Beautiful Pepper Place Market Produce - Making Ristra's

I decided to buy some Cayenne peppers while at the Pepper Place market and am stringing some up for use later. Made a batch of salsa with the fresh Roasted Cayenne Peppers, made Chili and Picadillo with the Cayenne Peppers. They were a fresh treat. You can dry them for use later (grind them up about a month iafter they dry in a dry place or just use them as decor).

To make a Ristra first hold 3 peppers together by the stems and wrap a length of cotton twine or hemp around the stems to bind them together. Tie the loose end of the string (bring it under and make a loop under and over the top to secure and tie off ) around 1 pepper and back up to the stems. Make a half hitch to secure the cluster of Caynenne Peppers. Repeat again with 3 peppers, keep clusters about 3 to 4 inches apart. Keep stringing the peppers in 3's and cut off the end, make a loop and start another strand if you have enough peppers.

Now take a length of florist wire, loop one end to keep the hot peppers from falling off and braid the string of peppers around it. Hang the ristra from any horizontal support.

Here are few pics of produce I picked up while there.

Delicious twist on Banana Cream Pie

A twist on the regular old Banana Cream Pie!

1 Prepared Pie Crust (Shortbread or Graham Cracker)

1 can Nestle Lechera Dulce de Leche

2 to 3 bananas

Open the can of Dulce de Leche and spread in the bottom of the Pie Crust smoothing it down evenly. Peel the bananas and slice them spreading them evenly over the Dulce de leche.

Topping:
3 to 4 oz Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 c. Butter, softened

2 T Powdered Sugar (opt)
1 heaping teaspoon Cinnamon
2 - 3 cups Cool Whip (depending on how billowing you like your topping)

Beat the Cream Cheese (mixer or by hand), add softened butter and add cool whip, mix well. Add Cinnamon and Powdered Sugar to taste, mix lightly and pile on top of the pie and store in the refrigerator (at last for a couple of hours) until ready to serve.

Serve with additional cool whip. Makes 12 servings.

Do not substitute Reddi Whip for the Cool Whip!