Shawn Hill's Guide to Paprika - Paprika Eureka

a Shawn Hill's Guide 

 Paprika - Eureka!

First off , there is an extreme LACK of information about Paprika on the interwebs.  I have now spent several hours researching this glorious spice. Like most people on Planet Earth I have the internet, and like most of those people I head to "THE ALL KNOWING SOURCE OF EVERYTHING" when I am starting my research on any subject.

According to "THE ALL KNOWING SOURCE OF EVERYTHING", Paprika is is a spice made from the grinding of dried fruits of Capsicum annuum (bell peppers or chili peppers). Capsicum peppers used for paprika are unusually rich in vitamin C, a fact discovered in 1932 by Hungary's 1937 Nobel prize-winner Albert Szent-Györgyi."

So what type of pepper is used specifically for making Paprika?

www.foodreference.com had the most helpful information.

"Paprika is a red powder that is made from grinding the dried pods of mild varieties of the pepper plant known as (Capsicum annuum L.) The pepper plants used to make this spice range from the sweet Bell pepper to the milder chili peppers. The Paprika peppers originally grown were hot. Over time, they have evolved to the milder varieties. In Hungary there are six classes or types of paprika ranging from delicate to hot. The peppers also range in size and shape depending on where they are grown . Some are grown in Spain, Hungary, California and other parts of the U.S. The most commonly produced paprika is made from the sweet red pepper also called the tomato pepper."

Here are a few of the other websites that I found useful in my research.

www.thehungariangirl.com - she had tons of info on hungarian paprika in her blog entry.

www.about.com - actually specifys chili peppers. 

http://honest-food.net/ - he has interesting info on making your own paprika! He uses chilies because he likes the taste. But you don't have to use chili peppers. You can use any red pepper you desire.

The other pepper mentioned  in my Paprika research was the Alma Paprika Pepper.You can find an interesting article on peppers over at Grit.com by Debbie Nowicki - 2009.

I then began looking at companies that distribute all types of spices. I was trying to see if one of them had some information on where their Paprika came from and what type of pepper was used....

Savory Spice Shop - Has one of the better websites. It is very simple, plenty of info and very easy to navigate. I also found information on their California Sweet Paprika, which is made from a hybrid pepper plant.

The Great American Spice Company - has tons and tons of spices and herbs. I was truely amazed at all the sorts of things you can get!

The Spice Barn - has similar spices as The Great American Spice Company, just not as many. They also have a very boring website with way too much text.

The Spice Hunter - Nice looking, well done website, lack of info and pictures.

Fuchs North America - Has a nice looking easy to navigate website. No pictures of the spices but I  like how they breakdown their products into categories. It happens to list Paprika under "Capsicums" along with Bell Peppers (red/green), Chili Peppers, Red Pepper and Jalapeño Peppers.

McCormick - Which can be found in most grocery stores. Generic or Gourmet. The website might not have much info. But I found something worth noting. in both kinds McCormick added SILICON DIOXIDE (ahem. That's basically SAND, if you didn't know).

They do this to add to its "flowability". To make the powder flow better. Wow,  I just can't believe that! Does every company add Silicon Dioxide to their Paprika?

What have we learned so far??

1. Paprika is made from grinding dried peppers (usually red)

2. Paprika can be mild or hot (depending on the pepper), the yellower the hue of Paprika, the hotter it is.

3. Paprika is mainly made in Spain, Hungry and the United States

4. Hungarian Paprika is considered to be the best.

So, It all comes down to place and pepper when it comes to Paprika.

Even though the original peppers used for Paprika were rather hot, their modern cousins are a bit milder in comparison. Also, depending on the region where the peppers are grown contributes to its taste properties. Over the years, peppers have been cross bred to produce the perfect flavor, much like in California with their hybrid pepper.

The Spanish use a different variety from the Americans, who use a different variety from the Hungarians. Much like birds on different continents evolve over time to better fit thier surroundings, peppers evolved over time as well. Now we have many many varieties of red peppers all with slightly different flavors.

Though Paprika is made from Red Peppers, some varieties of Red Peppers make a different type of spice...  like Cayenne Peppers become Ground Cayenne Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes come from dried Red Chilies which are hotter than the peppers used for paprika.

But don't confuse Paprika with either Ground Cayenne or Red Pepper Flakes, both have more heat to them. Paprika is mild in heat unless otherwise noted.

Also don't confuse Paprika with Chili Powder. Chili Powder is a mix of several spices.

AND MOST OF ALL, don't confuse any of them with ALLSPICE! That is something different all together, and is the focus of another lesson plan.

Here I am, sitting deer-eyed, looking at a virtual world of unorganized misinformation about the common spices we use in our kitchen. It felt just like I was standing in the aisle of my local supermarket, looking at the mess of spices in the tiny corner where they usually house them.

Now, I find myself staring at this computer screen in this virtual spice aisle trying to figure out what PAPRIKA actually is.

and the conclusion I've come to is.....

If it ain't paprika,

then it ain't paprika!

Shawn Hill's Guide to: Proper House Keeping

Recently I found myself cleaning the apartment. I was cleaning things in a way I had never done before. I made the bed. I vacuumed the couch. I also try my best not to leave dishes in the sink.

I felt like a crazy old lady. the type that end up putting the plastic lining on the couch and still wont let anyone sit on it.

I suppose it took a while, but I finally understand why my mother made such a fuss about certain things. I was just too dumb, young, and naive to understand. I guess that IS growing up.

So in honor of the good old times and the propaganda pamphlets the American government use to put out to promote Patriotism, I have written my own little guide. (the first of many)

The American Government presents:

Shawn Hill's Guide : Being A Better American

Proper House Keeping

3 Steps to Success!

Dad is in the driveway cleaning his brand new American Made Motor-Vehicle. Mother is in the kitchen cleaning her beautiful KitchenAid appliances and utensils. Junior is upstairs tending to his studies and chores, while Spot, the dog, barks at squirrels in the back yard.

This is your typical American Family, Doing what typical Americans do everyday.

It is the American Way to keep your humble abode clean and orderly. Heck! It is your American duty to keep your home spic and span!

Today's Blog Post brought to you by:

As an American you are entitled to certain freedoms. These freedoms define you from the rest of the world, they separate "US" from "Them". The "Good" from the "Bad". The "Clean" from the "Unclean". Only in America do we hold dreams to be self evident!!

In a country filled with hard working Men and Women, a good American is only as good as the House they keep. Proper House Keeping is the Key to the American Success.

If a family keeps their home clean and happy, That clean and happy attitude will carry over into the work place. With a happy and clean attitude, you can accomplish more and be 110% effective in executing your daily duties.

First step is to Vacuum throughly.

That means even vacuuming the couch. It would be very embarrassing to ruin the new clothing of a neighbor, co-worker, relative or friend.

Second is to Make the Bed EVERY morning.

A welcoming, plush, fluffy bed is the first step to a successful night of sleep.

Third is to Do The Dishes at night before Bed.

Waking up in the morning to a clean sink will put you in a better mood to prepare breakfast.

A better breakfast means a better energy. Which means a better day.

Just implement these 3 Simple Steps into your daily routine and you will be on your way to a better home. A better home gets you closer to being a better American!

- Shawn Hill