Though Italy's climate is generally mild and comfortable, its reputation for balmy Mediterranean temperatures year-round is slightly exaggerated. Weather is still warm in late September, but rainfall can be common, so pack rain-resistant boots and a light weatherproof jacket. This is especially important if you'll be touring Venice -- though the city's canals typically rise and flood in winter, this has been known to occur in autumn as well. In October, temperatures are not extreme, but the averages tend to drop from September.
Crushed red pepper. Crushed red pepper or red pepper flakes (RPF) is a condiment consisting of dried and crushed (as opposed to ground) red chili peppers. This condiment is most often produced from cayenne-type peppers, although commercial producers may use a variety of different cultivars, all within the 30,000-50,000 Scoville Unit range.
Picking the peppers. 1. Determine which type of pepper will be right for making your crushed red pepper flakes. With a whole family of peppers you can pick, base your decision on how hot of a pepper you can handle.Pepper hotness is measured by Scoville units--the higher the Scoville unit, the hotter the pepper. Assess your overall needs. 2  If you're creating the crushed pepper for home use and you like them hot, go for the hottest pepper you can find. 3  However, if you're giving the flakes to friends, you may want to go with something a little tamer. 4  Test the pepper before you make the crushed flake batch.