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How to Make Jerky-step-by-step Instructions

Before the invention of refrigeration and preservatives, the only way to preserve meat for long periods of time was to dry it into jerky. Drying meat into jerky is possibly the oldest way of preserving meat and jerky dates back to the earliest civilizations.

How to Make Jerky-step-by-step Instructions

How to Make Jerky-step-by-step Instructions

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How to Make Jerky-step-by-step Instructions

How to Make Jerky-step-by-step Instructions

Traditionally, jerky was made from long, thin strips of meat that was salted and dried in the sun or over a small smokey fire. Although jerky can still be made in this way, techniques have become more sophisticated in our day. Jerky is still an extremely popular Food and millions of people still enjoy jerky as a delicious, convenient, and healthy source of protein. Jerky is perfect for hikers, campers, or just an easy, non-messy snack.

Today, jerky is most commonly made from beef, but jerky can also be made from poultry, Fish, and wild game such as deer (venison), elk, buffalo, bison, moose, caribou, antelope, and other game. Many varieties of seasonings can be used to make different flavors of jerky. Salt is traditionally used as the main preservative for jerky, but acids such as vinegar and citrus juice in marinades can also help to kill bacteria. Jerky can be made without salt, but its shelf life will be drastically reduced.

Store-bought jerky comes in many flavors with any number of chemicals, additives, and preservatives and can be surprisingly expensive. However, you can make your own jerky at home very easily. Most people are surprised at just how easy it is to make delicious jerky that is much cheaper and healthier than mass-produced jerky available in stores. So by making your own jerky, you not only control the ingredients, you also save money.

Jerky Making: Step-by-Step Instructions
Select a cut of meat. Choosing a lean cut will save time later. For beef jerky, cuts like like sirloin, top round, eye of round, etc. are good choices. You can also use venison or virtually any other type of meat to make jerky. Trim all of the noticeable fat from your cut of meat because any fat will cause the jerky to spoil much Faster. Slice your meat into very thin strips from 1/8" to 1/4" thick. Cutting the meat into thin slices dramatically shortens drying time. You can cut jerky with just a knife and cutting board, but there are some convenient tools you can use for slicing meat, such as a Jerky Slicing Tray, a Hand-Crank Manual Jerky Slicer, or an electric meat slicer. Tip: Slicing meat is easier if you freeze the meat for about 30 to 60 minutes before slicing. You can cut with or against the grain, but some find that strips cut against the grain are easier to chew. Marinate the meat in a marinade or solution of your choice. You can follow a recipe to make your own marinade or purchase any number of ready-made marinades. Marinating is optional because the additional moisture can make dehydration take longer, and the resulting jerky might be stickier. Soaking in soy sauce or teriyaki sauce is a favorite. Place in the refrigerator for 4 - 24 hours to allow the meat absorb the flavor. Season the meat with the dry seasonings of your choice. You can follow a jerky recipe or choose from a wide variety of available dry jerky seasoning mixes. A mixture of salt, pepper, oregano, marjoram, basil and thyme is tasty. You will find that many seasonings work well and it is a personal preference. I personally enjoy jerky with a lot of pepper. You will need to experiMent to find your favorites. Just sprinkle and rub the dry seasonings onto both sides of the sliced meat. Dehydrate the meat. Meat is dehydrated by applying heat and continuous Air flow. The control of both the temperature and the Airflow is very important. If the humidity is too high and the temperature is too low, the jerky will dry too slowly and it could spoil. If the temperature is too high, the jerky will cook too Fast, harden on the outside but still be too moist on the inside, and once again, it could spoil. There are two common methods for drying jerky; in a conventional oven or in a Food dehydrator. Whichever method you use, be sure to leave enough room between pieces to allow Air to flow around the meat. Avoid letting the meat touch if possible. Making Jerky in a Conventional Oven Preheat your oven to 140 degrees. Remember you are not Cooking the meat; you are simply removing the moisture. Spray all the racks you will use with a non stick Cooking spray. Without this non-stick spray, you will be left with jerky that cannot be removed from the racks and that will essentially be inedible. Spread the meat evenly on wire racks in the oven. You can also use metal racks other than the oven racks with a drip pan underneath to make cleanup much Faster. Leave the oven door open slightly to permit moisture to escape. Since temperatures, humidity levels, and slice thickness will vary, there can be no set time for the process to complete. Usually jerky takes from 6 to 12 hours. Check the consistency of the jerky regularly after 6 hours until it meets your satisfaction. You might have to cut into the jerky to ensure that it is not raw inside. You want the jerky to be a deep brown or burgundy color and still be flexible. As jerky cools, it will get more stiff and brittle so you don't want to over dry. Making Jerky in a Food Dehydrator Food Dehydrators are excellent for making jerky. Dehydrators are inexpensive to buy and are safer and cheaper to use than the kitchen oven. Additionally dehydrators make less of a mess and are easier to clean up. Spray the dehydrator trays with a non-stick cooking spray before placing on the strips of meat. This keeps the meat from sticking and helps in the clean up of the trays. Season the jerky strips just as above and drain them well before placing them on the dehydrator trays. A full dehydrator can usually process a large batch of jerky in 6 to 12 hours. Just like with drying in a conventional oven, temperatures, humidity levels, and slice thickness will vary, so the drying time will vary. You will want to check the jerky regularly after 6 hours to see if its done. You want the jerky to be a deep brown or burgundy color and still be flexible. As jerky cools, it will get more stiff and brittle so you don't want to over dry. The thicker cuts will take more time, know as the thin pieces are done, just remove them. Tip: A rule of thumb is that 4 pounds of raw meat makes about one pound of jerky. Store the finished jerky in plastic bags and store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to eat. To be safe, it's best to enjoy the fresh homemade jerky within one week of its preparation. If you make it right, it's delicious!Tip: If you wish to store your jerky for longer, use a vacuum sealer to store the jerky in vacuum bags. Other storage methods allow exposure to oxygen and moisture, which encourages the growth of bacteria. In vacuum sealed bags, jerky can be kept for months. Vacuum sealed jerky stored in a freezer can last evenlonger.
Alternative: Jerky Snack Strips & Sticks
Instead of making jerky from sliced meat, a popular form of jerky is the jerky snack stick or snack strip, which is made from seasoned ground meat formed into strips or round sticks. To make this jerky snack, you first need to purchase extra lean ground meat or grind lean cuts of meat with a meat grinder. The next step is to mix the seasonings into the ground meat by hand or with a meat mixer. The seasoned ground meat can then be extruded into the snack sticks or strips using a Jerky Gun or Jerky Cannon. Finally, these jerky snacks are dehydrated on trays in a conventional oven or food dehydrator as described above.

