Hold the Pepper

I don't usually write, but I am always cooking. I have always enjoyed creating in the kitchen, but have been presented with an interesting challenge. My husband is allergic to red pepper, and any kind of pepper except for ground black pepper. That means no red, yellow, or green peppers. No jalapenos, green chilies, paprika, or anything spicy, really. Taco seasoning? No way. Any type of hot sauce is also out of the question. Did you know that a lot of canned, unseasoned tomato sauces have red bell peppers blended into them? (Hunts doesn't, a tip from my Mother-in-Law who has the same allergy as my husband does).

So, I have to get creative. Mexican food is a huge challenge, and most recipes call for something that is on the naughty list. However, I am starting to be more bold with my experimenting.

We've lived on our own with our own kitchen for over 2 years now, and every day is a new cooking adventure. I decided to start this blog to share the recipes that have found their way onto our kitchen table, or, at least the successful recipes. Sometimes things don't turn out, but most of the time they do.

With an allergy like his, eating out is always a challenge. Pre-prepared food from the grocery store, even frozen, usually has some sort of pepper in it. A lot of meats do, too. I have found that I need to read the ingredients on every single item before I buy it - not doing so has resulted in a few allergic reactions over the last few years.

So, this blog will be pepper free. Except for ground black pepper, which is in almost every dish I make. I also encourage you to get creative! Every person has different tastes, and I follow recipes about 20% of the time. If I ever follow a recipe 100%, I spend the next few hours thinking of things I would have done differently. I am picky, but I also like to make things as good as they can be. If you love peppers and want to add them to any of the recipes, go for it! Make it your own! Just because we can't eat peppers, doesn't mean you have to abstain. Recipes are meant to be inspiration, and only you know what suits your taste buds.

On this blog, you'll find entrees, desserts, lunch ideas, breakfast ideas, and delicious sides. These are my own variations of recipes. I will usually read two or three different recipes, then come up with my own based off of my new knowledge of what has worked for other food artists. By the time it hits my table, it is completely different from any of the recipes I've read. Most of the time, I don't write down my recipes, and I recite them from memory. This blog will help me stay organized, remember what I did properly, and hopefully inspire you to get creative in your own kitchen.

Even the best chefs are always learning new things, and experimenting is the best way to do just that.

I hope you enjoy the blog, and if you have any requests, please let me know!