Today's cowboy "candy" is actually candied jalapeños. They were supposedly created in 1922 by Mindie Heironimus, who pickled jalapeños with a slightly different method.

Jalapeños are cooked in a sugary brine until the liquid reduces. The softened peppers are put in jars, covered with the juice, and stored in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.

While sweetened jalapeños do somewhat fall under the category of candy, they also act as a flavor enhancer for many dishes in lieu of the traditional chopped or pickled jalapeños.

Add candied jalapeños to your most cherished recipes to amplify the overall complexity, or give an extra kick to a pulled pork sandwich, nachos, hot dogs, chili, or a favorite dip.