BBQ Ribs

BBQ Ribs

Baby back ribs

Rub - Grill Mates Pork

Liquid smoke

Apple Juice

There are a lot of variables in preparing BBQ ribs.  This is an easy technique that uses the oven and the grill and substitutes Liquid Smoke for the real thing.  (If you want to do the real thing, here is a web site that I like.  http://www.amazingribs.com/index.html  The aluminum foil package technique works well.)

Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs.  This can be a difficult job.  If you give up, run a knife across the bones to break the skin in several places.

Sprinkle on some Liquid Smoke.  A tablespoon is plenty.  Rub it all around.

Apply a dry rub.  There are many recipes for rubs.  I found that the Grill Mates Pork Rub is decent for every day ribs.  put ribs on a rack over a pan for 60 to 90 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 225. 

Prepare a crutch.  Line a shallow roasting pan with aluminum foil.  Add enough apple juice (white wine mixed with some BBQ sauce also works) to cover bottom - 1/8"+.  Transfer the ribs to the pan bone side down.  Cover with aluminum foil. Return to oven for 120+ minutes.  May want to jack up the heat for the first few minutes.

Test for doneness.  Ribs should bend and the meat should just crack at the bend.  No bend - back in the oven.  Anything else, use the result to judge how much time you need on the grill.

Prepare the grill. Ideally, you have a hot and cold side. Grill the bone side of the ribs enough to get some decent browning. Slather with the BBQ sauce. Return to hot side for a few minutes.  Want to just carmalize the sauce - don't burn.  Repeat for the meat side.  Allow to rest for a few minutes before slicing between the bones.

Serve with baked beans and macaroni salad.  Yum!