Texas is burning...

[zuluhour]

following the news and thinking about you guys.

[morganbj]

Sadly, once it starts to rain, we'll get two feet in an afternoon and everything will flood.

Hey, but at least we don't get much snow.

[joey]

If you need some water, you can have some of ours. It is flooding in the Philly area. We have gotten over 25 inches of rain in the last few weeks.

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: bjmorgan

Sadly, once it starts to rain, we'll get two feet in an afternoon and everything will flood.

Hey, but at least we don't get much snow.

Snow would actually be better for us at the moment, it would melt away and not all run off at once causing a flood. [&:]

[mike scholl 1]

I blame all of Texas' problems on that horribly over-spiced food y'all eat. Tried some on the way through once, and I'll swear the gass I was passing across New Mexico and Arizona could have started range fires by itself. I know it left my sphincter raw and inflamed for days. Don't blame the weather, blame the peppers.. [:D][:D]

[Cribtop]

Mike, it's funny you mention that. I stood in the spice tolerance line first. Jalapenos are a gateway drug. I regularly eat habaneros, scotch bonnets, even a wild concoction made from pure capsacin that a friend once tried and had to go home from work for the day (even I think that one is pretty hot).

My Southeastern relatives are appalled at our spicy food, while we laugh at the Yanks who actually successfully demanded that Pace genetically engineer a jalapeño without capsacin because even the Mild picante sauce was "too hot."

If my life ever depended on winning one contest there is no question I would pick a pepper eating contest. [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: mike scholl 1
I know it left my sphincter raw and inflamed for days.

TMI! TMI! [:-] [:D]

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Mike, it's funny you mention that. I stood in the spice tolerance line first. Jalapenos are a gateway drug. I regularly eat habaneros, scotch bonnets, even a wild concoction made from pure capsacin that a friend once tried and had to go home from work for the day (even I think that one is pretty hot).

My Southeastern relatives are appalled at our spicy food, while we laugh at the Yanks who actually successfully demanded that Pace genetically engineer a jalapeño without capsacin because even the Mild picante sauce was "too hot."

If my life ever depended on winning one contest there is no question I would pick a pepper eating contest. [:D]

Hehe, that is so true.

A word of warning to our east coast/northern friends. Just pass on the chili, you can't handle it. [;)]

Around here we like to put Serrano peppers in with our French fries. That's right folks, we fry up French fries with Serrano peppers as part of the mix. And I love to get the peppers out and eat them whole, seeds and all.

[mike scholl 1]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Mike, it's funny you mention that. I stood in the spice tolerance line first. Jalapenos are a gateway drug. I regularly eat habaneros, scotch bonnets, even a wild concoction made from pure capsacin that a friend once tried and had to go home from work for the day (even I think that one is pretty hot).

My Southeastern relatives are appalled at our spicy food, while we laugh at the Yanks who actually successfully demanded that Pace genetically engineer a jalapeño without capsacin because even the Mild picante sauce was "too hot."

What's always been funny to me is that you folks think "hot" is a flavor. It's not. All that spicy stuff was added to food in the days before refrigeration to hide the fact that most of it was spoiled rotten. Just look at the equatorial third world origins of all the "let's set your mouth on fire" culinary traditions. The could feed you folks "cow pies", and with enough hot sauce you would think it was food! [:D][:D][:D]

[Cribtop]

I have a poor sense of smell, so I pretty much taste texture and spice. Subtle flavors are lost on me. You're right, though - the closer to the equator the hotter the food gets as it helped protect from diseases. It also impresses the ladies, though. Oh, and it ensures regularity!

[CaptDave]

ORIGINAL: Shark7

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Mike, it's funny you mention that. I stood in the spice tolerance line first. Jalapenos are a gateway drug. I regularly eat habaneros, scotch bonnets, even a wild concoction made from pure capsacin that a friend once tried and had to go home from work for the day (even I think that one is pretty hot).

My Southeastern relatives are appalled at our spicy food, while we laugh at the Yanks who actually successfully demanded that Pace genetically engineer a jalapeño without capsacin because even the Mild picante sauce was "too hot."

If my life ever depended on winning one contest there is no question I would pick a pepper eating contest. [:D]

Hehe, that is so true.

