Rookie from Arizona!

[andyp]

Hey Smokers! 

Alright, so I recently went on a hiking trip and stocked up on some beef sticks for the journey. I stumbled across some awesome Dukes smoked sausages and now I totally want to start making my own! 

I'd love any suggestions and advice on how to start testing the waters and playing around! 

A long time ago I had a dehydrator and would make beef jerky, but I really like the idea of grinding up actual peppers and garlic into a mix! 

Can I get away with dehydrating beef sticks? Whats the situation with nitrates and nitrites (I do like the clean natural label of Dukes - and would rather not add almost hot pink cure to the mix, right?)? 

Thanks so much and I look forward to the support! 

-Andy

 

[gary s]

  Good afternoon and welcome to the forum from a hot sunny day here in East Texas, and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about everything.

         Gary