Life is never boring at the Byron residence. As Greg and I are both far from home, we find ourselves constantly working on small projects that make living in a foreign country/foreign corner of America more agreeable. We are both very blessed to have mothers who often send us "survival" packages, as my sister- and brother-in-law teasingly call them.
Most anyone who knows a South African can tell you: boy, do they love their meat! This includes Biltong (for the Americans reading this, it is similar to beef jerky: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltong), but we haven't been completely comfortable with having Biltong mailed from South Africa, spending who knows how many days or weeks subjected to variable weather and temperature conditions. So, one July morning Greg woke up and decided that today was the day he would build a Biltong Box.
First, he spent hours upon hours watching youtube videos on the best way to season and cure the meat. Next, he drove 1 hour round trip to our closest Home Depot and Costco and returned with all of the materials necessary. From the extensive "research," we learned that dry circulating air is one of the most important factors in Biltong production. Here is the final version of Greg's Biltong Box - you will notice it has both a heating bulb and a small fan with vents in the sides of the box:
The next most important factor is the seasoning recipe. The beef is cut into strips, marinated in vinegar for several hours, and then seasoned with various spices and refrigerated overnight.
Finally, the strips are dried in the Biltong Box for a couple of days and then voila! Simply cut into thin strips or slices and enjoy!
Unfortunately, I have no photos to share of the finished product. Greg was so hungry for a taste of home (aren't we all?) that he consumed his homemade Biltong before any pictures could be made. It is a wonder he did not get sick, but all's well that ends well!
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Matthew 6:25-26 (NIV)
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