Magazine Monday — BBQ Ribs

Can you believe I have lived 46 years, spent about 15 years cooking and almost 2 years as a food blogger and never made BBQ ribs until Christmas eve 2015?

Since I am usually home alone Christmas eve, it has been my tradition to make an outrageous homemade pizza and watch my favorite horror movies. Hey! It’s my Christmas tradition don’t judge. As if the abdominal snowman from Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer isn’t as scary as hell! No? Okay, maybe that’s just me. Seriously, that thing gave me nightmares as a child.

I don’t know why I decided to change it up for Christmas eve and do ribs (still did the horror movies though) but I did. I figured I could always do a big bowl of popcorn if it was a disaster. I am nothing if not flexible.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to use plan b. I spice rubbed my ribs and threw them in the fridge while I was at work. When I got home I threw the ribs into a preheated oven and let the ribs cook for two and a half hours while I watched The Conjuring, then I made my sauce. I slathered the ribs with sauce and baked them for another 40 minutes. They were so good! I will be making ribs more often.

BBQ Ribs

• Difficulty: Easy
• Print

Ingredients
1-2 lbs bone in ribs, your choice of beef or pork
Dry Rub
1 1/2 TBS brown sugar
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside.

BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup plus 1 TBS water
2 TBS plus 1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar
2 TBS plus 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar
2 TBS brown sugar
1 TBS plus 3/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp kosher salt
3/4 tsp black pepper
In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well. Set aside.

Several hours before you plan to cook your ribs, rub them with the spice rub, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. When ready to cook, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place your ribs in a baking dish that can hold them in a single layer. Bake for 2 1/2 hours. Cover ribs with sauce and bake another 30 – 40 minutes. Enjoy!