[CH] Horned Worms and Chorizo
McWilliams, Dan (DMcWilliams@fendall.com)
Tue, 5 Sep 2000 10:59:00 -0500
I guess not many people, except Byron, who has suggested eating the Tomato
Hornworms in various ways, would associate Tomato Hornworms and chorizo. I
am not going to either. I just wanted to say that I know that the Tomato
Hornworm is a pepper plant predator and generally disliked by gardeners, but
the creature has its upside. The caterpillar becomes some type of Sphinx
Moth. The Sphinx Moth is a rather impressive animal, which is often mistaken
for a hummingbird and I believe that I recently saw a few in my yard. People
who observe them are usually pretty impressed. Not only that but the Sphinx
Moth is the main pollinater of several types of wild flowers, including a
rare wild orchid. I hate to see my hard work in the garden go to the worms
but, personally, I have never seen Hornworms in my garden in numbers large
enough to cause a problems big enough that it could be handled by picking
the Hornworms off and moving them. I usually plant a few tomatoes and what
not in an area far enough from my garden where I can relocate such pests.
But maybe I am being soft on these horrid creatures.
Anyway, for those of you who have developed a taste Hornworms, here's a page
for you:
http://www.olympus.net/dggordon/EatASample.htm.
In regards to chorizo, I make chorizo and the taste varies quite a
bit, depending on the type of chiles and spices I decide to use. I am sure
that depending on locale and preferences the chorizo will taste different. I
never put my chorizo in casings, opting rather to make patties. If I buy
chorizo I always take it out of the casings to cook it.
Besides all that I hope, besides the Hornworms, everyone's garden is
doing fine. It really struck me this weekend, when I was standing in my
garden, that one of the reasons I like peppers so much is that there is such
a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, flavors and plant types. This year,
thanks to trades and organizations such as the AVRDC, I have been able to
sample some of the most unusual peppers I could imagine. Some I will grow
again and some not, but I haven't picked one yet that I haven't been able to
find a use for. Has anyone else grown anything different this year they
found interesting?
Kind Regards,
The Chile Cheese Head,
Dan McWilliams
"The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a
garden swollen to a realm;
his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command."
Sam Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien