By Gage Hanson

            Warm, freshly-cooked steak is delicious. Cold, leftover steak not quite as much. However, there are a few methods of reheating steak that makes it almost as good as the original. These methods are all relatively quick and easy so you can enjoy your steak without too much of a drop-off because of time. Here is how to reheat steak without overcooking it.

Reheat Steak Just How You Cooked It

            One of the best ways to cook steak off of the grill is using both your oven and stove top. So why can’t you re-cook it the same way? The truth is, you can! You can reheat your steak without overcooking it by putting it in the over and then cooking it again in a skillet.

            First off, you will want to put your leftover steaks on a baking sheet. Turn the oven to 250-degrees and cook the sheets until they reach 110 degrees on the inside using a probe thermometer. This is going to take around 30 minutes for a standard 1 ½ inch steak, but you will want to adjust the time depending on the thickness and size of your steak. Depending on the situation, you should check the steak’s earlier for smaller ones and you can leave them in for a bit longer with thicker steaks.

            After your steaks have reached the right temperature, you will have to remove them from the oven and prepare the skillet. Heat one tablespoon of oil on high in the skillet until the oil just barely starts to smoke. At this point, place the steaks in the skillet and sear both sides for 1-2 minutes until they are crispy. Remove the steaks from the skillet and let them cool briefly. Your steaks will have the consistency and taste of freshly cooked meat and should be roughly a medium-rare temperature.

Alternate Stove Top Method

            Sometimes you don’t have time to warm up the oven and let your leftover steaks sit for half an hour. For those of you with some beef broth in your pantry, you can use this to reheat your steak in a skillet and skip the oven method.

            You can put in as much beef broth as you want, it all just depends on how juicy you want your steak to be. The broth will be cooked into the steak as you are warming it up and add some moisture and juiciness back to the steak. Cook the steak on both sides with the broth until the internal temperature reaches 110 degrees again. Then, you will be able to enjoy a juicy and tasty leftover steak.

Classic Reheating

            The microwave may not be the first thing that comes to mind when reheating steak to make it taste as good as it did, but stay with me. The microwave is going to be the most convenient for you, and with a couple of simple hacks you can avoid the common disadvantages to using a microwave to reheat your steak.

            First, you will want to put your steak in a deep dish that is microwave safe. Secondly, you will need to pour some gravy, broth, or leftover meat juices into the dish. This will keep your steak from drying out and ensure that it tastes good and moist. Cover the dish with a lid or microwave safe plastic wrap and you are ready to move on to the next step.

            Now you can start the microwave. Turn the power level to half and cook the leftover steak in 30-second segments. Flip the steak over each segment to keep the heat spread out equally and avoid any cold spots in your reheated meal. Because you will be checking it constantly, this is a second good way to reheat steak without overcooking it.

            This technique won’t get the steak back to its original crispiness, but the added juice will keep the flavor and the heat should warm up your steak nicely. All in all, this is not a bad solution if you are in a hurry and don’t have too much time to warm up your meal.

Air Fryer

            An air fryer is a swiss army knife when it comes to kitchen appliances. It is great for cooking but is also a game changer when it comes to reheating food. From pizza to french fries, it can reheat almost any leftover, including steak.

            First, you should coat your leftover steak with some oil or some butter before you put it in the air fryer. Then, all you have to do is follow the same temperature and time instructions from the oven sections.

            Set the air fryer to 250 degrees and stick the steak in for at least 20 minutes and until it reaches 110 degrees on the inside. Check the steak every once in a while while it is cooking to make sure you haven’t fried it too much. The air fryer will cook your steak all the way through again and give it a texture very similar to when it came right off the grill. The oil or butter on top will help bring out the taste and keep the steak moist after it has been cooked into the meat. You can’t go wrong warming up most things in an air fryer, steak included.

            Whatever method you end up using, rest assured that reheated steak isn’t a bad idea so long as you learn how to reheat steak without overcooking it. You will have a nice, warm meal that tastes almost as good as it originally did.

This guide in one of our exclusive Guides. Checkout our other exclusive Guides found only here on LincOn.com.

Kinetic log splitters use a build-up of kenetic energy in large springs and release that energy on a log to quickly split it. It takes about 2-4 seconds to split a log. This difference between how they work and gas or electric powered log splitters or even hydraulic manual log splitters sets them apart. However, they do have their drawbacks.

How do kinetic splitters work

Typically, log splitters work by pushing a hydraulic ram. The ram is powered by a pump that pumps the hydraulic fluid. However, that’s not how kinetic log splitters work. Kinetic log splitters work by taking the engines power and coiling large and powerful springs. This energy is then released all at once on a log.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Manual log splitters

Like anything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to using an kinetic log splitter. These may or may not affect you but should be taken into consideration when purchasing a log splitter.

Advantages

• Speed
• No hydraulic fluid
• No pumps

Disadvantages

• Cost – More expensive
• Cannot be operated vertically
• Does work as well on logs with knots

Kinetic Log Splitter Models

There’s not a lot of kinetic log splitters on the market but here are some to consider.

DK2 Kinetic Log Splitter

The DK2 kinetic log splitter features a 7 HP Kohler engine and an over-sized table beyond the wedge. It also have a 1 second cycle time. You read that right – 1 second!

DR Rapid Fire Log Splitters

DR Equipment has a several kinetic log springs with models ranging in power and ones that are powered by electric motors so you get the benefits of an electric log splitter and the speed of a kinetic log splitter.

