Beef Jerky Recipe

OK - I finished the beef jerky last night...and then promptly ate nearly all of it with a friend. It only takes two days to make, so I will bring a batch to the next meeting. Here's the recipe (again from my fabulous new DIY cooking book):

Ingredients
1 lb. Top sirloin or flank steak
2 tblsp. Soy sauce
2 tblsp. Brown sugar
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1 tsp. Crushed red pepper (optional)
1 tsp. Crushed black pepper (optional)

Directions
1. Go to the supermarket and get either 1 pound of top sirloin or flank steak. Try to get your butcher to slice it into 1/8"-1/4" slices against the grain. When they tell you that they won't do it, bring it home and throw it in the freezer for 30 minutes, which will make it easier to cut yourself.

How to Cut Beef Against Grain -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

2. After you've sliced the beef, lay it out between two kitchen towels to soak out as much liquid as you can. Then, with the beef still between the towels, tenderize it with anything you have available.

3. Mix brown sugar, soy sauce, kosher salt (and red and black pepper if desired) in a large bowl and then toss the beef slices around in it with your hands, making sure to cover all of the meat.

4. Place the slices as flat as possible on a rack (like the one from your grill or oven) and place the rack on top of a baking sheet with aluminum foil on it. Put the whole thing in your refrigerator, uncovered, for at least 24 hours.

5. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees. If, like most modern ones, your oven only goes down to 170 degrees, that's ok.

6. Put the beef tray in the oven for 3-5 hours, checking on it after 3 hours. If you put the beef in the oven at 170 degrees, keep the door ajar with a wooden spoon while it is drying. The beef should not be raw, but slightly stringy when you pull it apart.

7. Curse yourself for only having made 1 pound of beef jerky.

Notes: I found the beef jerky to be a bit salty. I know that beef jerky is supposed to be salty, but I wonder if I should have used a little bit less salt or if the soy sauce I used was some weird organic crap from Whole Foods. Anyway, would be interested in hearing what people think if they make this.