So.. is there something that's like a Slim Jim snack except good?

[xiphias]

As it turns out, I really like those cheap disgusting dried sausage-like snacks called Slim Jims, especially the spicy ones.

What's like that, except made out of food?

I'm thinking I should maybe be looking for landjäger or something like that, or other hunters' sausage?

Comments

[dave riba (from livejournal.com)]

Slim Jims are an industrial knock-off, created somewhere in the mid-70's for the more expensive line of air dried hunters sausages.
There are 2 main categories of "real" sausages. You mention Landjaegers - originated in the Swiss Alps, and intended to give instant energy to hunters as they traversed the Alps away from home and food sources for weeks. On this continent, there was pemmican. Native American made of game (typically deer or bison) and berries. Same idea. Instant nutrients that is shelf stable and can last virtually forever without refrigeration.
Pemmican is easy to make and there are numerous recipes you can find.

dod

[tober.livejournal.com]

Try asking the internet for "summer sausage" - I particularly like one made with venison, though they're generally available made from all kinds of meat - bison is good too.

[dave riba (from livejournal.com)]

Most summer sausages, while they may not need refrigeration, do not have long shelf lives. The reason is because they all use a fairly large amount of water in the process, and are fermented with a variety of acidophilius. The true hunter's sausages, of which slim jims is a modern interpretation, did not add water to the mixture, did not add fermentation to the process. They were spiced game, which may or may not have been smoked (typically cold smoked) and then allowed to dehydrate. Pretty much every primitive hunting culture developed some form using locally available game. If I remember correctly, Eskimos (ok, that Nanook peoples) created a seal meat and blubber version. Regardless if it was landjaeger, pemmican, or steak tartare (yes, that is another varietion of the same concept), the key is meat that is dehydrated, is shelf stable, literally impossible to spoil, and gives quick nutrition when eaten

dod

[bluepapercup]

These!! http://www.vtsmokeandcure.com/real-sticks.html

I buy them by the fistful and keep them in my backpack when I'm out for the day - they make a great snack, have no crap in them, and are actually made out of real meat.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I think I tried one of those; if it's the one I'm thinking of, it tasted wonderful, but the texture was completely not what I wanted. The snack stick I had had a smooth pate texture, which wasn't what I wanted.

[dave riba (from livejournal.com)]

Interesting. looking at the site, these are essentially hot dogs, but made thinner and drier (really!), and then smoked. If you look at the texture of the cut ends you will it is an emulsified, extruded product. Nothing wrong with that, but it won't have the "bite" that Ian is looking for

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Like I said, they're delicious. But they are a meat paste. They're just a delicious meat paste made with actual meat.

[sarianna.livejournal.com]

Ooh I love that company's bacon too :D

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Chorizo?

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

If you will email me your postal address (cbpotts) (gmail) I will send you some venison jerky a local company here makes so you can try them. My daughter who would only eat Slim Jims devours them like candy.

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

Trader Joe's has their own jerky, some of which is pretty good. Not sure if that's what you're looking for, though. One or two of the supermarket jerky brands aren't bad either.