For gas powered models, DR has models K22 and K28. The K22 can split logs 18″ long and 30″ in diameter while the K28 is towable and can split logs 24″ long and up to 30″ in diameter. Their top of the line model is the XLK34 and it compares with 34 Ton hydraulic log splitters.

Electric models include the Pilot K10 and the K22E. The K10 is the cheapest model and has a 1 second cycle time and can split logs up to 16″ long. The K22E is like its K22 counterpart and can split logs 18″ and up to 30″ in diameter.

Oregon Kinetic Log Splitter

Oregon has a line of log splitters and part of this line-up includes a kinetic log splitter. The Oregon Kinetic Log Splitter has a 34 Ton equivalent and can handle 24″ logs

Range Road Kinetic Log Splitter

Range Road is a Canadian company that makes equipment for small to medium sized logging operations. One of the pieces of equipment they make is a kinetic log splitter. The Range Road Kinetic log splitter is electric and can split logs 20″

SpeeCo Commercial Kinetic Log Splitter

The SpeeCo Commercial Kinetic Log Splitter features a Kohler engine. It is also towable which is handy for getting it around. It has a 2 second cycle time.

Woods Kinetic Log Splitter

The Woods Kinetic Log Splitter is a commercial/residential splitter that can split 24″ logs and features a 32″ table for working rounds. The unit is towable.

WoodMaxx Kinetic Log Splitters

WoodMaxx is a another U.S. based manufacturer that makes two kinetic log splitter models. The first model is the LS-28T. It’s a 28 Ton equivalent log splitter that can split 24″ logs up to 28″ in diameter. The next model is the LS-34T. This model can also handle 24″ and 28″ in diameter.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of different options for kinetic log splitters. Kinetic splitters have power and most importantly speed. They are a great choice if want to get the job done and have few logs with knotted wood. If none of these work for you, you can always take a look at electric log splitters or manual log splitters and see if anything there will work for you.

Hopefully this guide has been helpful in showing you the different options that are available. Check out our other exclusive Guides on LincOn.com

If you know of any other kinetic log splitters that should be on this list, please email Dave at dbroer@LincOn.com

Manual log splitters are log splitters that use mechanic leverage to split a log. These sometimes involve the same hydraulic rams that electric or gas powered log splitters use but it may use some other means to split the log. This guide focuses on different manual log splitters that are available and allows you to compare different models and see what is available.

How do splitters work

Typically, log splitters work by pushing a hydraulic ram. The ram is powered by a pump that pumps the hydraulic fluid. This pump can either be powered by a gas motor, an electric motor or manually activated.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Manual log splitters

Like anything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to using an manual log splitter. These may or may not affect you but should be taken into consideration when purchasing a log splitter.

Advantages

• No gasoline needed
• Relatively quiet
• Can be used indoors/in enclosed spaces
• Can be more powerful that

Disadvantages

• Some options are less powerful
• More effort needed than powered units for some options

Manual Log Splitter Models

Here are some electric log splitters to consider. The splitters are sorted by power.

Felled Slide Hammer Manual Log Splitter

The Felled Slide Hammer manual log splitter is another splitter that uses hammer force to split the log. You raise and lower a ram on the handle to give it the force to split logs.

Harbor Freight 10 Ton Log Splitter

The Harbor Freight 10 Ton Hydraulic log splitter works much like a traditional log splitter by using a ram to press the log against a wedge. The ram is powered by cranking two levers back and forth to move the piston. At 10 tons it’s more capable than most electric splitters and can split logs up to 18″ long. This unit can also be ordered through Amazon.

Logosol Smart-Splitter 14 Ton Manual Log Splitter

The Logosol Smart-Splitter 14 Ton manual log splitter is one of the more powerful log splitters on our list. It’s easy to use and can take logs up to 21.5″ long and any width. It works by simpy raising a weight and lettering and drop. You repeat this until the log is split.

Sun Joe 10 Ton Hydraulic Log Splitter

The Sun Joe 10 Ton hydraulic log splitter looks and works very similarly to the Harbor Freight model. They both can take logs up to 18″ so they are probably made by the same manufacturer and just branded differently.

Timber Tuff Manual Log Splitter

The Timber Tuff Manual Log Splitter works by raising and lowering a hammer weight built into the handle. This action splits the log.

Vulcan 8 Ton Manual Log Splitter

The Vulcan 8 Ton Manual Log Splitter is a vertical log splitter that uses a hydraulic ram that is powered by manually pumping the ram with your foot until the log splits. It can split logs up to 25″.

Wedges and Mauls

In addition to manually powered hydraulic rams and levels that provide mechanical advantage when splitting wood, other manual log splitters include traditional and non-traditional wedges and mauls. Here are some to consider.

Estwing Sure Split Wedge

The Estwing Sure Split Wedge is a powerful wedge design. It helps split logs more easily due to its non-traditional design. This wedge is made in the U.S.A so you are sure to get a quality product.

Fiskars IsoCore Maul

The Fiskars IsoCore Maul is a 36″ long maul engineered with a special wedge to make splitting wood easier. The IsoCore technology means less impact to user when splitting a log.

