That book by Rytek Kutas is the best reference book for this fun stuff. It helped me get started in sausage making. For sausage making supplies check out the Sausage Maker in Buffalo, N.Y. They have a website.

Grandfather always had a smokehouse. I always wanted to build a smokehouse. Because not having a large family I took other approaches to creating good meat.

Many old smokehouses looked like outhouses and vice versa. Our neighbor was born on the farm. Her father smoked and sold meat in the old days. She had his entire setup - some beautiful cast iron pieces too. She would not sell anything. Eventually the stuff was removed when she went into a nursing home.

This is not the same as smokehouse meat, but it sure is good! On my first hunting trip to Texas I fell in love with Texas BBQ. I learned some basics from an ancient black guy who had a Q pit and restaurant in a remote area. Every time I went back I learned more. So, I bought a big offset firebox pit and had it shipped home. Since then we have enjoyed tremendously good chicken, turkey, beef, and pork.

Thank you upstate, I appreciate all your helpful knowledge! I will look into that book.

Willy, sounds like you make some good grub! I have to try smoking and curing like my ancestors did. So after a lot of research, and a lot of help I've got from you all, hopefully I'll be able to put up good meat.

Best way to learn this type stuff is find someone close enough you can go help from start to finish. Most of the old timers will be happy to help ya all they can.