[Antlermass]

I would get the largest capacity stuffer you can afford. I have the LEM 5 lb stuffer and it’s good and very reliable but I get tired of reloading it 5-7 times while stuffing. It may sound like a trivial problem by the time you’ve gotten down to that process of stuffing I really just wanna get it done and get everything back into the fridge.
I think before I do any more sausage I’m going to upgrade to the LEM mighty bite 15 pound stuffer.

Also I would say is if you plan on really getting into sausage making just spend the money now on all your equipment. If I had the money and I was starting over I would get a meat mixing tub and sausage stuffer that I could hook directly up to my meat grinder. It will definitely speed things up as opposed to use the hand cranking method while mixing and stuffing your sausages. The gear is awfully expensive though and not sure it would be worth it if you were just going to do a few 25 pound batches a year but I’ve done almost 300 pounds in the last year and it gets taxing and time consuming after a while lol.

 

[hokiehunter373]

I would get the largest capacity stuffer you can afford. I have the LEM 5 lb stuffer and it’s good and very reliable but I get tired of reloading it 5-7 times while stuffing. It may sound like a trivial problem by the time you’ve gotten down to that process of stuffing I really just wanna get it done and get everything back into the fridge.
I think before I do any more sausage I’m going to upgrade to the LEM mighty bite 15 pound stuffer.

Also I would say is if you plan on really getting into sausage making just spend the money now on all your equipment. If I had the money and I was starting over I would get a meat mixing tub and sausage stuffer that I could hook directly up to my meat grinder. It will definitely speed things up as opposed to use the hand cranking method while mixing and stuffing your sausages. The gear is awfully expensive though and not sure it would be worth it if you were just going to do a few 25 pound batches a year but I’ve done almost 300 pounds in the last year and it gets taxing and time consuming after a while lol.

I 2nd this even though my wallet won't let me upgrade. Great advice if you can make it happen though

 

[pbuck]

The 15# LEM Mighty Bite would be my choice but you’ll still have to fill it a few times. Snack sticks take some pressure to fill and it will be much easier to do if the hopper isn’t completely full. The 15mm slim Jim size casings are really tough to fill. I usually make 19mm sticks.

I’m glad I bit the bullet and bought the 20# electric model but that’s a lot of $$ unless you use it a lot.

 

[deerbum]

I plan on using 21mm casing for the sticks. Thanks for the suggestions, looking at stuffer reviews it seem that most stuffers have seal blow outside or gear problems.

 

[pbuck]

Well that rules out the 15# LEM.

 

[hokiehunter373]

Finally made some wings this fall

 

[Billy H]

Great deal on ribs at Costco

Gloomy wet drizzly day to smoke but enjoying the foliage view off the deck.

One hour in

 

[pbuck]

Man, anytime someone makes ribs, I get to jonesing for a rack! [emoji1786][emoji1786]

 

[Billy H]

Turned out good. Usually run them up to 195+ Took them to185 today. I’ll be doing that from now on.

 

[Ishi Spirit]

Sunday was pizza night! Made them like the past ones.

Tonight we made another one with the extra dough. This was made more traditional dough, cheese, less sauce, toppings and baked 12 minutes the cheese again on top and another 8-10 minutes. No need to go out for pizza again.

 

[Antlermass]

I love a good cast iron pizza, I have struggled for years to find a decent recipe for dough. Yours looks great 👍🏻 thanks for posting!

 

[Ishi Spirit]

I love a good cast iron pizza, I have struggled for years to find a decent recipe for dough. Yours looks great 👍🏻 thanks for posting!

Here’s the recipe and it’s so easy to make. I use a mixer and dough hook but can be made the old fashioned way also.

The only thing I leave out is the garlic. Rub a very light coat of EVO in your bowl that the dough will rise in.
A fella on another food forum gave a tip for the dough which is dry malted powder and it can be bought on Amazon. He says it makes better tasting crust, helps turn the yeast to sugar and helps the dough raise and produce a browner and crispier crust and he was right on all parts. For the recipe above only 1/4-1/2 Tsp is needed.

 

[Antlermass]

Thanks I will try it out!

 

[DV1]

Had a wild feast today. Smoked a backstrap section to 135 with Cherry wood, then reversed seared. While the meat was in the smoker, I went to where I killed that buck as I have found maitake mushrooms there in the past, but it's been several years. I figured with the warm wet weather we have had recently, might find one. Well I hit the motherload and picked two monsters. Got back just in time to pull the meat, sear it and let it rest. Then pulled a few pieces of the maitake, cleaned and sauted them in olive oil, butter, roasted garlic cloves and some salt and pepper. While they were cooking down, walked out to the garden and pulled a handful of spinach. The finished product was awesome on this perfect fall day.

 

[pbuck]

Nice! ^^^

 

[Antlermass]

First try at homemade bacon. Didn’t turn out to bad for the first time.

 

[pbuck]

15# cheddar summer sausages ready for smoke tomorrow.

Also have a batch of jerky in the marinade to dry tomorrow also.

 

[nicko]

15# cheddar summer sausages ready for smoke tomorrow.

Also have a batch of jerky in the marinade to dry tomorrow also.

Good lookin' prep area.

 

[Jimmyk12]

Green egg is the best

 

[pbuck]

Good lookin' prep area.

Thanks. It was rough plumbed in for a basement bathroom and I first put in just the table and sink. A couple years ago I found a great deal on the apartment size fridge and stove so now I have a basement kitchen/butcher area instead of a bathroom [emoji1360][emoji1360]