Manual Log Splitter Wedge

This Manual Log Splitter Wedge is a generic wedge that is pretty much a standard design. It features a four-way split and requires and 8lb+ sledge hammer to force it through a log.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of different options for manual log splitters. They range from hydraulic rams, levers and even simple wedges so there is plenty to consider when looking for a log splitter. If none of these work for you, you can always take a look at electric log splitters or kinetic log splitters and see if anything there will work for you.

Hopefully this guide has been helpful in showing you the different options that are available. Check out our other exclusive Guides on LincOn.com

If you know of any other electric log splitters that should be on this list, please email Dave at dbroer@LincOn.com

Electric log splitters are log splitters that use electricity to power the hydraulic ram that splits the log. They have advantages over gas powered log splitters but are generally less powerful but are still very capable machines. This guide focuses on different electric log splitters that are available and allows you to compare different models and see what is available.

How do splitters work

Typically, log splitters work by pushing a hydraulic ram. The ram is powered by a pump that pumps the hydraulic fluid. This pump can either be powered by a gas motor, an electric motor or manually activated.

In this case, the hydraulic pump is powered by an electric motor. The hydraulic ram or piston presses the log against a wedge causing the log to split.

Advantages/Disadvantages of electric log splitters

Like anything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to using an electric log splitter. These may or may not affect you but should be taken into consideration when purchasing a log splitter.

Advantages

• No gasoline needed
• Relatively quiet
• Can be used indoors/in enclosed spaces
• Lower to the ground – can roll logs more easily onto it
• Easy to start

Disadvantages

• Electricity needed
• Electric cord
• Less powerful
• Lower to the ground – potentially more bending needed

Electric Log Splitter Models

Here are some electric log splitters to consider. The splitters are sorted by power.

Earthquake 5 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Earthquake 5 Ton electric log splitter is another one of the smaller yet capable log splitters in our listing. It features a 1500 watt motor and can split logs up to 20″ in length. This model is also available with a stand.

Harbor Freight 5 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Harbor Freight 5 Ton electric log splitter is one of the smallest in the lineup but it’s a very capable 1.8HP splitter that can accommodate logs up to 18″ long.

Sun Joe 5 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Sun Joe 5 Ton electric log splitter features a 15 amp motor and can split logs up to 20.5″.

Southland 6 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Southland 6 Ton electric log splitter features a unique design that allows it to be shifted so that you can split logs in the vertical as well as horzontal position. It can split logs up to 20.5″ long.

WEN 6.5 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The WEN 6.5 tom electric log splitter is one of the few log splitters that comes on a stand which eliminates bending to load the logs but you will need to lift the logs into place. The splitter can handle logs 10.5″ in diameter and 20.5″ long.

Boss 7 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Boss 7 Ton electric log splitter can reportedly split logs over 20″ in diameter and features a 2HP motor that needs a 20A outlet to power it. It can split logs up to 20″ long making it a nice mid-range unit.

Powerhouse 7 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Powerhouse 7 Ton electric log splitter is the smaller of the two Powerhouse-brand splitters on our list. It can split logs up to 20.5″ and claims to produce more force than the Boss 7 Ton log splitter so if you’re looking for a mid-range splitter, this one should make your list as well.

Stark Industrial 7 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Stark Industrial 7 Ton electric log splitter is another splitter in the mid-size range. It features a 1500 watt motor and is capable of splitting 21″ logs.

Powerhouse 9 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Powerhouse 9 Ton electric log splitter is one of the most powerful electric log splitters available. It can handle logs up to 20″. This unit can draw up to 2900 watts or 25 amps so make sure you have a powerful electric outlet!

Boss 10 Ton Electric Log Splitter

The Boss 10 Ton Electric Log Splitter is one of the powerful electric splitters available. It requires a 20 Amp circuit to provide the power that the unit needs. It features a bi-directional wedge, an industrial wedge and the ability to split logs up to 22″ long.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of different options for electric log splitters. They range in power from 5 tons all the way to 10 tons and can be floor height and some are available at a table height.

Hopefully this guide has been helpful in showing you the different options that are available. Check out our other exclusive Guides on LincOn.com

If you know of any other electric log splitters that should be on this list, please email Dave at dbroer@LincOn.com

One of the first questions people ask when they hear we homeschool is, “how many hours a day do your homeschool?”

Immediately, questions pop up in my own mind because there are so many variables and no two days are alike. Some of those variables are the number of children doing lessons, the number of babies and toddlers that need to also be watched, or which curriculum is being used.  

What is Homeschooling?

The most important thing to make sure to understand is that homeschooling is NOT like the same style of learning that occurs in a public/private/parochial schooling.  There are as many styles of homeschooling as there are homeschoolers.  Each of those families will also tell you totally different responses to the question of how many hours a day do you homeschool? 

Where to start

If you are at the beginning stages of thinking about homeschooling your children, your first stop should be Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) to learn about your state homeschool requirements.  Some states actually mandate a certain number of hours of instruction for homeschooled children in a given school year.  Oddly, these mandates are written by people who do not know much about homeschooling nor do they really grasp how little actual instruction a child in a school building indeed receives.  Some states do not mandate a certain number of days or hours, but you will need to review your states’ requirements and adhere to them. 

There is a famous motto from a style of schooling that says, “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline and a life.”  Many homeschool families model their lives around learning.  These families consider the everyday work of living as opportunities to build character, virtue, and teaching lessons.  When Dad makes a loaf of banana bread, the children helping are learning about fractions from the recipe as well as how to lovingly work for the needs of one another.  Children helping as Mom weeds the garden are learning about plants, plant life, insects, ecology, and the discipline of doing that which needs to be done. 

