I like to go by a tested recipe first to get a baseline reference. After that, I'll tweak it or radically change it to suit my taste. Oooo Smokemaster, yes, Jerk! If anyone's game, I've found this recipe comes as close to authentic Jamaican Jerk than any other I've tried. I always end up doing two versions; one with two Scotch Bonnets for the GF and one with 12 for me ;-) The recipe is from a... wait for it... Weight Watchers recipe book. Here's a copy of the original recipe. I use it without any changes, it's perfect as is IMHO. Works for pork or chicken. Jamaican Jerk Pork Tenderloin This fiery barbecue was invented by the Maroons, or runaway slaves, as a means of preserving meats without refrigeration. The more Scotch bonnet peppers you use, the more authentic the flavor. Use one pepper for a mildly spicy dish and four for a very spicy dish. (To approximate the heat of the authentic jerk marinade, you would have to use 12 Scotch bonnet peppers.) Here, we butterfly the pork to increase the surface area for the marinade to penetrate. This recipe will also work with pork loin and chicken breasts, wings and thighs. 2 cups coarsely chopped green onions 1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves 2 teaspoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground allspice 2 teaspoons chopped peeled fresh ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 - 12 Scotch Bonnet or Habanero peppers, seeded and chopped 1 (1 1/2 pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed Cooking spray 1. Place first 15 ingredients in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Pour into a large zip-top plastic bag. 2. Slice pork lengthwise, cutting to, but not through, other side. Open halves, laying each side flat. Slice each half lengthwise, cutting to, but not through, other side; open flat. 3. Add pork to marinade in bag; seal bag, and marinate in refrigerator 3 to 24 hours. Remove pork from bag; discard marinade. 4. Prepare grill. 5. Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 8 minutes on each side or until meat thermometer registers 160F (slightly pink). Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3 ounces pork).

I make a lot of refrigerator salsas, and use little vinegar, mostly Goya Bitter Orange juice, like is used in the Oaxacan habanero salsas. This is my current favorite. 2-cups dried Numex Suave Orange habaneros 5-dried Ghost peppers 1-small onion, sliced thin 2-medium carrots, sliced thin 6-cloves garlic, smashed 1-teaspoon white pepper 1-tablespoon table salt 1-1/2 cups Goya Bitter Orange juice. 1-cup water, maybe more Put liquids in blender, add salt and white pepper, and all dried chilies. Process until smooth. Do this first so they can start reconstituting. Preheat oven to 425 and place rack in next to highest position. In a large bowl, toss chopped onion, carrots, and garlic in a little olive oil. Spread parchment paper on a baking sheet, and spread veggies evenly over it, place in oven, and roast for 20-25 minutes or until some charring takes place on the onions. Remove, and let cool for five minutes. Pick up parchment paper, and funnel veggies into blender and process until smooth. You may have to add more water if it gets too thick Taste for seasoning, and store in fridge. This lasts me about a week or so. You can also use fresh habs and ghosts sliced in half and roasted with the veggies, but it does require a good vent hood on your stove. Damn, forgot to add the pic...

This is my version of a Jalapeno Cafe recipe. We keep a dollar store squeeze bottle of it in the fridge and DH eats it on everything. I increased the vinegar because the original recipe was a bit too close to the pH line for me and the last batch using these proportions was 3.6. We've used all sorts of combinations of hot and sweet peppers. Sometimes it's Muddy Brownish Red Dragon Sauce. I quadruple the recipe to can. * Exported from MasterCook * Green Dragon Sauce Recipe By : Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Condiments Preserving Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 20 jalapenos -- stems removed, coarsely chopped (2 1/2 cups) 1 medium onion -- coarsely chopped 4 cloves garlic -- sliced 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil 2 cups water 1 1/4 cups white vinegar -- or more, to taste Combine the jalapenos, onion, garlic, salt and oil in a non-reactive saucepan over high heat. Saute' for 3 minutes. Add the water and continue to cook for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to steep until mixture has cooled. Place mixture in food processor and puree until smooth. With the processor running, pour the vinegar through the feed tube in a steady stream. To refrigerate: Pour into sterilized pint jar and seal. Let age at least 2 weeks before using. *Katie's note: To can-- Pour into clean, hot half-pint or pint jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes at 0-1000 ft., 15 min. at 1001-6000 ft., and 20 min. above 6000 ft. Source: "Jalapeno Cafe" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Here is a link that might be useful: Green Dragon Sauce

Nicole, chili soup does not have water in it, it has either tomato juice or V-8 juice, diced tomatoes, onions, sweet or hot peppers, hamburger, a very flavorful chili bean like Bush's Chili Magic, chili pepper, can put in cumin, red beans, and let simmer with some cooked pasta such as cut spaghetti or elbow macaroni simmering in with it. Of course salt and pepper. Not so much pasta as it would be way too thick unless you like it that way, but then it isn't really soup. Sue