The Hot Pepper

Nice! I've always wanted to try that and pastrami. Good luck!

Nice! Recipe?

I just put mine in last night as well. First time!

In the sink?

I've heard Michael Ruhlman's is extremely salty.

I'm going to use a original recipe cobbled together from a few different sources that avoids saltpeter/curing salt. IF the results are good I'll post em up.

I've made bacon and stuff. The nitrites aren't really bad for you. Most of the ones that don't use cure #1 have celery juice/powder which has naturally occurring nitrites and can actually have much much much higher nitrite levels. If there isn't a source of nitrites (natural or otherwise) it technically won't be "cured".

I agree about the 'natural' stuff using beet juice or celery powder. Not afraid of the nitrates, just wanted to try a recipe without