Homeschool Schedule

Some homeschool families are regimented about maintaining a specific schedule to their day.  Families with children in varying age ranges can benefit from maintaining a schedule such as the one discussed here.  Families schooling maybe just one child, with non-school age siblings will maybe want a routine like the one discussed here. 

As a rule of thumb, children in the early elementary grades (kindergarten-4th grade, approximately) should not spend more than 1-2 hours doing seated learning.  Most of a young child’s learning time should be spent outdoors, playing or doing the things of life such as helping with cooking, cleaning and gardening and listening to read-alouds.  There is an amazing website devoted to families reading aloud called Read-Aloud Revival.  You will learn about the benefits, books lists for every age group and podcasts about the topic.

Children in the middle grade years (5th-8th grade, approximately) will slowly increase the number of hours of seated learning from 2-5 hours as they get older.  It is still important that children in this age group get plenty of time outdoors, time to play, do independent reading as well as listen to family read-alouds.  This age group will also begin to take over household chores and begin caring for young siblings as well.

High school aged young people will spend a considerable length of their day doing lessons.  Most will be able to complete assigned lessons in 4-6 hours.  This age group will need to be encouraged to get enough time outdoors, but will be a great asset to homelife taking on household chores, errands, childcare as well as household maintenance.  All of these activities help a child blossom from infancy to a helpful, responsible, productive adult who has had a love of learning instilled.

Getting going with Homeschooling

Now that you have some idea of how many hours a day to homeschool, you may next wish to learn more about how to start, what style of learning matches your family, what curriculum to use, how to set up your home for learning, how to comply with your state’s homeschooling laws, what records you will need to maintain and how to find support for yourself as your children’s teacher. 

If you are new to homeschooling, the topic is vast and the internet is full or so many wonderful ideas.  Read from a diverse set of bloggers and homeschool websites, find your favorites that match your teaching style, maybe your faith and then do not try to do it all.  You can quickly become overwhelmed.  Also, find other homeschool families around you so you can learn what is offered locally.  There may be cooperative learning opportunities, homeschool field trips, playgroups, meet-ups, conferences, and organizations.     

Planning your homeschool day and year is made easier with a well produced homeschool planner.   

Conclusion

There are some really well-written books about homeschooling as well.  Please check some of these out from your local library, Amazon carries many and Thirftbooks will frequently have them available as well.

The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart

Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erickson

The Call of the Wild and Free by Ainsely Arment

Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie

Home Grown by Ben Hewitt

The Read Loud Family by Sarah Mackenzie

Plan Your Year by Pam Barnhill

Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist

Catholic Education: Homeward Bound by Kimberly Hahn

Managers of Their Homes by Steven Maxwell

Best wishes in your homeschooling journey! Be sure to check out our other exclusive Guides found only on LincOn.com.

ATV’s are very versatile tools and if you live in a northern climate that receives a decent amount of snow, you be looking at it and wondering if you can use an ATV to clear snow. There are snowplows that you can mount on the front of your ATV but clearing snow by plowing it isn’t always a great idea. What about a snowblower? This ATV snowblower guide will show you some options to using a snowblower with a your ATV.

Snowblower features to consider

It may seem like a simple thing – just mount a snowblower to the front of your ATV and you’re good to go but there is more to consider. First you need to consider the size of the path you want to clear. Then you need to consider the weight along with the mounting bracket to make sure that it will fit your ATV. Finally, you’ll want to consider the opening size and the horsepower to be able to clear the snow in your area.

How wide of a path?

First thing to consider is how wide of a snowblower do you need? You might be thinking of your driveway but what about walkways? How wide are those paths? If you get a wider snowblower like 48 or 52″ it means you can clear your driveway in a couple of swaths but will you be able to clear the paths around your house with that? If you go with a narrower swath it will mean more time clearing your driveway. Weigh those pros and cons and determine what is more important to you.

Snowblower Weight

Most ATV snowblowers are mounted to the front winch of your ATV so you need to factor in how much weight your ATV can carry. Most ATV’s ahave a limit that they can carry/pull on their winches so when you look at the models below or at a winch mounted snowblower, keep the weight in mid so you don’t overload the front of your ATV.

How much power do you need?

Most ATV snowblowers are powered by external engines. The engine powers both stages of the snowblower – the impeller which draws the snow in and the chute which throws the snow. The wider the snowblower, the more power that is needed to bring that snow in and throw it.

If your area receives a lot of powdery or fluffy snow, you’ll need less power than areas that receive wetter snows. I like to consider my “worst case” scenario and make sure that I have the power to move that snow. A good rule of thumb it have about 0.37 HP per inch of your swath and that should be more than adequate to handle what you throw at it.

In addition to the width, you need to consider the height of the intake. The hardest area of snow to clear is at the end of your driveway and that pile will be many times larger than your deepest snowfall so don’t buy something with too small of an opening.

ATV Snowblower brands

Keeping in mind all of the factors above, take a look at the comprehensive list below of ATV snowblower manufacturers and see what might work for you. Snowblowers come in all different sizes, weights, and powers. Some are even designed specifically for certain brands.

Bercomac

Berco is pretty much the standard by which other ATV snowblowers are measured. It’s a family owned business that produces high quality snowblowers that can be mounted on many different ATV models. Bercomac uses reliable Honda engines and are available with a 48″ model and a 54″ model. The units all electronically controlled and can be mounted in 5 minutes.

