Hot peppers. The world's second most perfect food, right after PEZ. What do hot peppers have to do with anything? Well, they are the focus of Mookie's Insane Quest for the World's Hottest Foods .

So what's the story here? Well, my obsession began with hot salsa, the kind you can buy at any supermarket. Then I moved onto Tabasco sauce. I worked my way up, choosing progressively hotter sauces. I got a couple of habanero-based sauces, but I still wasn't satisfied. My goal was reached only a few months ago, when, after a very long search, I finally found a bottle of Dave's Insanity Sauce. This is one of the hottest hot sauces in the world. The bottle reads, "Great cooking ingredient for sauces, soups, and stews. Also, strips waxed floors and removes driveway grease stains." At the bottom of the label, there is a warning. "WARNING: Use this product one drop at a time. Keep away from eyes, pets and children. Not for people with heart or respiratory problems." Scared yet? Now that is (good) hot stuff. My obsession isn't strictly bottled tastebud remover, either. I have an equal-opportunity death wish! I grow my own hot peppers in my formerly roses-only garden. Jalapenos and red cayenne peppers seem to grow well. Last year my habaneros didn't grow well, but this year I think I got 'em. I also added Thai red dragon pepers this year. Can't wait to try those buggers!

Care to join the Crusade? These websites will get you started!

Dave's Gourmet TABASCO PepperFest The Chile Pepper Hotness Scale The Chile-Heads Home Page The Chile Pepper Institute

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