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Ristras: Tradition and Beauty.
Ristras are a natural part of the Southwestern autumn scene. The tradition of hanging chiles on a twine or strip of animal hide is hundreds if not thousands of years old.
The ristra is created by taking chiles that have been allowed to mature on the plant until a deep fire engine red and then stringing them together to form a long chile like shape.
Sometimes chiles from the Chile del Arbol are used to form wreaths of chile as this chile is very small and slender and allows for more intricate shapes.
The chile then dries on the ristra and can be used in cooking, soups, making red chile sauce or for color.
We will have more on ristras in the Holiday Issue of Upper Valley Living coming soon.
Letter to Editor, Upper Valley Beacon
(Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)
Copyright © 2004-2005 Valley Publishing Company: All Rights Reserved.
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