Made a jerky box today

[ELB]

Last time I read about you biltonging it was a Dell PC case, IIRC. Decided to upgrade?

I'm going to have to try this.

[Mxrdad]

Well, not exactly jerky - this is going to be used to make 2 South African dried meat delicacies: biltong and droewors (jerky and dried sausage-sticks respectively).

Glad you added the jerky and dried sausage, had no idea what biltong and droewors were. Hahaha.

Nice job.

[puma guy]

Is droëwors made from farmer's sausage? I remember you brought some farmer's sausage to the shoot/picnic at Elm Fork. Is farmer's sausage called boar wurst? I seem to remember something like that.

[Mxrdad]

Dang Andy, now I'm hungry. Gonna tear into some homemade bacon. Yeah! I'm curious where to get what you have there. Where can we buy it?

[Mxrdad]

It will surprise you when you find out how easy it is to make homemade bacon. You tube has several vids on it which is where I started. The hardest thing is finding the pork belly which I found most Mexican meat markets either have it or can order it. What surprised me is you dont have to have a farm or anything extravagant to make it. Any kitchen with room in the fridge can do it. The 1st batch I did turned out wayyyyyyyy to salty, had to throw it away. I have perfected it now though and after 8-12 hours smoking it with Pecan wood, its a favorite now with our family. Its fun too and not a lot of work. Check it out and try it, real easy and well worth it.

[gljjt]

Andy,

What is the shelf life of these if properly done?

Inquiring minds....

[KC5AV]

This is very interesting. Please keep us posted on how it goes.

[puma guy]

Is droëwors made from farmer's sausage? I remember you brought some farmer's sausage to the shoot/picnic at Elm Fork. Is farmer's sausage called boar wurst? I seem to remember something like that.

Minor differences, mostly in the quantity of fat in the meat but essentially yes - boerewors (boere = famers + wors = sausage)

Dang Andy, now I'm hungry. Gonna tear into some homemade bacon. Yeah! I'm curious where to get what you have there. Where can we buy it?

Now I'm envious - I've never made homemade bacon :)

You either make it yourself or try to find a South African store nearby - there is one in Richardson called Quick Shop on Coit Rd.

LOL My bad, it only sounded like boar wurst. I didn't mean to call a farmer a pig!

[bagman45]

Hey Andy, that's gonna be goooood!! Question; is there a temp limit or range you have to stick to while drying? Like, does it have to be cool like it is now, or can you do this in warmer temps?

Saw an old version of "good eats" a while back where Alton Brown used cheap furnace filters lashed together with the meat between them attached to a box fan as a "dehydrator" - this looks like a better deal...