on one window,using them as my helper.Then,they would install the rest of the windows using the knowledge gained from helping me install one.Most window companies would never do this because there is so much money made on the labor.But i was always so busy,i never felt like it was costing me money.

Eventually, i made an installation video for those homeowners who wanted to do their own windows.While the video is for sale on my website, i decided to take excerpts from the video and write an article once a week covering some part of the window replacement project.This article is going to cover the difference between window frames used in new construction homes, and the window frames that are used to replace existing aluminum or wood windows.

When a new home is being built,the windows are nailed to the wood studs that make up the house frame.In order to accomplish this, new construction windows have a fin around all four sides of the frame that rests against the outside of the stud and nails are driven into the studs through the nailing fin. After that,flashing paper is applied to prevent water leaks,then the exterior material is applied. That material can be stucco, brick, siding, etc.

Now,imagine 10 or 20 years later when you want to replace those windows. If you were going to install your replacement windows the same way the original windows were installed, you would have to remove the exterior material around each window in order to get to those nails holding the frame in there. You can see how this procedure could cause many problems, not to mention all the labor involved. I have seen homes in california with stucco exteriors where the homeowner had the stucco cut out in order to remove the old windows.The problem was they were unable to match the stucco colors after patching. Its just not a very efficient way to replace windows. So the replacement frame was designed.

In most parts of the country it's simply a new construction window frame with the nail fin removed. In the west, where stucco is a common home exterior,a retrofit frame was designed. If you're going to be replacing the exterior material on your home, then you might want to consider going with the new construction window since the nailing fins will be exposed anyway. Also, chances are that a contractor will be doing your exterior replacement,and it would be wise to let the contractor install the windows as well.Since my installation videos deal with window replacement only, these articles will focus on replacement frames and retrofit frames. Using these two frame styles,a do it yourselfer can replace their old windows without any damage to existing interior and exterior surfaces. And the job can be done using common tools such as a drill,tape measure, and caulking gun.

In next weeks article,we will discuss the replacement of wood sash windows.

John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978

To learn more, visit http://www.vinylwindowsforless.com

Framing A Closet

Tuscan Style Decorating For The Kitchen

A Tuscan decorating theme can put some old world charm into your kitchen and make it a warm homey room to gather in. The Tuscan style incorporates warm earth tones along with natural materials and architectural accents to create a time worn look. Although the look is of a centuries old kitchen you can achieve it without having to buy priceless antiques.

Color

The colors mimic those of the Tuscan landscape rich golds, earthtones and even tones from the sea mingle together for this look of old Italy. Buy some majolica pottery (either new or old) and use those colors to influence your wall and floor choices. Using natural materials like stone, slate, granite or terra cotta for your flooring and countertops will help complete the look. Try some faux painting on your walls to give it the look of antique plaster.

Lighting

Think old world in your lighting and stay away from new or modern styles. Some nice antique looking wrought iron lights will be right in style. Its OK to also have recessed lighting for your task lights, but choose your pendant lights or chandeliers carefully. Stay away from anything too shiny and stick with muted metals.

Accessories

You can buy accessories like those you might find in a Tuscan kitchen brand new today, or you can scour the antique shops to get real antiques. Look for old pottery bowls and pitchers as well as painted or antiqued wooden bowls. Majolica makes a nice addition to a Tuscan style kitchen and you can buy whole sets of this pottery new today and use it for everyday use. Use lots of decorative jars of oils with peppers and ropes of garlic, peppers and grape vines. Antique look signs with a wine motif can add to the wall decor as can wallpaper murals in the form of Italian frescos and niches. Soften it up with lots of greenery.

Furniture

You want your furniture to have an old world look. Chunky wood tables with chippy or distressed paint go nice. A distressed wooden cupboard (perhaps with chicken wire doors) can give you some extra storage and add to the look if you have the space. Display your majolica or old world pottery behind the chicken wire to authenticate the look.

