Monday, June 9, 2008

Hard to chew, but worth it

I've never been a fan of beef jerky, because I've always had the stuff from Wal-mart. A few decades back (...I'm showing my age, lol) we tried making our own, and it worked until I realized it cost three times as--right, the Wal-mart brand.

But the day I found Green Valley Meats everything changed. Sure, the idea of a meat-shop on the banks of the Green River is creepy, but jerky this good is worth a few goose bumps. It's a scant hundred yards from an off ramp I pass every day, but out of sight, out of mind. There is NOTHING on this road. It's so empty people keep buffalo in their front yards. Real ones, horns and everything. There are trees and trees, and water, and green stuff and this place.

It's so deserted, there were no cars in the parking lot, and the sign made this little screech screech as we pulled in. My kids said, "Uh, mom? This doesn't look like a good place to stop". They had to explain the resemblance to me. Apparently the buildings are a dead-on match for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I guess I'm not big on horror movies, because all I was thinking was, "hmmm, I hope they're sanitary."

There were a few guys in the store. They cater to the biker crowd (as in "bicyclists"), who like the umpteenth gazillion mile run up to Black Diamond. ('cause there's no cars either)

And tubs, actual real-life tubs of beef jerky in things that look like shoe boxes. There was also smoked salmon and fish, sausage, and german style jerky sausages.

But it was the jerky that hooked me. My kids got the buffalo jerky and kickyoasshot, which was so hot it had pepper seeds crusted on it and glistened with red-hot oil. I got apple smoked thick cut, and maple flavored.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aren't all the best hole in the wall shops in out of the way places? So which did you like the best?

Unhinged said...

What a fun post! Love the title. It had me giggling before I even read the entry.

I'm hungry. It's been a while since I've tried jerky. Oogie was really into it back when, too. She even purchased this round contraption with trays to air dry meat and fruits. She made dried jerky for everyone for gifts one Christmas, then retired the tray. It was too much work, lol.

Jeanna said...

Yum, jerky. I'd like to see photos of the buffalo and sundries.

Unknown said...

lol, Jeanna--next time I stop in, I'll take pictures of the buffalo. It's not like I can't stop right smack in the middle of the road (no cars, lol) and say, "Hey YOU!!! Smile for the camera..."

There are llamas too. :)

Alice, I think I liked the apple jerky the best. It was weird eating it, because it was so "sweet" right off, but it was thick and chewy without being hard, and meaty, ummmm...very meaty. I tried some hot, but it was...very very hot. And the maple tasted too much like maple syrup, but the other week I stopped in and got some brown sugar flavored and lime-habanero flavored, and the lime one was really good.

lol, unhingey!! I did that too, I kept that old dryer around for years, until it turned yellow and I realized I was never going to use it again. :)

Anonymous said...

I make jerky fairly often, but only in my oven. I don't get fancy with it though, and would probably buy theirs.

Unhinged said...

Alice is nuts.

Clearly.

She does tile.

She bends blue wire into people.

And she gives away Girl Scout Cookies.

Not to ME, though.

Jeanna said...

I've found some buffalo don't like that.

Anonymous said...

Unhinged, considering you've already done the meme twice, I should just give you a box of cookies. The thin mints have to go to someone who volunteered for the next one, but I have others you could pick from. Right now you're neck and neck for the $20. Last time you commented on the wrong blog!

Hey Jodi, what have you been up to?