Iron Baltic

Iron Baltic manufactures several snowblowers for ATV’s. They range in width from 49-71″ and are available with several different engine configurations. Engines range from the Honda GX390, the Briggs & Stratton XR Professional series and the Briggs & Stratton Vangard. The chute is electronically adjustable and can throw the snow up to 49′ so you can most likely send the snow clear out of your yard!

Massimo

Massimo makes is a manufacturer of ATV’s, side-by-sides and other equipment for outdoor use. As part of it’s line up that make a 60″ snowblower with a 420cc engine (about 13 HP) designed for UTV’s but might be an option for ATV owners. The snowblower also features a strobe light and a electric control over the shoot adjustment. The unit comes with a universal mounting plate so it can be mounted on other brands than Massimo.

Quadivator

Quadivator makes a 50″ snowblower than can mount to most snowblowers. They feature an 18HP Briggs & Stratton engine mounted to a frame and it becomes basically a PTO engine and allows several different attachments which are connected via belts. Attachments include the snowblower, a lawn mower and a power sweeper so this allows some flexibility.

Rammy

Rammy is a company based in Finland so it knows how to deal with snow. The Rammy Snowblower 120 ATV comes with a Briggs and Stratton engine and universal mounting for different brands like Polaris, Can AM, Arctic Cat and Click&Go

Other brands

There are some companies that over time that used to make snowblowers that would attach to ATV’s. In addition to national brands, there may be region or local shops making models that might show up on Craigslist or eBay. The key components are the performance which is driven by the engine and how well built the unit is. If you’re willing to work on something or work with a local shop, it might be worth taking a look if it can do what you need it to.

Concluding thoughts

Hopefully this guide has been helpful in letting you know what to look for in an ATV snowblower. There’s clearly some options out there with a number of companies producing high quality products that will give you years of use and allow you to put your ATV or UTV to use at a time of year when sometimes they don’t get used. Additionally, it makes the job of clearing snow that much easier.

In my guide for Snowmobiles for Heavy Riders I mentioned that there are several manufacturers that make track systems to replace your ATV tires as an alternative to a snowmobile but that option could also extend the life of your ATV into winter and combined with a snowblower can make for a formidable tool in the winter.

I hope you enjoyed this guide. If there are any ATV snowblowers we’ve left off this list, please email Dave at dbroer@lincon.com with your suggestion!

Be sure to check out other other exclusive Guides on LincOn.com!

By Gage Hanson

Gyro meat is delicious. The traditional Greek meat is often made with pork in Greece, but here in America is made out of a lamb-beef mixture. Either way, the seasoned meat, coupled with traditional tzatziki sauce and pita wrap, is delicious, but hard to find in small towns across the country. While you can find gyro restaurants in big cities, it is much harder to get a hold of gyro meat in smaller locales.

However, it isn’t too difficult to make your own gyro meat. Follow this recipe to find out how to make gyro meat. You’ll have a professional looking Greek gyro wrap in no time. 

            Ingredients:

            1 lb of ground beef

            1 lb of ground lamb

            2 cloves of garlic

            1 large onion

            1 tablespoon of marjoram

            1 tablespoon of oregano

            1 tablespoon of cumin

            1 tablespoon of thyme

            ½ tablespoon of black pepper

            2 teaspoons of kosher salt

Steps:

1. The first thing you are going to want to do is to grind the beef and lamb together into a fine mixture. The meat is often put into a blender or food processor to turn the meat into a paste-like mixture. This will help the two meats mix together, let you integrate the gyro seasoning into the mix, and give you the ability to form the meat into the thin slices that gyros are known for.
2. Mix all of the ingredients into the meat. To make authentic homemade gyro meat, you have to get the flavor right. Hopefully you have a fine paste of beef and lamb mixture that is easy to mix with the spices. If you used a food processor or blender, you can add the onion and garlic cloves into the mixture and use the processor to mix everything together. If not, you will want to chop and mash the onions and garlic so they will be easy to mix in without any noticeable chunks.
3. Let the meat and gyro seasoning chill in the fridge for at least an hour in the bowl.
4. Cooking the meat will remind you of cooking meatloaf, but this gyro meat recipe will be miles above the meatloaf you remember from dinner at grandma’s. You will want to get a loaf baking dish to spread the gyro meat out in. A 7×4 dish is the standard, but anything that fits your meat in a rectangular pattern will work.
5. You will want to bake the meat at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. Make sure the meat has reached 165 degrees on the inside.
6. Remove the loaf and wrap it in tin foil and place it on a cooling rack. Place a pan on top of the loaf, or anything to weigh it down. This will help the meat become denser and get the desired gyro meat consistency.
7. Cut the meat into thin slices and you are ready to add your tzatziki sauce, pita bread, and other serving options.

Tzatziki Sauce

A key part of any gyro meat recipe is the tzatziki sauce. It is easy to make and will take your homemade gyros to the next level.

            Ingredients:

            Half of a cucumber

            1 ½ cups of greek yogurt

            2 cloves of minced garlic

            2 tablespoons of olive oil

            1 tablespoon of white vinegar

            ½ teaspoon of salt

            1 tablespoon of minced fresh dill

Steps:

1. Grate the cucumber and let it drain in a strainer overnight.
2. Combine the yogurt, garlic, olive oil, white vinegar and salt. Let the mixture refrigerate overnight.
3. Add the cucumber and fresh dill to the yogurt mixture.
4. You are done! Add the tzatziki sauce to the gyro meat and enjoy.

