Beef Jerky and Broken Foot

Well just when I thought my life couldn't get any crazier or inconvenient, this happened...

Yep, I broke my foot. Awesome, I know, but maybe it is a sign that I needed to slow down because you want to know how I broke it? I was rushing through errands and late to meet someone, I caught a curb the wrong way and rolled my foot right off it. Bam, broken fifth metatarsal and pulled small tendon on my driving foot. Hubby is being very attentive which is great but I am not good at being waited on all the time.

Needless to say, there won't be much speedy or creative cooking in my kitchen for a while, at least until I get off the crutches. So for now, I will focus on slow. Because that is what I am right now, slow! 

Beef jerky 

This might be the perfect time to post my beef jerky recipe. Well, it's actually a family friends recipe that I have loved for years and years. My brother and I use to devour a bag of this jerky every time we went to visit our friends at the lake. When I got married, Sandy (family friend) not only gave me a new dehydrator, but the famous recipe as well! I have been wanting to get this on the blog for a while, and figured since I am gimping around and not able to go out much, I had the time to make the jerky for the Holidays and share it. Sandy, hope you don't mind :)

Beef Jerky

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5-6 hours (depending on dehydrator)

2 pounds flank steak, trimmed of excess fat
1 cup white wine
2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup tamari (or soy sauce)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons liquid smoke

Start by trimming the excess fat off the cut of meat. Pat dry and freeze for 2 hours, which will make the beef easier to slice.

Add the remaining ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until well combined. With a sharp knife, slicing against the grain, slice even-size thin pieces. Add the meat slices into a large plastic bag along with the marinade and massage around. Refrigerate overnight up to 24 hours, turning the bag a few times while marinading. 

Setup a dehydrator and remove the meat slices from the bag and place on the trays. Cook according to the dehydrator instructions - mine is 71C for about 5-6 hours.

Move and cool before placing in an air tight container. Keep the jerky in a cool dark place for up to a week or refrigerate for up to a month.

A Homemade Christmas

This is my favorite day of the year. How can someone not love a day where you gather with your loved ones, share traditions and thoughtful gift giving and dine on amazing food.

Merry Christmas

I love giving presents! I can honestly say it is more fulfilling for me to think of the perfect gift and watch the recipient open it, than receiving them. Since I started the blog this year, it was only fitting that I give a gift from Kettler Cuisine to each member of my family.

Before I share my homemade gifts, I want to thank everyone that reads my blog and for all of the support I have received from family and friends this past year. It has been quite an amazing year for me, and Ryan. We are so blessed to have empowering and inspiring people in our lives. What better way to show my love and gratitude than through my cooking.

Ryan Wants Brittle

The hubby was pretty easy, mostly because I know what he likes and doesn't like. Since he was majorly spoiled from all of the cookie baking during the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, I decided to bring back an oldie, but goodie. I like to call it Freezer Brittle, but it really is Angie's Brittle (named after an old family friend). This isn't the typical peanut brittle that one thinks of, but a sweet and salty, chocolatey brittle. It's pretty simple to make and delicious to eat!

Mom Gets Truffles

She was also pretty easy - just find a no-sugar, no-gluten, no-dairy, raw dessert! Hah! Yes, this such thing does exist. Exhibit A: Raw Brownies. Since she often has these in her freezer, I decided to try something new: Choco-Chili Truffles from Green Kitchen Stories. Chocolate and chilis make a deathly amazing combination. I rolled them in different things (coconut flakes, almonds, cacao).

Oh Poppycock, Father

Poppycock. And no, I am not referring to the British term for nonsense, I am referring to the sweet and salty popcorn-candy snack. I found a recipe online from Noshing with the Nolands that is a copycat version of the store bought kind. It was a bit tricky to make, but worth it when I saw his face!

Cookies for Desiree

She got some of my Cherry Walnut Oatmeal cookies. During all of my cookie swap testing and baking, she never got to try them. She specifically requested them, so I had to oblige. 

Just Buggles

Every time I make "Trash" (chex mix) and my brother-in-law Paul is around, the buggles in the mix just magically disappear! The boy loves his buggles! Hence why I made an all buggles trash. Let's just say he was a wee bit happy :)

Jerky for the Brother

And then there is my brother, who loves his beef jerky. We grew up with a second mother, Sandy. I have mentioned her and her husband in a previous post about the buttermilk-brined pork chops. She gave me (along with a dehydrator) her amazing beef jerky recipe as a wedding gift. My brother and I used to fight over this jerky when we were kids. I literally made myself sick from eating too much at one point during my childhood. I knew this was the perfect gift for my brother.

(Side note - Thank you Sandy for making this jerky when we were kids. I NOW know how time consuming it is!!)

32 hours later I had some delicious, homemade beef jerky. I will share the recipe at a later time. For now, I am going to enjoy Christmas with my family - the most important people in my life.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!!

Love,
Kettler Cuisine