My Birthday

We all have great memories of a birthday in our life. I love to entertain friends and family and I really enjoy cooking. Several years ago my wife asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday. I said let's have some friends over and cook ribs for them. I had never made ribs up to this point and I cooked 30 pounds of ribs! Fortunately for me they turned out awesome! Good ribs take patience and need to cook slow and low. So with that I will share my successful rib recipe. I started with 3 full racks of ribs (about 2 ft each rack). If you buy from the local grocery store you'll have to flip them over and take a sharp knife and cut and peel the thin membrane off. If you visit the butcher shop, you can have them do it for you (or they will already be de-membraned). Use a dry rub and generously rub the ribs with the seasoning. I use McCormicks Pork Dry rub. Wrap them up in plastic wrap and re-frigerate for 24 to 48 hours. Use a Nesco or very large pot and put the ribs in. Submerge ribs in pineapple juice and worcestershire sauce (approx. 1 large can of pineapple juice about 64oz? and 1/2 bottle of worcestershire sauce 6 0z.) Cook in Nesco or oven at 250 degrees for approx. 3 hours or until ribs start to fall off the bone. Then slather on your favorite sauce. Mine is Sweet Baby Rays, my wife loves Open Pit because it is tangy. Cook on the grill over medium heat until sauce is carmelized and enjoy with a good beer or wine. A wine I highly recommend is an out of this world "Layer Cake - Malbec" Bon apetit.

For a great side dish try my mothers 3 bean side dish.

Cook 3 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled

3 finely chopped onions

2-3 fresh chopped minced garlic

Sauté above onion and garlic in butter or margarine 'til soft and translucent

1/2 tablespoon dry mustard

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup Ketchup

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

15 oz can Kidney beans rinsed and dried out

15 oz can butter beans or lima beans rinsed and dried out

21 oz can Bush baked beans with partial drained juices taken out

combine all above and bake 350% for 60 minutes and bubbly