Tips and tricks for your homemade gyro meat

Learning how to make gyro meat isn’t the only piece of the puzzle in your search for an authentic Greek meal. There are a few other steps to completing and amplifying the dish.

• Puree the onion, garlic and herb mix before adding it to your gyro meat. This will help even out the gyro seasoning distribution.
• Serve your gyros in a piece of pita that has been lightly grilled, and add sliced tomatoes, minced onions and lettuce. Some people will also add ketchup or mustard to their wrap. Include a side of french fries and your meal is complete.
• A more traditional method of cooking includes grilling the meat on a rotisserie skewer. This is a more difficult option, but will cook the meat more evenly and add a good texture to it. You will want to leave the mixture in the refrigerator overnight so you are able to form it in rolls easier. Then you will grill the meat on medium-high until the internal temperature reaches 165.
• Use your gyro meat to make gyro nachos. Instead of a pita wrap, combine your ingredients, including the tzatziki sauce, on top of a plate of chips. It is a great way to make a snack for game night or just a good, crunchy alternative to classic gyros.

If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to browse through our other recipes.

Do you love the outdoors and spending time hiking but have trouble finding gear to fit your larger frame? This guide is for you! This is a comprehensive list of Hiking Gear for Plus-sized hikers. Whether you are 300, 350 or 400lbs, I hope this list will help you find the gear that you need to get out there and enjoy nature. We have several guides for larger people so in addition to hiking gear, be sure to check out our ebike’s for heavy/overweight riders guide as another way to get outdoors!

Whenever possible, I try to link to gear that is NOT made in China to try and keep quality up.

Hiking gear needed for larger hikers

Most hiking gear does not need to be specialized for larger obese or heavy hikers. For example, you don’t need a special canteen or hydration system just because you’re a larger plus sized hiker. This guide focuses on equipment like clothing, backpacks, chairs, etc.

Hiking boots for plus-size hikers

Many larger people have wide feet or calfs and it can be tricky to find good hiking boots that accommodate plus-size hikers. Here are some hiking boots for people with wide feet or calfs.

Danner Boots

Danner Boots are Made in the U.S.A and are a high quality choice for hikers. They are built solid and will handle the roughest terrain. Some of the best options include the Danner Crag Rat (pictured), the Mountain Light and the Light II but they have many different styles to choose from with wide widths for both men and women.

KEEN Boots

KEEN is another American shoe manufacturer that makes several wide width hiking boots. These boots feature a rugged design that will give your foot and ankle the support they need regardless of the terrain that you may traverse. KEEN options include the Durand II (pictured).

Chippewa Modoc

The Chippewa Modoc is made in the U.S.A. This sturdy boot comes in wide widths and provides a sturdy base for any plus-sized hiker. This classic hiking boot provides comfort and great classic looks for larger hikers needing a wide width booth.

Performance Clothing for larger hikers

In addition to footwear, it can sometimes be hard to find plus-size clothing for better performance when out in nature. Performance gear can help keep you warm and cool so you can keep going further. The following companies sell larger sizes for plus-sized outdoor enthusiasts.

The North Face

The North Face is one of the most iconic outdoor performance clothing brands. The company started out as a supplier of clothing for elite expeditions and the quality of their products was sought after around the world. Today the company supplies everything from jackets, pants and other accessories. The North Face has what it calls “extended sizes” for big and tall outdoor enthusiasts. Some items have sizes up to 4XL which will fit customers up to 400lbs.

The Resolve jacket is among The North Face’s offerings in jackets that provide protection from the weather and are available in extended sizes for plus size hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

For colder weather, The North Face offers the Arrowood jacket in extended sizes. This one is only available up to 3XL which will cover most larger hikers or outdoor enthusiasts. It comes with a waterproof shell and an inside fleece component sure to keep you warm.

The North Face also has their 90s style Nuptse down jacket and Denali fleece jacket available for plus-size outdoor enthusiasts.

Columbia

Columbia has a complete line-up of clothing and footwear for larger individuals. Many of it is imported but sizes range up to 5XLT so plus sized outdoor enthusiasts looking to take a hike will find something to keep them warm or cool. Here is some of the performance gear that Columbia has for larger hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The Columbia Tryon Trail shell jacket is available in sizes up to 5XLT so it will fit the largest plus size hiker. The jacket can be layered to provide a warmer substitute in the colder months.

You can pair the jacket with a rain pant (also available up to size 5XL) and stay dry while you out out in the outdoors.

Another option to pair the shell with or to wear it on its own is a fleece jacket. The Basin Trail Full Fleece is such a choice and is available in sizes up to 5XL.

The Columbia Tech Trail Crew Neck is designed to wick moisture away from your skin and keep you cooler going down the trail. It also provides UV and sunscreen protection. It can be warn as a base layer or your main shirt when going for a hike. It’s available in sizes up to 6XL.

The Columbia Silver Ridge II Stretch Pant is another performance layer to add to your outdoor gear arsenal. Like the shirt above, it provides UV and sunscreen protection. Articulated knees provide for flexibility and comfort. They are available in sizes up to a 54 waist.

Mountain Warehouse

Mountain Warehouse is another brand that carries outdoor gear for plus-size or larger hikers. They provide lots of performance wear options at very reasonable prices. While a lot of their offerings are imported, they are worth a look based on their low cost.