Who knew it was so easy to make your own jerky? Enjoy!

How to Make Jerky-step-by-step Instructions

How to Cook Cod Fish

Learning how to cook cod Fish is simple. Cod is a flaky Fish and is good fried, baked, and poached. Slow Cooking also works well to coax out the delicate flavors. Traditionally, it is served with lemon wedges and a light sauce composed of parsley. You can easily add it to stews, risottos and soups as well. One simple pan-fried recipe calls for lightly frying the cod in oil and serving it with a creamy mix of potatoes, green onions, and butter.

Other recipes add an Asian accent broiling cod with ginger and soy sauce for example, gives the Fish a Japanese touch. Cod roe is actually a delicacy in Japan. For those trying to eat healthier, cod makes a great low-fat, low calorie meal. For an easy, no fuss, diet dinner, try baking cod in foil and seasoning with lemon, salt, pepper and olive oil. Accompany it with a large, leafy green salad. Another healthy diet option is to grill the cod seasoned with olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, lemon and garlic powder. You might also simply brush a couple cod filets with BBQ sauce and broil it.

Cod is also the main ingredient in fish in chips; simply batter the fish with a mixture of egg, bread crumbs and some cream, and fry it in a frying pan. Or for healthier version, bake it in the oven with Japanese panko crumbs. Additionally, you can roll the cod in a cornmeal mix and fry them in oil or bake them. As you can see, mastering how to cook cod fish is actually quite uncomplicated.

No matter how you decide to prepare your fish by poaching, broiling, grilling, stewing, etc. -- make sure not to overcook it. Think 8-10 minutes per inch of thickness, i.e. if you have 2 pieces of 1-1/2 inch thickness and weighing about 16-20 ounces, do not cook it for any more than 20-30 minutes. Your oven should be set no high than 350 F or 160 C. Grilled cod fish is done once it starts to flake.

