Home Made Beef Jerky

                       

   Things are a little crazy now days. Never can tell if it's going to get better or worse in so many areas. So lets go by the old saying of
"Prepare for the worst and hope for the best." A few prayers thrown in just to cover all bases might help.
   If you want to keep some extra chow around for just in case of a emergency like having to be quarantined or hurricane season or just  in case and need to dig deep in the pantry here is something you can do and learn in the process.
     Making beef jerky! It is sooo... easy! I have done it in the oven using my oven racks just like this except I used plain ol toothpicks. some people know how to use a smoker but I don't. I have done it with deer meat and beef both. Some people think you have to make it out of a certain cut of beef but I don't. I have use rump roast and just about any other piece of meat on the critter. It isn't fun when Jon and his dad would go deer hunting, kill the deer, butcher it and expect me to wash, pick off hair, and slice with a few sharp knives into thin strips season and then hang in the oven to make jerky. I have made salt and pepper, B B Q , teriyaki, flavors and a few more.
    I think for safety's sake your supposed to heat the meat to 110* (need to double check that) to kill off anything bad that could make a person sick for over 30 minutes ( again double check that it's been a few years). I usually just put the oven on the lowest temperature and left it alone for as long as it took to get it crisp and brittle. Even the oven light provides some heat.
   I have also used a food drier. It was easier because you just lay stuff down instead of trying to hang it up on the oven racks and not knock something off.  >>>> Oh yes, always start hanging up in the back going all the way across then work your self up to the front of the rack. Soo much easier than having to stop and fetch what you knocked down.
     Now when you use your own meat out of the beef you butchered or the deer from this season you have to do your own slicing to get it the right thickness. You have to trim off as much fat and gristle you can because that can go bad if not eaten quickly. (Dogs love you about now) We never had any stay around long enough to go bad believe me.LOL They were always raiding the racks before it was totally dry enough for me to be happy with it.
    The easier way to do things is to go to the grocery store and pick up some breakfast or milinessa (sp?) or pick out a rump roast and have them slice it fajita thick. Go home and fine tune the cuts to your liking, season and hang to dry.
    My way of doing things is to do a great big bunch of stuff. I like to cook for armies LOL. I figure it makes just as big a mess so why not. If your wanting to just try it out and see if you can do it... it's easy... no problem ... just buy enough to see what you think.
    When your first batch comes out and the family digs in you will be hauling yourself back to the store real soon because everyone will be wanting more and it's finally affordable compared to the price you pay in the store!
    The biggest problem with trying to make some jerky to have during tough times is that if someone knows where you stashed it you won't have it around when you need it. Lock and key may be a good idea.
    Most people just grab some jerky and chow down. I bet you can make some really good jerky stew. Just cut some 1" long pieces and put into the stew pot to give it some good flavor. I know you can chop it up like bacon bits and put it on top of salads and baked potatoes or in a omelette.
    So now you have the idea. Give it a try on your own or get with a friend or family member and make it a event! It is a good and handy thing to know and if you can hide it to keep it around will really benefit the family in times of need. Oh yes, if the electric goes out or the freezer is in dire need of saving some meat because it goes on the blink beef jerky making is in store.
   Here are some video's and a link to others I found on the net you can look at and see how other people do things.
   You can also make jerky out of hamburger meat but I have never done that and it takes special equipment not everyone will have on hand to whip out and use up the hamburger.

Love
Ranchmama
(I wonder what chicken jerky is like?)

Making Beef Jerky with an Oven!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfibYUjjcOw&feature=youtu.be

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Beef Jerky Made In The Oven - Dry Rub vs Marinade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4x8wxGgJs&feature=youtu.be
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrE7HmTxcRo&feature=youtu.be
How to Make Homemade Beef Jerky - Wicked Easy Oven Dry Method on Skewers - Darlene's Concoctions

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oven dried beef jerky ... video search
https://www.google.com/search?q=oven+dried+beef+jerky&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiP7fKv37frAhUOWqwKHcQLCEIQ_AUoA3oECA4QAw&biw=375&bih=537&dpr=2#ip=1
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Pictures of oven dried jerky
https://www.google.com/search?q=oven+dried+beef+jerky&client=safari&hl=en-us&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVpMmT9LfrAhVDUK0KHRGJAQ8Q_AUIDCgC&biw=1067&bih=463&dpr=1.5



 

The Season Starts

    

                

 Many women complain about the men disappearing and being utterly useless when hunting season comes around. For you city women that the men don't know how or where to hunt so don't.... compare it to football season just we actually get rid of them outdoors!
   Hunting season has it's good points now. If you have a good hunter in the family you can get some really good deer, duck and turkey or even hog meat in the freezer for some nice meals ( if someone has the hang of cooking it). I would say it saves you money at the grocery store but that just depends on your hunter.......
    When you add up all the special ammo, rifles, camping stuff, hunting make - up ( face it guys... your wearing UGLY make up don't say it isn't women are pro's in that department IT'S MAKE -UP!), hunting clothes, hunting leases and whatever other need to things like I don't know BEER? LOL  Still sometimes it's nice to have some lady time to yourself.
     What the football women may not have to deal with is getting them to show up at holiday meals! I mean really! ... At least they are in the house with the game on. You may have no idea what it's like to get your men folks down out of the trees,( regressing back to their monkey genes?)  camps and into the house for some nice food! Son in Laws in particular like that excuse to not show up. That don't cut it with me..... family time is family time get your fanny in the house for a few hours and deal with it! You can run back outside to play later.
   I do admit though sometimes hunting season is a full family sport with men women and children all doing their part to put meat on the table. You can learn some good basic skills even. Some women can't even cut up a chicken to fry anymore. You wouldn't believe how many could probably hang, gut and cut a deer up for the freezer. ME, nope I chose to forgo all that stuff. There were a few times Hubby and Jon got some deer butchered enough to get in the house for me to make deer jerky then had to go out of town. Next year, I was ready for them! LOL I had the kitchen all cleaned up and everything laid out with even the knives sharpened. I told them get with it they weren't going to stick me with that bloody, hairy job again. I don't care how careful you are in preparing the deer there is always lots of hair to pick off before freezing so your not doing it at the dinner table. I stayed in the kitchen and directed my no cook men on how to do it all. They learned some good things! It was good father son time too, just a little different than swinging from the trees or playing stalking hunter quietly slinking around in the woods.
    Those days are past now. Jon isn't here anymore to play in the woods with us. It kind of takes the fun out of it for hubby. The 3 grandsons are 3 - 4 hours away so they do their own area of hunting with their dad. (the son in law that sometimes is hard to get out of the woods for holidays)
    Well there is a season in life for everything.....

Love
Ranchmama
( who would give anything to have a kitchen mess from Jon and his dads jerky supply)