The Mountain Warehouse Endurance T-shirt provides UV and SPF protection as well as helping keep you dry and cool thanks to their Isocool technology. By wicking sweat away from your body it helps keep you cool so you can stay out longer.

In addition to performance wear, Mountain Warehouse sells outer wear for plus-size hikers such as the Brisk Extreme Mens Waterproof Jacket. This jacket is fully breathable and features pit zips for extra ventilation where it counts if you know what I mean! It is available up to size 4XL.

An interesting addition to the outerwear options mentioned here, Mountain Warehouse has a line of full zip fleece jackets such as the Idris full zip fleece jacket. It’s available in sizes up to 4XL and is lightweight and breathable to make your journey down the trail more comfortable.

Performance Gear for Plus-size Hikers

We’ve covered footwear and performance clothing for larger hikers but what about gear? While larger hikers don’t need larger canteens or cookware, it is helpful to have backpacks, trekking poles and potentially sleeping bags designed for larger outdoor enthusiasts. Here are some suggestions for specialized gear for hiking for plus-sized hikers.

For trekking poles I can’t recommend the TrailBuddy Trekking Poles enough. These lightweight poles are made of aluminum and will give you the support you need and help save wear and tear on your knees. An alternative would be the Foxelli Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles.

Being properly equipped for a longer hike means having the equipment that will keep you safe. Ergonomics is important and having a properly fitting backpack is just as important as having a good pair of boots. This means having a too small backpack can also affect your balance and body’s musculoskeletal system. One larger backpack models include the Teton Sports Explorer 4000 which has a waist belt that fits up to 72″ and fits torsos up to 23″ so taller and larger backpackers.

Most hikers also like to camp in the back country at some point so it’s important to have the proper gear with you for shelter and warmth. While plus-size hikers don’t need a larger tent, having a larger sleeping bag is helpful to most of us to stay warm. Most sleeping bags for backpacking are made smaller and lighter but there are a few that are made wider and taller and for larger hikers. These include the Teton Sports XXL Sleeping Bag which will keep you warm down to 0 degrees. The bag is nearly 40″ wide which provide comfort to largest backpacker.

Conclusion

I hope this guide has helped plus-size hikers and outdoor enthusiasts find the gear that they are looking for or at least some direction on what to look for – Hiking Gear for Plus-sized hikers. This guide is part of a series of guides for larger or overweight persons looking for gear to get out and enjoy nature. Guides include eBikes for Heavier/Overweight Riders and RV’s for Larger People. If you have anything that you thing we should include in this guide, please email me at dbroer@lincon.com for consideration.

If you’ve ever had corn cob smoked bacon you know that it has the best flavor. It’s the old fashioned way of smoking bacon and it’s unfortunate that few places produce cob smoked bacon. The purpose of this Guide is help people that are looking to make their own cob smoked bacon at home. If you’re searching for how to make cob smoked bacon at home, it’s easier than you would think.

Equipment you will need

In order to smoke your own bacon you need a few things but once you have them, you will have them and be able to produce bacon when ever you need it. The equipment you will need includes:

• A smoker
• Amaze’n Pellet burner
• 8-10″ Cast iron pan
• Corn cob pellets
• Pork Belly
• Kosher Salt
• Granulated Maple Sugar
• Real Maple Syrup
• Closable bag(s)

The Smoker

Unless you already have one, you’ll need a smoking apparatus to smoke your bacon. There are many options but I recommend the Masterbuilt MPS 230S. It’s a relatively inexpensive unit that gives you plenty of room for expansion and is a smoker that will work for people with different abilities so if you’re a novice, this is a smoker that can grow with you.

A-Maze-N Pellet Burner

Unless your smoker is specifically designed for burning pellets, you’ll need an A-Maze-N pellet burner that will produce a cold smoke from wood pellets. They have tubes and mazes that allow you to put your pellets in and produce smoke to smoke your meats. The 5×8 Maze will produce smoke for up to 9 hours so if you’re looking for a long burning time, that would be your choice.

To avoid the maze pellet burner sitting directly on top of the burner, you can place it in a 8-10″ cast iron pan.

Corn Cob Pellets

Of course if you’re trying to smoke something with corn cobs, you need the corn cobs to do the actual smoking. You can use dried corn cobs that will burn slowly but probably the easiest way is to use corn cob pellets. The key is finding pure ones. Cob smoking is not widely done so there are no retailers selling corn cob pellets for smoking meats but there are retailers who sell corn cob pellets for other purposes. The purest one that I know of believe it or not is sold as “horse bedding” at Tractor Supply. Their Best Cob Premium Horse Bedding is 100% corn cobs and are used by many smokers to smoke their meats with corn cobs. This would probably be your best alternative if you do not have dried corn cobs to burn.

Pork Bellies

Bacon is produced from Pork Bellies. Pork Bellies are the under belly meat of a pig and when you purchase one you get about 12-15 pounds of bacon at a cost of about $3-4/lb. When you consider that cob smoked bacon can sell for $8-20/lb, you’re saving a lot by making your own. We’ll talk more in a minute on how to prepare your pork belly for smoking it into bacon. To locate a pork belly, start calling around to local meat markets or butchers and ask for a Pork Belly. They will know what you’re talking about and can tell you what they have. If available, see if they have ones without the the skin. It will save you time later!