Cod fish is extremely versatile and healthy; once you learn how to cook cod fish, the sky's the limit. Incorporate it into your diet for a healthier lifestyle.

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Fix & Repair the 21 Hidden Dangers in Your Home That Can Kill a Child - Is Your Home a Safe House?

Fix & Repair the 21 Hidden Dangers in Your Home That Can Kill a Child - Is Your Home a Safe House?

Believe it or not there are more accidents and fatalities that occur in and around the home than that on the roads, in the water or up in the Air. The place you believe to be your safe haven might not be as protected as it should be. Are you and your kids safe in the home that Men refer to as their castle? Even a castle has a moat to protect those behind the wall. I do not doubt that you will have taken all the necessary precautions to keep your kids and pets safe, however and not intentional many dangers that kill and maim go unobserved. As a caring parent you want to do right by your children keeping them safe and out of harms way, but how? When these so called "hidden" dangers are not to be seen? Most accidents that happen in the home and the specific hazardous eleMent that caused it, "is" actually seen by the protector, but oblivious to the damage and harm it can cause has these perilous troubles overlooked.

Tips on how to keep children safe in the home

We all know toddlers are inquisitive (curious) little characters. Remember, "Curiosity killed the cat." Every room in the house will hold a danger that is threatening to the well being of your child.

1. Things like an upstAirs window left open is lethal if a child is left upstairs alone, even the staircase itself without a safety gate being another (depending on the age of the child.)

2. If the toddler is at a height where he/she can reach the hot tap is a classic peril in the home that has kiddies regularly treated for scalds.

3. A risky household appliance is the iron. Casualties by the minute are treated for iron burns. Pick an allotted time to do your ironing so toddlers do not play ring-o-roses around your legs. (Bedtime) If this is not possible for whatever reason then be careful. Never leave the iron to cool down on a work surface, or ironing board that is within easy reach. It is not good practice, and neither is the flex if left dangling. Hairdryers, curling tongs and razors have to be stored away so kids are not tempted to copy mommy/daddy. This applies to perfume and aftershaves, so children do not drink the stuff or spray it in their eyes.

4. Cleaning substances like bleach, disinfectant, furniture polish or other, are not children friendly. Serious complications can rise from children getting hold of them. It is important to store tablets/pills in a locked bathroom cabinet. God forbid if they get their hands on medication. An overdose can kill and a stomach pump is nasty.

5. Reconsider location of your cutlery drawer if it is low down. (Knives forks corkscrew meat skewers can blind and pierce the skin.)

6. Door locks leading to the outside of your home you need to fit up high. You know as well as I do you have to have eyes in the back of your head when looking after toddlers. Low down locks make it easy for children to let themselves out, and if you have not got eyes in the back of your head then the outcome could be disastrous.

7. Electricity we often take for granted, forgetting that it can kill through shock or fire. Check all electrical wires/cable are wrapped in protective covering. Wires should be un-tangled without knotting. Teach your children how to use electricity safely, or point out the dangers from misuse (age will determine which safety pointer to tell.) Every year in Britain thousands of people are seriously injured as a result of electrical accidents in the home, most being minors.

8. Table lamps low down is not ideal, tell the children not to touch the bulb inside. Avoid bedside lamps in their bedroom.

9. If you smoke, do not around children, and neither leave your fags matches or lighter hanging around.

10. Test smoke alarms you have installed in your home regular to make sure they work. Batteries do not last forever.

11. Lighting should be bright in the home. Fumbling in the dark is dangerous. Never use candles unless necessary. Have the outside of your home brightly lit so the foot path is clearly seen.

12. Cover gas cooker knobs so children cannot turn them on. And place protective covering over electric burners while cooling down.

13. Opened tins and can lids discard immediately, as they are sharp. Keep the rubbish bag in a pedal bin so your dog/cat cannot rummage inside for scraps. Kids tend to follow behind a cat and dog and might be tempted to eat the green mould bread and cheese you threw away, or Food gone over their sell by date

Keep kids safe and minimize the risks of accidents involving electricity. Minors do not fully understand the dangers of electricity, and neither do a lot of adults who claim they do, and suffer due to their false claims.

