SYCAMORE – Jim Hancock has always loved to cook, and has made his own seasoning mixes for years. But in the fall of 2011, he decided to try something new with his garden produce.

“Every year I grow more peppers than I can use, so I dry them and grind them up,” he said. “Two years ago I was smoking pork roast and I thought I would throw the peppers on the smoker to see what happened.”

The flavor of the smoked peppers was too strong for Hancock’s taste, so he experimented with mixing the chopped peppers with onion, parsley, paprika and other fresh spices from his garden. He eventually found just the right blend to suit his palate.