snack stick recipe

[bhank]

I am looking to make a garlic and cheddar snack stick but am having trouble finding any pre made seasoning kits listed as a garlic snack stick. Was wondering if using the willie’s snack stick and adding garlic would work or if a garlic summer sausage seasoning kit would be better. Anyone try either of these ideas before or anyone have any other suggestions that would get me close? Fairly new to the snack stick game so any tips or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Jonathon]

bhank I’d think a better way to go would be to grab the Pepper and Garlic jerky and using that to make your snack sticks. You would want to do some reductions on the amount of meat you use though as jerky seasonings are often a little less strong than other cured sausage seasonings. My guess would be 20 lb instead of 25 lb of snack sticks.

I might try to make a batch of this though as I am interested in it. I just made some venison jerky with this seasoning and it was excellent!

If I do it this week I will let you know but your idea of using willies and adding garlic would work as well but telling you how much garlic powder to add is a tough one. I’d think somewhere around 1-2% of the weight of your meat block would be good but that is just a guess. Joe Hell any input?

[Joe Hell]

Jonathon I would consider adding some roasted minced garlic. A small jar from the store is enough to do about 22 lbs in a fresh sausage. You could also roast a head of garlic and grind it with your meat as you go. Fresh ground pepper would be great!

[Jonathon]

Joe Hell Well I think what I need to do is make up a batch of both and let the Walton’s employees decide!

[Joe Hell]

Jonathon I think I’m doing some kind of snack sticks this week for the shop. I’ll play around with some fresh additions!

[Jonathon]

@everyone today is the day! I have roasted some garlic and getting ready to grind. I am going to make 2 6.4 lb batches, I am using 110% the amount per lb of the pepper and garlic jerky and I am adding a half of an entire clove of the roasted garlic! Ill let everyone know how it goes!

[AdamCA]

I’ve used made the Roasted Garlic smoked sausage before and thought it has great flavor, I don’t see why you couldn’t use that to make a snack stick. Jonathon what do you think about that?

[Jonathon]

AdamCA Yeah, someone here brought that up but that doesnt seem as fun!

[AdamCA]

Jonathon I get it, you just like experimenting with stuff. But hey that’s part of the fun right and it helps us schmucks at home learn as well.

[Jonathon]

AdamCA I’m fairly amazed that this post has 300 views…I’ll tell everyone what, if these sticks come out good we will do a special drawing somehow, and I will send a package of them to one person. Sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness of Austin than permission!

[PapaSop]

Jonathon
Count me in on that!

[chippewa]

Jonathon that would be awesome! I would love to see how yours turn out.

[craigrice]

Jonathon you should send to @joehell for scrutiny lol !

[Jonathon]

craigrice Okay, so the verdict is in! Both flavors were awesome, but in my opinion (and most people here) thought that the Willies Snack Stick with the fresh-roasted garlic was a little better than the Pepper and Garlic Jerky Seasoning. But, seriously you can’t go wrong either way! We roasted our garlic at 400 degrees for 40 minutes and then we added it during the second grind. When I do this again I will be roasting it and then chopping it up very small and sprinkle it on while I am mixing because some bites have an awesome roasted garlic flavor and others not so much. This is because when it is roasted the garlic breaks down so much that it is very hard to get it to disperse. Video and recipe will be coming out soonish.

We will be working on our podcast soon and we will have some information on how someone might win a package of these!

[Larry Eck]

I think the roasted garlic might be better dispersed if you roast the cloves in a given amount of olive oil and add the entire contents to the mix…? Just sayin…

[craigrice]

Jonathon the best way to chop anything very fine is to use a ninja chopper as I have one I can attest to it in a few pulses bringing anything to a puree with a little added liquid then it could be added to anything

[Muxmun]

Hi, Not sure where to post this so I will start here. Dose anyone use just plain hamburger, 80/20 from the super market and of course with the added flavoring for whatever? Or is the preferred method to grind your own chuck and add the backfat I s there a big difference?
Thanks…charlie

[twilliams]

Muxmun Just plain 80/20 would be too lean in my opinion. I would still add extra fat. And when I say fat I mean “pork fat” if you are able to get it. Ground burger would be ok but seems to be better if you grind your own. If you don’t have a grinder then by all means ground beef and ground pork will get it done.

[Grimpuppy]

If I had to use hamburger, I would use 73/27 that comes in 10 pound chubs.

[Jonathon]

Muxmun Yeah, I agree that 80/20 is probably going to be too lean. I’d add some pork fat to get it to at least 75/25 but probably 80/30 would be better. Pork fat is preferable to beef fat as it is has a creaminess that other fats don’t. I usually make my sticks out of 100% pork but some people do prefer beef. Grinding your own meat is going to give you a better finished product (in my mind at least) but if it is not possible or you don’t feel like cleaning a grinder buying preground meat is an option.