14. Protect your family from harm and check for damaged Plugs, sockets and frayed flexes, which are seriously dangerous and should be Mended or replaced.

Tips to help parents keep children safe from everyday electrical dangers in the house:

Water and electricity not a match made in heaven. And that is where you will end up if you work with a combination of the two. After having a bath thoroughly dry your body before touching electrical appliances.

Do not give drinks to kids while on the Computer or playing on their games consoles.

Switch off electrical appliances before retiring for bed, not only is it a safety measure you need to get in the habit of doing, it will save you money and good for the environMent.

The garden will always look pretty and inviting in spring and summers months, however a dangerous place for you - your kids and pets. Lawn mowers, hedge cutters, leaf vacuums all work off electricity.

Never leave children unattended in the garden shed. A gulp of pesticide or falling hammers can kill.

Electrical sockets used to power these appliances should be fitted with an RCD, a safety cut out device.

Fit safety covers over Plug sockets. Kids have a tendency to stick their fingers or whatever is in their hand at the time of their attention being drawn towards the socket inside.

Garden Hazards

15. Warn children about rose bushes because of the thorns

16. They say worms are full of protein; however kids are not to eat bugs and berries

17. Branches that hang low are tempting for a child who likes to climb. If spiky twigs spiral through fencing alongside a walkway then trim them back to avoid puncturing of the skin or eye.

18. Cover the garden pond when your not there, nonetheless children should be supervised at all times if a water feature is installed covered or not.

19. Place covers over all drains to stop kids putting their hands in the water flow, or worse still their mouth.

20. Holes in concrete paving need to be filled

21. Garden walls, fences and ladders attract kids like magnets who then in a split second become spider-man. Warn them of the dangers of climbing

Why not let the experts help you keep your children safe in the home

The Electrical Safety Council has introduced a new online resource switchedonkids.org.uk which includes games, quizzes and other fun interactive features to help children understand more about safety and the dangers involved with electricity. .There is also a section for parents which include basic essential first aid information that no home owner with kids should be without.

You know your kids behaviour better than any other therefore giving you insight to what he/she is capable of doing or likely to get up to. Get a pen and paper and jot down the dangers you see and tick them off as you fix or replace. Ask your partner have they noticed any Jobs that need dong. It is a good idea to visit each room of the house because people tend to forget what is included in them. This will help jog your memory so you can protect your kids from harm.

Christmas is around the corner so think candles and fairy lights as being hazards if not carefully handled.

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How to Make Chili in the Slow Cooker

One of the best ways to make a hot meal with beef is by using the slow cooker. This is also one of the easier ways to cook beef as well because it does not require a lot of work on your part. You simply have to prepare the ingredients and then let it cook while you go about your daily business. One of my favorite meals to make in the slow cooker is chili. This article will tell you exactly how to make great tasting chili in just a few simple steps.

First, you'll need to gather the ingredients for making the chili. The ingredients are as follows:

1 lb. ground beef
1 can (1 lb.) stewed tomatoes
1 can (15 1/2 oz.) chili beans
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 c. chopped onion
Pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Once you have all the ingredients you can begin the process of getting it all together to be cooked. The first step will be to brown the beef in a skillet and then drain the excess grease. This will ensure that the beef is cooked thoroughly. You'll have to chop the onion if you haven't already done so but once that is ready, you can combine the remaining ingredients together in your slow cooker. If you wish you can mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl before adding them to the slow cooker. When you have everything mixed together, you can add it to the cooker along with all of the other ingredients.

When you have combined all of the ingredients and placed them in the cooker, you can set the temperature to high and then cook the enTire contents for about 8 hours. The reason Cooking this chili is so convenient is because if you have to work or leave the house for an extended period of time, you don't have to worry about whether or not the meal is going to cook properly. The slow Cooking process allows you to cook the chili over the 8 hours without having to Watch it.

When the chili has finished cooking, simply stir and serve once it has cooled enough. Chili can also be served as leftovers, or if you prefer, you can freeze it and then reheat it when you want to have another chili meal. If you're looking for a simple meal that doesn't take a lot of time to cook and tastes great at the same time, try out slow cooker chili. You'll be amazed at how great it tastes and your family will love it too.

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