Jalapeño Pepper Smoothie

In honor of St. Paddy's Day, we thought it would be fun to create a jalapeno pepper smoothie. Well, it is green after all. It might seem a bit odd to you, a jalapeno pepper smoothie. We thought that too at first. I have to tell you it's actually very refreshing, sweet, and has a little kick. It's nothing but pure healthy goodness in a glass. All I can say is, simply yummy!

In our recipe, we used a combination of Old Mexico's pickled and fresh peppers. You can certainly use just one or the other. We tried it both ways, Our favorite was the combination of both peppers. Give it a try. We'd love to hear what you think.

To quote Norman Reedus, 'The Boondock Saints' "Yeah, it's St. Paddy's Day. Everyone's Irish tonight." So from our kitchen to yours, and to pass on a little green goodness, we hope you enjoy the jalapeño smoothie!

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

Move Over Kale, There's A New Super Food In Town!

Photo Credit: Debra Jauregui

Get ready to be healthier in 2020!  Of course, we all know that kale is one of the healthiest foods we can eat. In fact, just one cup of kale is loaded with vitamins A, K, C, and B6. Not to mention magnesium and calcium. 

However, jalapeno peppers are also high in vitamin A, C, and potassium. Additionally, they contain beta-carotene. Which is an antioxidant that may help to prevent damage to your cells. They are rich in folate, vitamin K, and B vitamins. Did you know that these spicy peppers also help you lose weight, fight cancer, are a pain reliever, can help prevent stomach ulcers, are good for your heart and can help fight infections. So move over kale there is a new superfood in town and its name is JALAPENO PEPPER! 

If you want to ratchet up your nutrition with a one-two punch, start adding this little hot pepper stuff to your diet today to live your healthiest life in 2020.

Articles on the benefits of jalapenos and kale.
Kale VS Jalapeno Peppers: By Chris Green
Move Over Kale: By theheartysoul.com
Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

Deflame The Chili Pepper

A study published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that consuming chili peppers can reduce the risk of heart attacks. I have talked about the health benefits of eating chili peppers in previous newsletters. However, some individuals just can't handle the hot stuff. So for those who want the health benefits from eating chili peppers, I found a great article on how to deflame the chili pepper.

Give it a try, tame the chili beast and add this healthy heart crime fighter to your diet today.
https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/study-finds-eating-ch…/

astrofoodsinternational.com
Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

Photo Gif: By MatPrat

Can Ghost Peppers Kill You?

Photo: Shutterstock

Everyone loves a good murder mystery and this one began when someone said that you shouldn't eat ghost peppers because they can kill you. Hmm...So as I pondered that question, I thought let's look a little closer at this killer pepper.

Upon further investigation on this mystery, I found that when you bite into a ghost pepper and ingest the walloping 1 million-plus capsaicin Scoville heat units, your mouth first experiences intense heat, which causes the following chain reaction in the body. The pepper begins to produce extensive tissue inflammation which then begins devastation of the nerve endings, dilates blood vessels making you feel extremely too hot. Yes, folks, your body is staging a war which could lead to your demise, or does it?

My investigation proved that yes, you can die from eating ghost peppers. But the question remained how much would one need to digest before they died? To be continued!

OK, I had to do it because who doesn't love a cliffhanger. Click the article link below to solve the mystery.

Article link: Credit, How Stuff Works, Laurie Dove
Can ghost peppers kill you?

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

Spicy Food Trend Is Hot!

The spicy food trend continues to peak consumers interest. In fact, it has steadily increased over the last ten years. Culinary development chef at the food company Southeastern Mills, Hadley Katzenbach says “I think the trend has gone from shaking a bit of hot sauce on something to give it some heat to present day where consumers have a better understanding of how chili peppers can add depth and layering of both heat and flavor.”

Folks, it doesn't look like the spicy heat trend is fading anytime soon. Check out the article below on how the food industry is capitalizing on this spicy hot food trend. Yep, go ahead and pile on those Old Mexico jalapeño peppers, you know your taste buds crave that hot pepper stuff.

Article link: Credit, QSR
Spicy Foods Are Still Hot

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

American Food Moving Into A High-Heat Flavor Complexity Zone

Photo credit: Fine Dining Lovers

We love our favorite spicy Mexican and Asian dishes in America. It appears that the extreme heat we love in our food is shifting to more complex flavors with specific pepper varieties.   

In a recent article in Food Business News, Juliet Greene, corporate chef for Mizkan Americas, Mount Prospect, Ill said, “We have moved well beyond common Hispanic and Asian flavors that are now firmly established in the mainstream and into more hyper-local and specific regional flavors in the spicy flavor palate,” Ms. Greene said. “Crushed chili peri peri sauce from Africa and Portugal, the fruity and spicy aji Amarillo pepper from South America, a wide variety of curries from India and the Korean fermented red pepper paste gochujang sauce are coming into consumer consciousness similar to the way that sriracha sauce did. The hot sauce section at the grocery store is my favorite area to peruse because it’s always expanding with new brands from both some of the expected players and with local and niche brands.”

