ok so as I am moving along- is it still ok/safe to can if I dont have 10 cups of ground peppers? it's looking like I will have about 7-8 cups. please lmk! thanks!

Yeah it is ok. You can always reduce low-acid ingredients but you can't increase the amounts over what is called for..

I have never made that recipe but we really like the Pepper-Onion relish from NCHFP http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/pepper_onion_relish.html

made with hot peppers rather than sweets.

Dave

thanks, I ended up getting just over 9 cups. holy moly it was good!! had 5-6 cups of bell peppers and the rest were habernero, jalapeno, scotch bonnet and banana peppers! yum!!