[Sca-cooks] Dried meat in period?

[Philippa Alderton]

--- XvLoverCrimvX at aol.com wrote:
> So with the talk of jerky (which is making me hungry
> for the dried meat) in
> the air, who has a good jerky recipe with
> instructions on how to make jerky.
> Mmm, if i'm not busy, I make some myself if I can
> find a recipe.
>
> Misha

Well, it's about as easy as anything you can make ;-)

Get meat, venison, lamb, or beef, and slice across the
grain as thinly as you can manage. If you partially
freeze it, that helps (or get the butcher to do it).
Then, roll it in your favorite spice blend (I like Mrs
Dash Extra Spicy, but I just discovered Mrs Dash
Mesquite which I'd love to try on jerky). If you
prefer, you can marinate it in something like soy
sauce or Worchestershire, or I've used wine and
brandy- just as long as it's a thin, watery liquid,
because thicker ones will stick to it and coat it, and
either dry it from there, or roll it in spices.
Sometimes I use premades like the Mrs Dash or curry
powder, sometimes I'll raid my spice shelf, and use
garlic and pepper, or sage, or whatever suits my mood-
very flexible ;-)

Anyway, once you have it spiced to suit, you can
either put it in a dehydrater, or on cookie pans (or
if you can find or make them) screen pans in the oven.
Turn the oven on low (about 200-250), leaving the oven
door open about an inch, and go about your business,
checking it occasionally. When you lay them out, have
the pieces close to each other but not quite touching-
if you make up screen racks for them, try to keep them
about an inch apart- you need the space (and the open
oven door) for ventilation- air circulation helps
carry the moisture away. Usually takes about 6 to 8
hours, depending on the oven.

Once you've got them done, they'll last for days
without needing any attention other than keeping the
cats out of them, but like any other food, they'll
keep fresher longer without picking up nearby tastes
and odors ( don't really suggest Pledge flavored jerky
;-) if you put them in a plastic bag or container, and
put them in the fridge.

Phlip

=====
Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Greetings - Send FREE e-cards for every occasion!
http://greetings.yahoo.com