High-heat complex flavors are showing up in everything from our favorite food dishes to candy, brews and cocktails, sauces, snacks and desserts. Even the Coke-Cola Co. is putting its hat in the ring with the launch of vitaminwater fire.

I love that we are seeing the beginning of a food revolution with the combination of different spices and hot peppers in food preparation today. This hot pepper lover will definitely adventure into the world of high-heat complex flavors with my food. What about you?    

Article link: Credit, Monica Watrous, Food Business News 
Spice is nice, but complexity is key

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

The Hottest Pepper In The World

Carolina Reaper

The Hottest Pepper In The World

In the world of peppers, the quest to grow the hottest pepper of them all is continually changing. It's official, in 2019 the hottest pepper in the world is the Carolina Reaper, coming in at a fiery 2,200,000 Scoville Heat Unit (SHU). To put it in perspective, the Carolina Reaper is 200x hotter than the jalapeño pepper. Now that's one crazy hot pepper!

What's even crazier is the whole pepper challenge trend. Have you seen the videos of individuals posting their reactions to eating the Carolina Reaper on social media? Some of the reactions to the pepper are intense! Crazy! Yeah....No, not this girl. I'll stick with Old Mexico's jalapeño peppers with a SHU of 2,500-5,000, which is definitely more my speed. Have you tried the challenge? If so, I'd love to hear or see videos about your experience, 

Check out the link below to see some of the videos I found on the Carolina Reaper challenge. These are hilarious. Enjoy!

10 hottest peppers in the world

Hilarious Carolina Reaper Challenges   

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

We Love Pork Butt's & We Cannot Lie!

OK, pepper lovers for this edition of "Hot Pepper Stuff" I decided to do something a little different. The story behind this edition all started a few months ago when my daughter came to visit for the holidays. I gave her a pouch of Old Mexico jalapeño peppers to take home. She told me how much everyone loved the peppers and they just couldn't get enough of them. In fact, she started experimenting with the peppers by adding them in different recipes. One of her creations was a slow cooker pork butt roast, and in her exact words, "it was so...so...so good".  Well of course after that glowing recommendation I asked her for the recipe because I had to try it myself. I have to say it turned out fabulous!! The pork roast had a bit of a sweet taste from the Dr Pepper and beer with a little kick from the peppers. Definitely a keeper!

From the leftover pork roast, I made two more meals, pork sliders, and quesadillas. Both meals were fantastic. Actually, the sliders were my favorite, yum!

So here you go, I'm sharing this recipe with you. If you give it a try let me know what you think.

Do you want to have your recipe using jalapeño peppers showcased in our "Hot Pepper Stuff" newsletter? Submit your recipe to us with pictures of your creation to debrajauregui.afi@gmail.com by May 30, 2019. If we choose your recipe, we will publish it in our "Hot Pepper Stuff" newsletter and send you a free pouch of Old Mexico whole or nacho sliced jalapeño peppers. Have fun pepper lovers creating your masterpieces!   

Enjoy!

Photo Credit: The photos were actual finish dishes created and pictures taken by Debra Jauregui 

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

Jalapeño M&M's. Say What?

Have you heard the news?

M&M’s Unveil Three New Flavors: Mexican Jalapeño Peanut, Thai Coconut Peanut And English Toffee Peanut. People are going especially crazy over the jalapeño peanut flavor.   

All I have to say is "what took them so long?" Some of my favorite ways to enjoy jalapeños is using them in sweet desserts. I'm sure most of us have heard or have tried jalapeño jelly which is always a crowd pleaser at our house. Here are some of my favorite desserts with jalapeño peppers you might want to give a try. Jalapeño Lime Cheesecake, Jalapeño Chocolate Cookies, Candied Jalapeño Peppers. If you have a dessert recipe using Jalapeño peppers, we'd love it if would share it with us. Who knows it may be featured in our "Hot Pepper Stuff" newsletter.

Back to the release of the new M&M flavors, all three new flavors will land on the shelves at retailers nationwide starting January 28, 2019. M&M's is introducing the three new limited-edition peanut flavors as part of this year's Flavor Vote campaign for 2019. The flavor that takes home the most votes will be announced in August 2019 and will continue to be sold at retailers nationwide.

You all know which flavor I'm voting for, why it's the jalapeño peanut flavor of course.

If you have gotten your hands on the new jalapeño peanut flavor, let us know what you think about the new flavor. 

Check out the links below about the launch of the three new flavors and what people are saying about them.

