You can smell it in the air...

It's a New Mexico seasonal phenomenon, like Connie Mack. Except this one shows up first when you smell it! Bobby and I have been waiting for it to come, and sure enough, when we went to Wal-Mart a little bit ago, we knew it was finally here because we could smell it in the air.



That is to say, it's Green Chile Season! And the roasters are busy keeping up with everyone's purchases. Here in New Mexico, you can buy Green Chiles in bulk, either in a burlap bag or a box in thirty pound increments at the common grocery stores. And outside, they have giant roasters set up for the convience of roasting your chiles.



Here's what the roasters look like - big metal cages the chiles are spun around on over a searing hot flame. They're hooked up to big gas tanks that keep them running all day long. Generally there are about four or five roasters all lined up, ready to go to work.



The green chiles get tossed inside the cage and you can watch as they gradually become limp and dark. You can hear them sizzling, and watch the seeds fall out as the peppers burst open. And the smell!



We tried to get a picture of the flame, but it didn't show up too well in the daylight. So imagine to yourself a happy little fire shooting up in this picture...





When you decided they've cooked long enough, the employees kindly package you chiles back up for you. (Notice the really big, really long leather gloves she's wearing.)



And then began a crazy all nighter, because we're green chile gluttons, and bought WAY TOO MANY for ourselves, and friends, and family. So we spent an evening and late into the night peeling, deseeding, and packaging them to keep in the freezer for the next year.