Cowboy Candy Aka Candied Jalapenos Recipes

RECIPE FOR CANDIED JALAPENOS (AKA COWBOY CANDY)

Steps:

• Rinse jalapenos well then slice them into about 1/8-1/4 inch slices. Place in a bowl and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan combine vinegar, sugar, celery seed, cayenne pepper, mustard seed, and turmeric. Bring this mixture to a full rolling boil. Then immediately reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 6 to 7 minutes. Be sure to stir it frequently.
• Now add the sliced jalapenos to the saucepan. Turn the heat back to high and bring it to a rolling boil. Now reduce the heat to low/medium again and allow it to simmer for about another 6 to 7 minutes.
• While that is simmering, put your pint canning jars and lids in the water bath canner. This is to sterilize them. After a minute or two, remove the jars and lids and place on a dish towel. You always want to be sure to work with sterile canning jars.
• Now use a large slotted spoon to transfer the jalapenos to the canning jars. Be sure to make them as equal as you can. While regular jars will work, wide mouth jars make it easier to pack the jars.
• After you remove the peppers from the pot, turn the heat back to high to thicken the brine into a syrup. This should take about 5 minutes.
• Now distribute the hot brine syrup between the jars. You want to make sure to cover the peppers completely but allow 1/2 inch headspace.
• After you have the jars full, remove any air bubbles, wipe rims with a damp paper towel or cloth. Then place lids on and then rings. You want the rings to be finger tight. Place jars in a hot water bath or large pot of boiling water and can for 12 minutes. You want to make sure you have enough water in your canner. The water should cover the jars by about two inches.
• After 12 minutes, remove the jars carefully and allow them to cool on a towel for about 8 to 12 hours.
• After cool check out seals and if everything is sealed (that is when the top center can't be pushed in) you can store in a cool place for up to one year.

CANDIED JALAPENO OR COWBOY CANDY

Steps:

• Wearing gloves, remove the stems from all of the jalapeno peppers. The easiest way to do this is to slice a small disc off of the stem-end along with the stem. Discard the stems.
• Slice the peppers into uniform 1/8-1/4 inch rounds. Set aside.
• In a large pot, bring cider vinegar, white sugar, turmeric, celery seed, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the pepper slices and simmer for exactly 4 minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers, loading into clean, sterile canning jars to within 1/4 inch of the upper rim of the jar.
• Turn heat up under the pot with the syrup and bring to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 6 minutes.
• Use a ladle to pour the boiling syrup into the jars over the jalapeno slices. Insert a cooking chopstick to the bottom of the jar two or three times to release any trapped pockets of air. Adjust the level of the syrup if necessary. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel and fix on new, two-piece lids to finger-tip tightness.
• *If you have leftover syrup, and it is likely that you will, you may can it in half-pint or pint jars, too. It's wonderful brushed on meat on the grill or added to potato salad or, or, or... In short, don't toss it out!
• Place jars in a canner, cover with water by 2-inches. Bring the water to a full rolling boil. When it reaches a full rolling boil, set the timer for 10 minutes for half-pints or 15 minutes for pints.
• When timer goes off, use canning tongs to transfer the jars to a cooling rack. Leave them to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours. When fully cooled, wipe them with a clean, damp washcloth then label.
• Allow to mellow for at least two weeks, but preferably a month before eating. Or don't.

CANDIED JALAPENOS & GARLIC

Steps:

• Pack jalapenos and garlic into three hot 1-pint jars to within 1/2 in. of the top. In a large saucepan, bring sugar, vinegar, seasonings and, if desired, cayenne pepper to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes., Carefully ladle hot liquid over pepper mixture, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight., Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 15 minutes. Remove jars and cool.