Yes, I know Halloween isn’t here yet but all the stores have started the season with their Christmas displays. It is the “Most Wonderful Time of The Year!”

So, I will start you off slowly. This is the time of year to buy a ristra for the front of your house. What is a ristra you ask? A ristra is a carefully tied collection of chile – of any length - made during harvest season right now. It was done so people in the Southwest would have chile flavoring through the winter but now it also is a great decorative item too. You can get the big chile on a ristra, a ristra of the small chile for your kitchen, or a plastic ristra. If you don’t live in an area that has ristas at the produce stand – yes, they are still open - the ristras are found online.

I have seen just one on a house or the whole front lined with ristras. Quite dramatic! Why don’t you want to have the big chile ristras inside? They shed seeds and chile parts. The small, really hot chile ristras are good for your kitchen and don’t shed.

Get a ristra and celebrate fall and winter with this tradition.

- Barbe Awalt