chiles

If Valentine's Day wasn't hot enough for you, then consider a new way to get fired up, with what's been identified as the world's hottest pepper.

Researchers at the New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Institute has identified the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion as the most potent pepper in the world, surpassing even the bhut jolokia in searing heat.

The institute's researchers were prompted to establish a benchmark for heat levels, after hot sauce makers and other spicy pepper industry insiders claimed there wasn't enough scientific proof of which chiles were actually hottest. The record-holding bhut jolokia, which was certified as the planet's hottest pepper in 2007, clocks in at one million Scoville units, while some individual Trinidad Moruga Scorpion plants reached a whopping two million.

No doubt some new hot sauces will follow, but proceed with caution: a single seed from this pepper will cause puffy, watering eyes, a runny nose, and a burning sensation that can last for hours. Is this something you'd ever dare to try?

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Sugar cookies and peppermint bark are a dime a dozen during the holiday season, but this year, we've been bringing you some deliciously out-of-the-box edible gift ideas with our fourth annual 12 Days of Edible Gifts series. Haven't had time to whip up one of our easy, tasty ideas yet? If you've got 15 minutes and a handful of fiery peppers, we've got your answer: homemade hot sauce.

This recipe is so easy it almost can't be called a recipe, but your lucky recipients don't have to know that. It's also completely customizable: use whichever peppers you prefer (or whichever are easiest to get your hands on). Last year, I used a combination of green jalapeños and habaneros; the result was tangy, herbaceous, and blazing hot. This year's batch was made with ripe red jalapeños and red serranos, and while it still packs some heat, it's much milder and sweeter.

If you can't bear to give away all the fruits of your labor, you're in luck: the vinegar that rises to the top of the hot sauce as it cures can be skimmed off, bottled separately, and kept for yourself as a homemade Tabasco substitute.

Get ready to spice up your life — and get the recipe — after the break.

You can't go wrong with corn, chicken, cheddar cheese, and chiles wrapped up in a warm tortilla. This simple supper is a great recipe to cook up in a pinch and everyone is bound to enjoy it. I had chicken tenders on hand, so I used those and the recipe was even easier and quicker to cook. Employ fresh corn since it's in season and adds great flavor. You can serve this in a tortilla (like I did) with a little salsa and avocado or offer it with rice and a side salad. Bring this tasty Tex-Mex dish to your kitchen table by reading more.

When I learned that the concept of white chili is foreign to a number of you, I took it upon myself to make the case for why this stuff is better than a bowl of red. I love tomato-based chili — especially when it's conveniently made in a slow cooker — but I positively crave the white kind. Not just any kind: Paula Deen's white bean chili.

It's green chilies (I prefer the Hatch variety), white beans, chicken, and cilantro, slow-simmered for hours to become a stew that's creamier and more tender than its tomato-based counterpart. Make this white chili, and you'll be the talk of any tailgate. To take a peek at how it's done (like all things Paula, it starts with butter!), read more.

If you love spicy food and you love shrimp, you have to give this recipe a try! Made with four habanero chiles, it's the real deal and so tasty you'll be licking your fingers clean. While I thought the combination of chiles, thyme, allspice, and green onions seemed a bit unusual, the resulting shrimp is perfectly seasoned and addictively good. It's an exotic application that makes for a great appetizer or with rice, a scrumptious entree. Take care when handling the chiles. Once sliced, I used tongs to move them from the cutting board to the pot. Be sure to serve with a cold drink, like an icy beer or strawberry ginger caipirosca; you'll need it to wash down the heat. Check out the recipe now.

Chicken enchiladas aren't always a fast and easy dinner option, but with a few adjustments, you can surprise your family by serving them as an indulgent midweek meal. Cut extra time by using cubed pieces of already-cooked chicken and pre-grated cheese, and you'll have the steaming casserole in literally 30 minutes. Having friends over for the weekend? Impress a crowd with enchiladas made from slow-cooked layers of poached chicken, homemade enchilada sauce, and roasted pepper salsa. A recipe for either occasion, when you read more.

Last night I made an Eastern European-inspired ground sirloin stew with egg noodles, and tonight I'm going to use the leftover beef to make something on the opposite end of the spectrum! I'm craving takeout, but — inspired by my recent successes — I'm going to continue my pattern of preparing Asian foods at home.

Spice up the sirloin with the help of minced garlic, lime, and Asian fish sauce, and wake up your senses with freshly-torn basil and julienned chiles. Complement the fiery protein with a soothing side of milky coconut rice. The result, which is healthier and cheaper than takeout, after the break.