This isn’t the most beautiful photo –  it’s a box of roasted New Mexico green chili.

We’re spending a few days in Albuquerque enjoying some time with our friends Jon and Margaret. I was lucky enough to be invited to help them peel green chili. It’s a New Mexico autumn ritual.

The goal is to peel off the charred skins, remove stems and seeds. Jon set up a work station on the patio; box of chilis, fresh trash bag, pails of fresh water, a big bowl for the peeled chilis. We sat looking out over the mesa, peeling chilis and talking. We watched a rain storm roll in.  When we were finished we had several bags of chilis for the freezer.

It was a fun and memorable afternoon with my friends.