Garden first

Last night I used my first home grown item: a jalapeño!

I cooked some whole grain pasta in leftover homemade chicken stock.  Meanwhile, I cooked a few Italian sausage links and the jalapeño in my cast iron frying pan.  When the pasta was done, I drained it and added the zest and juice of one lemon, a bit of olive oil, and diced bell pepper.  When finished cooking, I sliced the sausage and diced the pepper, and added them to the mix.  I have to say it was really good!

Brightness from the lemon, heat from the pepper, crunch from the bell pepper, heartiness from the pasta and I love meat.  Period.  I also think the jalapeño, and entire dish, tasted better because I grew it myself.  :)