Illustrator :: Using Background Image As Template In Gradient Mesh

So, basically, I am DETERMINED to learn how to use gradient mesh in 5.1.  I tried to do that well-known red pepper exercise (I'll provide the URL if somebody hasn't seen it.) Everything was going fine until I actually tried to use the background jpg of the pepper itself in outline mode as a template. The idea is to pick up the template colors of the pepper and then use them as gradient mesh colors. No matter how I tried to do it, that trick just would not work.
 
If you are working on a gradient mesh and are using image template as a guide you want to work in outline  preview so you can see the underlying art to determine wht you are constructing and also it then allows you to use the eyedropper to sample the color of the actual photo so it can be translated tothe mesh and you can simply switch back to Preview mode to check your progress.

Very handy when working with gradient meshes if you are using and underlying template to translate into art.
 
That sounds great, but sampling the color of the photo and then actually using it on the gradent mesh points just did not seem to work for me.