The Secret to How to Stop Crying When Peeling Onions ...

Don't Form an Emotional Attachment

It's Called "Chrzan"

Condimento Perfecto!

Completed Wild Horseradish with Beets. 

I Got Your Snack!

For when you want something fast. Have these on hand at all times:

You can stop right there. Warm a Tortilla. Just heat the beans, sprinkle some hot sauce, wrap ... enjoy.

If you want to go further ...

Make Refried Beans. Saute minced onion and garlic, add beans with liquid, heat over medium until liquid is mostly evaporated. Salt and pepper, of course. Cumin, maybe some chili powder too. Mash beans. Serve.

Options: Add some melty cheese. Even some scrambled eggs. 

Oh, Salsa! In a food processor: fresh Tomato, sweet Onion, Cucumber, Cilantro leaves and stems, Jalapeno (tamed — deseeded/deveined —to your taste). Lime juice and Olive Oil to balance. Charred Tomatillos, Avocado, and fresh Cilantro chopped together make another great Salsa.

PS: Don't overfill the Tortilla. Tortilla buying guide: as big as your head. Hot sauce-wise, it's the "broth of your own desire"; No end of options. Bean-wise, any bean'll do ... in a pinch. Put in what you got, what you like. Just smallish on the filling. Keep the filling texture soft and cuddly (as opposed to big and chompy).

Chow Chow

It's Whatever You Want It To Be

Here's the recipe: 

[Makes about 2 Quarts, tightly packed.]

Ingredients ...

Medium sized Cabbage 

2 Red Bell Peppers

1 Large Onion, 

2 Green Tomatoes or 4 large Tomatillos

Kosher Salt 2 tbsp.

Brine ... 

Apple Cider Vinegar 1 Cup

Pure Water 2 Cups

Sugar 1 Cup (Brown, White, in combination)

Yellow Mustard Seeds, 1+ tbsp.

Celery Seeds, 1 tsp.

Mustard Powder, 2 tsp.

Turmeric, 1 tsp.

Ground Black Pepper, 1tsp.

Preparation ...

Thin slice vegetables, then coarse chop. (Small enough to be a garnish on a hot dog.)

Toss with 2 tbsp. Kosher Salt.

Let stand overnight, refrigerated. (Room temperature seems to be acceptable as well; maybe starts a little fermentation.)

Drain and rinse. (Some recipes don't specify the rinse, but it does tone down the saltiness if you do.)

Combine Brine ingredients, bring to boil.

Low cook Vegetables in Brine until just tender (10-15 minutes)

Options ... 

Go and search around other Chow Chow recipes. Some only have a minimum amount of Cabbage proportionally. Slivered Carrot, Green Bell Peppers would be obvious options. Our brine ratio 1 Vinegar : 2 Water* is sour enough for us. Adjust yours to taste.

Cook to your own taste. Seems Chow Chow is what ever you want it to be.

* Brine Ratio: Vinegar:Water — 1:2 
This has proved to be an ideal ratio for anything you might want to brine for "Refrigerator Pickles". Careful, a lot of recipes call for vinegar full strength. Pucker up if you do.