We just got a food dehydrator, and I want to make jerky! What is your favorite jerky recipe and do you have any hints for using the dehydrator?

Hopefully, your answers will help eliminate some trial and error...

I too have a dehydrator and have made some yummy jerky in it
Be careful of the salt
my first batch came out way too salty for me

Buttoni has a blog site with some great recipes in it
http://buttoni.wordpress.com/
Under snacks on the right side click on "other snacks" and she has a recipe there

Can't find it right now, but the method I usually follow uses extra lean ground beef mixed with soy sauce and your favourite spices and condiments (Buttoni's combo sounds excellent). Let sit in the fridge for the flavours to meld, and then fill a jerky gun to extrude pieces onto your dehydrator shelves.

If you don't have a jerky gun you can place the meat on a large baking sheet between sheets of plastic wrap. Pat out fairly thin and then, using a rolling pin to roll the meat evenly to about 1/4" thick, then place the baking sheet in the freezer to make it easier to cut to size. after about a half hour in the freezer it should be fairly easy to cut into pieces 1" wide by about 4" long (or whatever size you like). Arrange the pieces on your dehydrator shelves and dry until they are ready. Depending on your dehydrator, this could take from 4 hours to 24 hours. Mine usually takes at least 12 hours.

I wish I could find the original instructions I followed, but this'll give you an idea. A friend who has been making jerky for years said he liked my version a lot better!

I use dry herbs & spices + extra lean ground beef in a jerky gun since I don't like soy sauce or liquid smoke. It also dries faster since you aren't adding wet stuff right before putting it in a dehydrator. I'll use Italian spices or Indian or whatever I'm in the mood for at the moment.

Thank you all for the tips! I look forward to trying them out.