Maple Pickled Jalapenos Maple Cowboy Candy Food

COWBOY CANDY (SWEET PICKLED JALAPENOS)

Steps:

• 1. Slice jalapenos. Wear gloves and don't touch your eyes or other sensitive body parts!
• 2. NOTE: if you want them less spicy, place the sliced jalapenos in a large bowl of water and let the seeds float to the top. Pour off the seeds and drain well before proceeding.
• 3. In a medium saucepan, combine cider vinegar, sugar, turmeric, celery and mustard seeds, garlic, and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Reduce the liquid for 5 minutes.
• 4. Add jalapenos to the syrup and simmer for 5 minutes more.
• 5. Remove jalapenos from liquid with a slotted spoon into a bowl Pack the jalapenos into 2 one-pint sterilized canning jars using a spoon, or a small spatula to press them into the jars. Add liquid filling the jars leaving a 1/4 inch head-space.
• 6. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes.

CANDIED JALAPENOS

Steps:

• Wearing gloves, remove the stems from all of the jalapeno peppers. The easiest way to do this is to slice a small disc off of the stem-end along with the stem. Discard the stems.
• Slice the peppers into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds. Set aside.
• In a large pot, bring cider vinegar, white sugar, turmeric, celery seed, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Raise the heat to boiling again, add the pepper slices, return to a hard boil, then reduce the heat again and simmer for exactly 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers, loading into clean, sterile canning jars to within 1/4 inch of the upper rim of the jar. Turn heat up under the pot with the syrup and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 6 minutes.
• Use a ladle to pour the boiling syrup into the jars over the jalapeno slices. Insert a cooking chopstick to the bottom of the jar two or three times to release any trapped pockets of air. Adjust the level of the syrup if necessary. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel and fix on new, two-piece lids to finger-tip tightness.
• *If you have leftover syrup, and it is likely that you will, you may can it in half-pint or pint jars, too. It's wonderful brushed on meat on the grill or added to potato salad or, or, or... In short, don't toss it out!
• Place jars in a canner, cover with water by 2-inches. Bring the water to a full rolling boil. When it reaches a full rolling boil, set the timer for 10 minutes for half-pints or 15 minutes for pints. When timer goes off, use canning tongs to transfer the jars to a cooling rack. Leave them to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. When fully cooled, wipe them with a clean, damp washcloth then label.
• Allow to mellow for at least two weeks, but preferably a month before eating. Or don't. I won't tell!

MAPLE PICKLED JALAPENOS (MAPLE COWBOY CANDY)

Steps:

• Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready to use, do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set aside with bands.
• Combine maple syrup, sugar, vinegar, water and all seasonings in a non-reactive pot and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Add jalapeno and onion slices, simmer 5 minutes.
• Ladle hot jalapenos and onions into a hot jar leaving a 1/2 inch headspace; top off with more brine if necessary. Remove air bubbles using clean knife or chopstick. With wet paper towel, wipe jar rim. Center lid on jar and apply band, adjust to fingertip tight. Place jar in boiling water canner. Repeat until all jars are filled.
• Process jars 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Turn off heat; let jars remain in water bath to stand 5 more minutes. Remove jars and cool 12-24 hours. Check lids for seal, they should not flex when center is pressed.

CANDIED JALAPENO OR COWBOY CANDY

Steps:

• Wearing gloves, remove the stems from all of the jalapeno peppers. The easiest way to do this is to slice a small disc off of the stem-end along with the stem. Discard the stems.
• Slice the peppers into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds. Set aside.
• In a large pot, bring cider vinegar, white sugar, turmeric, celery seed, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the pepper slices and simmer for exactly 4 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers, loading into clean, sterile canning jars to within 1/4 inch of the upper rim of the jar.
• Turn heat up under the pot with the syrup and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 6 minutes.
• Use a ladle to pour the boiling syrup into the jars over the jalapeno slices. Insert a cooking chopstick to the bottom of the jar two or three times to release any trapped pockets of air. Adjust the level of the syrup if necessary. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel and fix on new, two-piece lids to finger-tip tightness.
• *If you have leftover syrup, and it is likely that you will, you may can it in half-pint or pint jars, too. It's wonderful brushed on meat on the grill or added to potato salad or, or, or... In short, don't toss it out!
• Place jars in a canner, cover with water by 2-inches. Bring the water to a full rolling boil. When it reaches a full rolling boil, set the timer for 10 minutes for half-pints or 15 minutes for pints.
• When timer goes off, use canning tongs to transfer the jars to a cooling rack. Leave them to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. When fully cooled, wipe them with a clean, damp washcloth then label.
• Allow to mellow for at least two weeks, but preferably a month before eating. Or don't.

COWBOY CANDY

Steps:

• Slice jalapenos, and place in a small sauce pan.
• Add water and sugar.
• Cook over medium heat until boiling.
• Reduce temperature to low, and simmer until the liquid has reduced, and the sugar water has become syrup-like (about 15- 20 minutes depending on temperature of heat source).
• Let cool and place in clean jelly jar.
• Store in refrigerator.