Prepping your Pork Belly

Now that you have all the “hardware” to make your cob smoked bacon, you need to prep the pork belly and cure it for smoking. Many people will recommend curing with nitrates or pink salt or something like that but that is totally unnecessary. The process takes about a week to prep your bacon so keep that in mind.

If your pork belly still has the skin on, you want to remove that so that the smoke can penetrate the meat. Use a filet knife or something similar and slice that off so you just have the meat. Leaving a little fat is OK but you want it mostly off.

In a small bowl combine together:

• 1/4 Cup Kosher Salt
• 1/4 Cup Granulated Maple Sugar (you can also use brown sugar)
• 1/4 Real Maple Syrup (not the artificial stuff!)

Take this mixture and spread out on both sides of the pork belly. Carefully slide the pork belly into a gallon-sized zip-lock type bag and place it in your refrigerator.

Once a day for 7 days, flip over the bag with your pork belly.

On the 8th day, rinse off the pork belly and place it on a drying rack in your refrigerator and leave it overnight to dry.

Finally, How to Make Cob Smoked Bacon!

To smoke the bacon we are going to cold smoke the bacon which means we want smoke flowing over the meat for about 4 hours and a temperature between 75 and 90 degrees. Under most circumstances you won’t need to ignite your burner in your smoker unless it is very cold outside. The heat generated by the pellet maze should be enough to keep the temperature around 80 inside the smoker.

Start by putting the corn cob into your pellet maze and then using butane or strong flame in the igniter hole on both ends, light the pellets. This might take a minute or two and you should see a small flame on the pellets. Let the pellets burn for several minutes before gently putting the flame out. Smoke should roll off of the pellets and the maze should be ready to go.

You can either lay the pork belly flat on a rack near the top of the smoker or hang it from a bacon hanger. If you lay it flat, you’ll need to flip the bacon over about two hours into the smoking process. The bacon needs to be smoked for a total of four hours. I recommend a ThermalPro TP-17 dual probe thermometer which would allow you to accurately monitor the interior temperature of your smoker as well as the temperature of the bacon to complete the smoking process.

At the end of the four hours of smoking you want to put your burner on low and keep the internal temperature below 180 degrees and monitor the temperature of the bacon until it reaches 140 degrees. This should take about an hour.

Once the bacon reaches 140 degrees you can remove it from the smoker. Place the meat in a refrigerator and allow it to cool completely before slicing for best results. Cooling the meat makes it easier to slice but you can also slice it off the smoker if you just can’t wait. 😉

It’s a long process but in the end I think you will find this to be the best tasting bacon that you’ve ever had!

Do you have a small window opening but need a powerful or large capacity air conditioner to cool a large space? This is a list of powerful air conditioners for small windows that will help you cool that space. Air conditioners that made this list are no wider than 30″ and no higher than 17″ and have more than 10,000 BTU capacity. This list is part of our Guides to help people.

Use the arrows to sort by the specification you need to find an air conditioner that will provide the BTU’s you need to cool your space.

Brand	Model	Description	Minimum Height	Minimum Width	BTU's	Price
LG	LW2416HR	The LG 23,000 BTU 230V window-mounted air conditioner with 11,600 BTU supplemental heat function gives you everything you love about an air conditioner and more!	17	26	23000	Check Prices
Friedrich	Friedrich Chill Series CP15G10B	Friedrich Chill series air conditioners are energy efficient and easy-to-handle.	15	23.6	15500	Check Prices
Koldfront	Koldfront WTC14001W	The Koldfront 14,000 BTU 208/230V Through the Wall Air Conditioner (WTC14001W) is the ideal choice for keeping your home comfortable during warm summer months.	14.5	24.25	14000	Check Prices
Midea	MIDEA MAW12R1BWT	The Midea Easy Cool 3-in-1 Window Air Conditioner unit cools and dehumidifies home or office spaces quietly, quickly, and efficiently.	14	23	12000	Check Prices
SPT	SPT WA-1223S 12K BTU WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER	Perfect for cooling down a single room or studio.	14.6	26	12000	Check Prices
Frigidaire	Frigidaire 12,000 BTU 115V	Frigidaire 12, 000 BTU 115V window-mounted compact air conditioner is perfect for cooling a room up to 550 square feet.	14.5	22	12000	Check Prices
LG	LG Energy Star Window Air Conditioner	The LG 12, 000 BTU 115V window-mounted air conditioner is perfect for cooling a room up to 550 square feet.	15	23	12000	Check Prices
Friedrich	Friedrich Chill Series CP12G10B Window Air Conditioner	Friedrich Chill series air conditioners are energy efficient and easy-to-handle.	15	22	12000	Check Prices
Whirlpool	Whirlpool Energy Star 12,000 BTU	Easy to install and operate, the quiet Whirlpool 12, 000 BTU window-mounted air conditioner quickly cools and dehumidifies a room up to 550 square feet.	16	26	12000	Check Prices
Keystone	Keystone KSTAW12C 12000 BTU	The Keystone 12,000 BTU 115V through-the-wall air conditioner with follow remote control is perfect for cooling a room up to 550 square feet.	14.6	19	12000	Check Prices
Emerson	Emerson Quiet Kool 12,000 BTU	The easy-to-install Emerson Quiet Kool 12, 000 BTU SMART window air conditioner is the perfect cooling solution for your home or office.	14.6	21.5	12000	Check Prices