Decorating a Tuscan kitchen can be a lot of fun. You can get the look with brand new accessories, or if you enjoy collecting antiques, you can scour the flea markets and antique malls for those perfect pieces. Either way, you will be creating a kitchen with charm and character.

Lee Dobbins is owner of A Kitchen Decorating Idea where you can find more on kitchen decorating themes and decorating ideas for every budget.

Do It Yourself Home Help

How Kitchen Backsplash Choices Can Make or Break Your Interior Design

TILE BACKSPLASH
You can follow literally hundreds of kitchen tile backsplash ideas and themes using ceramic tile installations for your backsplash. Using tiles as your backsplash can really give you a chance to be creative and show off your unique style. There are thousands of artistic and artesian tiles you can order that can be a unique design centerpiece to your backsplash installation. If you go this route, the longest time in this process is usually trying to narrow your pick down to that special tile you like. Expect to spend a lot of time online browsing the thousands of available styles.

MOSAIC BACKSPLASH
Along the ceramic tile backsplash theme you can also select a variety of shapes, colors and sizes to create your own unique mosaic kitchen backsplash ideas. Again, your choices are staggering here, but if done right can really make your kitchen look spectacular. Its best to work with an interior designer or color expert to identify the best background and accent colors to use on your backsplash design.

STAINLESS STEEL BACKSPLASH
Growing in popularity is the stainless steel kitchen backsplash installation with its cool, sleek and minimalist look. Its easy to keep clean, won't stain or rust, and is great for clean minimalist design concepts. Stainless steel backsplashes are very popular is new lofts and urban condominiums.

GLASS TILE BACKSPLASH
For a real shine and brilliance you may want to consider a glass tile backsplash installation. Available in almost any color and size, glass tiles can offer a real brilliant and clean looking shine to any kitchen backsplash.

TIN BACKSPLASH
Tin backsplash panels are a truly unique installation option that can work very well with some new modern designs as well as complementing more rustic interior design palettes. With so many stamped designs available there are a lot of selection options to consider.

COPPER BACKSPLASH
Another popular metal backsplash option is using copper to give your kitchen that warm glow that only copper can provide. Great for country kitchen styles and other more rustic design preferences.

SLATE BACKSPLASH
Bring the natural outdoors inside your kitchen with a beautiful slate kitchen backsplash. Slate is an obvious choice for high end lodges and natural wood finishes and goes well with other natural colors in your kitchen.

SOAPSTONE BACKSPLASH
For a truly unique backsplash idea that will make a design statement in you kitchen consider going with soapstone. This material is beautiful to look at, is extremely durable and gives a real high-end finished look to any countertop.

[ -- ARTICLE USE POLICY -- You are permitted to freely copy and use this article on your website, RSS, or e-zine ONLY IF the article text is not changed or altered in any way and the hyperlinks inside the article are active and working. Sites found violating this reprint condition will be subject to legal action for copyright infringement. When using this article you may remove this legal notice -- ]

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Kitchen Tile Backsplash Ideas information portal which reports on the latest backsplash ideas in the kitchen tile backsplash industry.

Plant Growing From Stairs
House Remodeling Ideas

Famous Skyscrapers

Architectural design has advanced to a phenomenal stage where every modern city would like to boast having one of the tallest buildings. While criteria defining the tallest buildings or skyscrapers differ widely, listed below are the ten most popular architectural marvels of our time.

Empire State Building
A world famous New York City landmark and sky scaper, it rises above the island of Manhattan, about a quarter of a mile into the sky. The observatory is located on the 86th floor, 1050 feet above the ground and offers the most breathtaking and panoramic view of Manhattan and beyond from within a glass enclosed pavilion. Besides the observatory there are several tourist attractions, including, restaurants, shops and banks. It also has a New York SKYRIDE an independently owned and operated simulated helicopter ride and virtual-reality movie theatre. William Lamb, an architect at Shreve, Lamb and Harmon was chosen to design the Empire State Building in 1930

Petronas Towers
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lampur lay claim to being the tallest twin towers of the 20th century, standing at a height of 1483 feet. They were designed by architect Cesar Pelli and completed in 1998. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia's Muslim religion. The towers feature a sky-bridge between the towers on the 41st and 42nd floors which is 170m high and 58m long.