A word of warning to our east coast/northern friends. Just pass on the chili, you can't handle it. [;)]

Around here we like to put Serrano peppers in with our French fries. That's right folks, we fry up French fries with Serrano peppers as part of the mix. And I love to get the peppers out and eat them whole, seeds and all.

The only chili I ever had in Texas was some of the wimpiest stuff ever (Texas Chili Parlor, in Austin, 5-star variety; I even had 3 or 4 bowls and didn't feel any effects). Can't say I've tried eating Serrano peppers straight, but I have been known to pour enough pepper sauce into a bowl of gumbo that the soup was red instead of brown.

For the record, I've never lived farther south than San Mateo, CA, aside from my two years on Guam. Some of us Yankees can handle the hot stuff pretty well, too! (As long as it's food, not the climate, that is.)

[mike scholl 1]

ORIGINAL: CaptDave
Can't say I've tried eating Serrano peppers straight, but I have been known to pour enough pepper sauce into a bowl of gumbo that the soup was red instead of brown.

For the record, I've never lived farther south than San Mateo, CA, aside from my two years on Guam. Some of us Yankees can handle the hot stuff pretty well, too! (As long as it's food, not the climate, that is.)

My basic question remains. WHY? I've watched folks "showing off" with various spicy condiments..., faces getting red, tearing up, having to wash their hands after every bite. WHY? I like to finish a meal with a satisfied and satiated smile and a look of contentment..., not looking like candidate for the Burn Ward in the local hospital.

To each his own..., but I'll never understand it. It's like putting tatoos on a pretty girl. It just isn't right. [8|]

[pmelheck1]

It was kind of shocking to me to move to Ohio from New Mexico.  I didn't like hot food in NM but their were peppers in more than a few things their.  When I got to Ohio I tried some of the local mex restaurants and found that their hottest foods to me were less than bland.  Guess in the south west one gets used to a different level of heat as others have pointed out.  Funnest thing here is when all us old south west folks get together and  remissness the food from that part of the country.

[Chickenboy]

My wife is originally from New Mexico, so we spent some time there together whilest visiting her family. Mullk-since you claim some origin from NM, can you tell our esteemed colleagues what the official New Mexico state question is?

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

My wife is originally from New Mexico, so we spent some time there together whilest visiting her family. Mullk-since you claim some origin from NM, can you tell our esteemed colleagues what the official New Mexico state question is?

How about " How do I get outta here?" [:D]

Sorry, I'm one state to the north, I couldn't resist[;)]

[Nikademus]

I came....I saw.....I left. [:D] Got a friend down there who's working a job 2 hours north of Houston. it is HOT HOT HOT. This poor NW naturalized Native wilted. plus the cattle chased me. [:D]

[pmelheck1]

were I was from it was Red or Green?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: mullk

were I was from it was Red or Green?

Yup. [8D]

And the obligatory follow-up question from naive Yanks?

[CaptDave]

ORIGINAL: mike scholl 1

ORIGINAL: CaptDave
Can't say I've tried eating Serrano peppers straight, but I have been known to pour enough pepper sauce into a bowl of gumbo that the soup was red instead of brown.

For the record, I've never lived farther south than San Mateo, CA, aside from my two years on Guam. Some of us Yankees can handle the hot stuff pretty well, too! (As long as it's food, not the climate, that is.)

My basic question remains. WHY? I've watched folks "showing off" with various spicy condiments..., faces getting red, tearing up, having to wash their hands after every bite. WHY? I like to finish a meal with a satisfied and satiated smile and a look of contentment..., not looking like candidate for the Burn Ward in the local hospital.

To each his own..., but I'll never understand it. It's like putting tatoos on a pretty girl. It just isn't right. [8|]

Mike, I guess it's a matter of personal preference. Why do people like to cheat death by bungie jumping? Or lose their stomachs on roller coasters? I just like hot food, and can't explain it any more than I can explain why I like peanut butter. I'll just keep eating it as long as my stomach will let me!

[Oliver Heindorf]

Ouch, sorry to hear that. No rain in Texas ? Well, redeploy to germany. We had the wohle summer rain rain rain. Did I mention we had rain ? Unbeliveable what happend here, Three times as many rain as usual the last 4 months. Now I know what Monsoon really means.  Good luck to you.