'Tis the Season -- Christmas Ribs

With the holidays upon moi, it seems I must cook and cook large. With the NC horde ready to decent upon my humble abode, what can be done? Surely a huge, sticky lasagna would work, filling my kitchen with the sweet smells of tomato-y, cheesy happiness?. Perhaps some variant on Syndi Lou Who's (who's no more than two) roast beast? How about we cling to some of our Hebraic roots and order Chinese?

Nah, not happening.


Her Imperial Majesty Le Grand Dame likes my ribs. Das Kinder likes my ribs. So ribs it is, or more correctly was.

It's a simple recipe using three different spice blends from my friends Cindy and Bob at The Savory Spice Shop, specifically:

1. Black Hills Barbecue Seasoning,
   
2. Team Sweet Mama's Kansas City Rub, and
   
3. Brown Sugar & Spice Honey Ham Rub.
   

Bring your ribs to room temperature, then apply the Black Hills seasoning first. Give the meat about 10 minutes or so to rest, and then apply TSM Kansas City Rub. Give yourself another 15 minutes or so, then finish with the Brown sugar rub. After another 15 minutes, slide the ribs into a 275 degree oven and cook four to five hours or until fall-off-the-bone tender. I usually lay them on a cool-ish fire in the ole Weber Kettle for 30 to 45 minutes to give them a bit of char and dash of smoke.

That takes care of the ribs themselves, but what about the 'Que sauce. This is a variant of something I've used before. The star ingredient is Coca-Cola™ and that makes this truly southern.

• 1 16 ounce Coca-Cola™
  
• 1 28 ounce can pureed tomatoes
  
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
  
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
  
• 2 1/2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
  
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
  
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  

Combine everything in a sauce pan and simmer for 30 minutes or until it reaches your desired thickness. 

Serve with baked beans, baked potatoes and the best cole slaw you can come up with. Mine comes from Hursey's in Burlington, NC. 


Merry Christmas, y'all.