I’ve been staring at this bowl of peppers for months now. I mean it. Months. And like some ridiculous Willy Wonka invention, they won’t go away.
I’ve blogged about my husband’s obsession with his garden. However, unlike most obsessed people, his garden is less about specific anticipated needs and concise planting styles and a whole lot more about filling up every square inch of that soil with every kind of plant he could find. Regardless of their purpose or relativity.
Enter chili peppers and spaghetti squash.
Each in its own capacity serves a very lovely purpose. Admittedly, at first, I was extremely excited about Jeremy growing peppers. I’ve always loved hot and spicy food and in the past have rarely had fresh peppers around to add to my meals. I was chopping those things up on the daily and definitely channeling my inner Rachael Ray. There is something so “cooking channel” about scraping out the inner ribs of a jalapeno, finely mincing it and adding it to already sauteeing garlic and onion. Folks, I even broke out my herb-themed apron to don while cooking. It was getting serious.
The spaghetti squash followed the same pattern. Jer would bring it in, I would marvel at its natural beauty, I’d don my apron and we’d eat it. And eat it. And eat it.
Here’s the problem: I’ve grown extremely tired of capsaicin-induced tongue burns and faux spaghetti noodles. But the peppers and squash will not go away. Every single time I think I’ve finally conquered the bounty Jeremy enters through the back door with more. I don’t understand how it’s even happening. It’s like some fertile curse.
Jeremy swears he will scale back on the harvest for next season and will also work on his genetically predisposed need to plant over-abundantly. He promises he will feel okay with leaving some soil space free and by doing so he understands he is not compromising his manliness. More peppers does not equal more machismo.
For now, I trudge ahead in my quest to work through the bounty. We’ll be having baked spaghetti squash with hot and spicy marinara for dinner. Big surprise.
Mindy
Mindy. I’m sure you’ve more than gotten your money’s worth out of that seed packet. You can throw them away now. 🙂
He won’t let me. It’s a sickness I tell ya. 🙂
Mindy
That is hilarious!
Hilarious…and mundane. 🙂
Mindy
I dont have to bother with a garden. My neighbor loads me down with veggies from his garden. 3 times a week all summer long. It is very sweet but the cucumbers just didnt stop coming.
(did you receive your cookbook?)
Freeze them…that is what i do with them when i over plant! Not sure about the spaghetti squash but i bet you could freeze it as well…just a thought! Love the picture, it all looks so yummy 🙂
Girl, you need to don that apron and head to the basement to do some canning, or pickling, or whatever it is the country girls do with all that extra produce. Make pretty jars of something. 🙂 Too funny!
I love that Jer embraces his inner farm self. 🙂
My hubby would love to have the space to grow all that, but like you after a bit, I’d be done. He brings things home sometimes a case at a time from farmers he knows…it’s like if I see one more ear of corn or sweet potato, I’ll scream! However, corn freezes well and sweet potatoes last a long time…I even froze diced peppers, and canned salsa once,but with that many peppers, it would be tiring. Next harvest, make Jer prepare a large lushious feel for a local shelter, bet that might cure him!
Ok you start making things like spaghetti squash noodle sandwiches and chili pepper ice cream and he WILL let you start throwing away the excess bounty.
Trust me here.
That’s some colorful gardening!!! I’ve never tried to garden. I have a feeling the results would be disastrous, considering I can’t even keep a houseplant alive.
Wow. I also love cooking fresh things from the garden. For about a week. Then the new wears off and it’s just boring and a pain.
I did want to let you know that both my nieces have begged me to make them a pumpkin dump cake at christmas. Even the picky little one that only eats chicken nuggets and ramen noodles. They loved it last Thanksgiving. Thanks for the awesome recipe! It’s sure to become a family favorite!
♥Spot
Pepper jelly is always a good bet. And I like the idea of taking some of it to the homeless shelter, too.
I’ve never eaten spaghetti squash. I’m now off to google it…