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Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

What to do with those turkey leftovers?

Are you looking for ways to use that leftover turkey?

Here are some delicious ideas you might want to try! 

Cheesy Tamale Pie: This one-pot dish is sure to be a hit. Try spicing it up a little by adding one chopped whole jalapeño pepper from our Old Mexico product line. 

Chipotle Cranberry Sliders: Yum! For a fun casual gathering try these Chipotle sliders. Don't forget to pile on our Old Mexico nacho sliced jalapeño peppers for that zing!

Green Chilli Turkey Enchiladas: How about digging into these mouthwatering enchiladas with butternut squash and sage. I'm salivating just thinking about this dish. Be sure to add Old Mexico's whole chopped jalapeños for that extra kick! 

Mexican Turkey: This is a great way to use leftover turkey. You can make taco's, burrito's, sandwiches or a salad with this easy recipe. When you add Old Mexico's nacho sliced jalapeños to this dish it really puts it over the top with flavor.

Mexican Turkey Skillet Recipe: Wow! This warm comfort food casserole dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser. This one-dish wonder has it all from black beans, rice, Mexican tomatoes, cumin, zucchini with sweet red peppers. All you need is to add Old Mexico's jalapeño peppers for that extra pizzaz!

Turkey Nachos:  And of course my personal favorite, nachos! You can literally put anything you love on nachos. I love them with turkey, chicken, beef, pork, oh the list goes on. Pile on the cheese, beans or whatever other condiments you like and of course, wait for it....tons of Old Mexico nacho sliced jalapeño peppers! Yummy!

Well, I guess you see a trend here. Yes, everything is better with Astro Food's International's Old Mexico jalapeño pepper products. 

I hope you enjoy the recipes. Share your favorite turkey leftover recipes with us. I would love to post some of them on our blog. I'm always looking for creative ways to use turkey leftovers. 

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

Hot Chili Peppers and the Entertainment Industry

I thought it would be fun to bring some comic relief to this edition of Hot Pepper Stuff. We all know that peppers are used in our culinary creations and of course for pepper addicts like me they are delicious and add a tremendous amount of flavor to our food.

Hot peppers also have a humorous place in the entertainment industry. The fact is when pain and pleasure unite it intrigues us and make us laugh. The entertainment industry has taken advantage of this fact for years.

Here are some fun examples.

Enjoy!

The Atomic Pepper, Dumb & Dumber

Woozle & Jose the Jalapeno on a Stick

Scoby Doo Eating Peppers

The Simpson's, Homer Eats Chili

Wild Hogs Chili Festival
 
Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

Chilies help with pain relief, weight loss, and perhaps affect microbes in the gut to keep us healthier.

Did you know there is actual science behind eating spicy chili peppers?  

It has been widely publicized that chili peppers have many health benefits when eaten. Some of those benefits include a good source of vitamin C, sodium and potassium. When eaten as part of a healthy diet they can aid in lowering blood pressure and weight loss.

Biologist, Joshua Tewksbury,  who has studied chili peppers for 10 years suggests that eating spicy peppers can relieve pain, make our food safer and perhaps affect microbes in the gut to keep us healthier.

I knew there were magical powers in those splendid hot chilies. Chilies, in my opinion, are one of nature's magnificent creations. I'm sold, this pepper lover will continue to keep spicing it up!

Tell us your thoughts after reading the article. 

Article on the Science of Spicy Foods: 
Article Credit:  Science News for Students by Kathryn Hulick

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing

How To Stop Jalapeño Pepper Burn!

Yes, it is true; I'm a jalapeño pepper fanatic. I love those spicy peppers so much that I consume them 3-4 times a week. I often add that fiery goodness to the meals I prepare. One would think that because I eat peppers so often that surely I would build up a tolerance to that caustic sensation on my hands when handling jalapeño peppers. Oh no...Not the case.

I have to admit that even I, the self-proclaimed queen of jalapeño peppers, of being able to pick up a pepper and taking a bite without so much as a "man that's hot" have felt the burn on my hands when they come into contact with the oils in the peppers when dicing, chopping or slicing them during food preparation. I found myself running to the sink, immersing my hands in cold water in an effort to stop the burning sensation. If this ever happens to you, STOP! Water doesn't stop the burn. The most important thing to remember is to stop the heat by neutralizing the pepper's oils on your skin.

I found some great articles and remedies on how to stop the burning sensation should this happen to you. Of course, the best prevention of all is WEAR GLOVES!    

Here are a few informative articles on how to stop the burn: 
Article Credit: How to Stop Hot Pepper Burn, Cayenne Diane
Article Credit: How do you Stop Chili Pepper Burn? , Chili Pepper Madness

Debra Jauregui, Astro Foods International
Director, Business Development / Marketing