Sears Tower
Architect Bruce Graham designed the Sears Tower of Chicago in 1974. At 1450 feet, and 110 stories, it is the tallest building in the United States of America. The construction system consists of steel fram with bronze tinted glass curtain wall. The Sears Tower Skydeck observation deck and tourist attraction is on the 103rd floor, 1353 feet above the ground.

Bank of China Tower
Located in Honk Kong, in addition to being one of the famous skyscrapers in the world, it is one of the most outstanding achievements of modern architecture. The construction was started in 1985 and completed in five years by the architects I. M. Pei & Partners and Sherman Kung & Associates. The building standing at 1205 feet, is a grouping of four triangular glass and aluminium towers of different heights, all emerging from a single granite podium. The changes rising from a square base to a single spire results in a magnificent faade of angles and profiles that reflect the light and seem almost crystalline in composition. On the 42nd floor is a sky-deck providing a panoramic view of the northwest Hong Kong.

Chrysler Building
Rising at 1046 feet, it was considered to be an engineering marvel and the tallest building in 1931. However, it still remains the tallest brick building in the world. The tower is a beautifully tapered stainless steel crown supporting the famous spire at its peak. A quintessence of skyscraper design, the Chrysler Building is a perfect example of Art Deco and has a lobby clad in different marble, onyx and amber.

Taipei 101
At a height of 1671 feet, this high-rise building has surpassed all to become the tallest skyscraper today. Taipei 101 holds the world record in three of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's height categories: tallest to the structural top, tallest to the roof, and highest occupied floor. The 89th floor has an indoor observation area while the 91st floor has an outdoor observation deck, known as the highest in the world. The pagoda shaped design of this building is inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. The sectioned tower is also symbolic of the bamboo plant characterizing strength, resilience and elegance. The towers design specifications are based on the number 8, considered lucky in the Chinese culture.

Jin Mao Building
This building in Shanghai symbolizes the progress and advancement made by the Chinese. It boasts of being the first tallest sky scrape in the country and the third tallest in the world. A great blend of East-West architecture it denotes aptly the emergence of Shanghai as a modern global city. It follows the versatility model by offering retail at it base, offices above and the Grand Hyatts Worlds highest Hotel occupying the upper 38 floors. The magnificently designed building combines the elements of traditional Chinese architecture and a vastly Gothic influence.

Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab rises to a level of 1053 feet, and is known as one of the worlds tallest structure with a membrane faade, 24-meter wide helipad. This is the tallest operating hotel building in the world and the design is influenced by the profile of an Arabian sailing ship. The Al Muntaha restaurant is located 200 meters above the Persian Gulf offering a panoramic view of Dubai while the atrium is situated at a height of 180 meters.

CN Tower
At a height of 1815 feet, the CN Tower in Toronto is the tallest building and freestanding structure in the world. It is considered to be the signature icon of the city and hosts almost two million visitors a year. The view from the exterior glass floored observation deck located 342 meters above ground is breathtaking as it is exciting. It also has the Space Deck at 447 meters, the worlds tallest observation deck with a 160 km view and the revolving 360 Degree Restaurant.

Hancock Place
A reflective obelisk sky scrape at Boston is an architectural marvel. It is regarded as icily magnificent wherein the surface changes as the day changes, each side reflecting the color of the sky it faces. Moreover, this dramatic effect is highlighted by the parallelogram shape of the prism, which provides uniquely differing reflections on adjoining surfaces.

The architectural buildings mentioned above are famous creations and literally considered architectural works of art today.

William Brister - http://www.architecturaldesign.tv - All about architecture

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