Schug

Today I used the past 2 weeks worth of CSA chili peppers (some Serrano, some ancho, some cayenne) to make my first-ever homemade s'chug / harissa / charif / really spicy sauce.
The peppers were a mix of green and red varieties so, as you'd guess, the final product was more of an orange color. Not so authentic looking, oops. In the Middle East this stuff is either bright green or bright red.
But BOY DID IT PACK SOME HEAT! After a dollop on a cracker with cheese -- dollop being around 1/8 teaspoon - I had to spend ten full minutes eating palatte-cleansing food (aka, more cheese) before the sting wore off.
Also, note to self: wear gloves next time I make this. Three hours post-preparation my hands are still madly stinging.
In case you were uncertain, there will definitely be a next time... this stuff is incredible... In the right amount of course.

"s'chug" / hot chili pepper spread
6 hot chilies eg. Serrano or cayenne peppers, seeds removed, ribs intact
3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp oil
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
Blend everything together in a food processor. Store in a glass jar in the fridge, topped with a bit of olive oil. Keeps for about a month (so says my source!)

Curried Squash Turnip soup

One of my favorite new dishes invented this fall:

The following arrived in our CSA share this week (minus the ginger -- that's from our local supermarket):

Butternut squash, purple turnip, onion, garlic, carrot, and ginger.

At the suggestion of our farmer, I decided to make a soup.  He provided one recipe, but it lacked ginger, so I poked around on the internet for a ginger-curry flavored recipe.  (I recently ate ginger-curry flavored butternut squash soup at a restaurant and it was still on my mind...)

I sauteed the onion, garlic, ginger, and carrot...
Then filled the pot with water and added chunks of turnip and squash...
And added 1 tsp each cinnamon & curry powder, and a pinch of salt...
And pureed using a food processor once the veggies softened...

AND PROCEEDED TO EAT THE MOST SATISFYING SOUP I'VE HAD IN MONTHS.

Just saying :-)