Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sticky Cherry Barbecue Ribs

We've got guests for Memorial Day! We had a lonely two days without out of town company, but now we are back in business. Thus begins our busy summer season. When you live somewhere gorgeous and warm, with the added benefit of my parent's resort style backyard just a couple of doors down, we soak more company than we do summer sun. And we absolutely love it. Would you like to come for a visit? Our door is always open. But call ahead since the rooms fill fast. So with all this company, I'm rolling up my sleeves and heading to my lovely kitchen. The Quiet Man bought a few nice racks or ribs and I thought I'd tinker around with a sweet cherry barbecue sauce. I'm mighty glad that I did, because we've got a new overwhelming favorite. Even the non-meat eaters lapped up the cherry barbecue sauce on homemade onion rings (onion ring recipe coming soon). The carnivores ruled the day with these sticky-sweet-smoky and slightly spicy ribs, so tender they could fall right off the bone. I made a variation on my homemade barbecue sauce with a bit of reduced cherry cola, ketchup, mustard, oh, and a bit of this and that. After boiling, I added in some cherry snow cone syrup to give it a fresh pop of cherry flavor. You could also use cherry grenadine, or some pureed cherry preserves. It's the perfect way to say hello to summer days. And if you've got Memorial Day company, they may never want to leave. So plan accordingly.

Cherry Barbecue Sauce (Makes about 3 cups)
Estimated Cost: $4.00
1 12 ounce can cherry cola
2 cups ketchup
1 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup mustard
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup chili powder
1/3 cup cherry snow cone syrup, cherry grenadine syrup, or pureed cherry preserves thinned with water
Boil cherry cola in medium saucepan to reduce by half, about 20 minutes. Add remaining ingredients EXCEPT the cherry snow cone syrup. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Boil sauce for twenty minutes. Add syrup and boil one minute.

For the Ribs (8 servings)
Estimated Cost: (You should be able to get ribs for about $3.00 a lb over the holiday weekend. Shop the sales! I got mine for $1.99/lb) $8.00 -$12.00 for 4 lbs.
4 lbs country style ribs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons paprika
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
THE NIGHT BEFORE. Pat ribs dry and place ribs in large roasting pan. Rub ribs all over with garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Cover with foil and refrigerate over night. THE MORNING OF: Bake ribs at 300, covered in foil, for 3 hours, turning once. (Store in fridge if you aren't going to be eating right away.) 30 MINUTES BEFORE SERVING: Grill ribs on medium hot grill, basting with plenty of cherry barbecue sauce. The ribs are already cooked through, so you will only grill them to give them the smoky flavor and to allow the sauce to carmelize on the ribs.

Next Up:
Onion Rings with the same Cherry Barbecue Sauce

15 comments:

Kaylee said...

wow that looks so good

Catherine said...

That bbq sauce looks sooo good. I was lamenting the fact that I don't eat meat and frantically trying to figure out what I was going to eat with that tasty looking sauce, and then I saw that next up is onion rings with the exact same sauce. HURRAY! I can't wait for that onion ring recipe.

Renée said...

Looks yummy as can be! Thanks so much for a new recipe.

vanillasugarblog said...

seriously. this is just amazing erin.

The JR said...

I'm a carnivore. Give me the meat!

MK and Co. said...

Wow. Those ribs look soooooooo good. That meal makes me want to pack my bags, drive with 5 crabby kids to your doorstep, grab those ribs, and dig in. I know what I'm making on Monday for Memorial day. I can' wait. 3 more days till I get those ribs!

Robyn Lee said...

Wow, this looks SOOOOO good!!! : )

Wendyfmckinley said...

Exactly what I was looking for, my middle boy Nate is a big meat eater which has been stumping me. I bet I could even put the sauce on my veggie burger.

Julie Harward said...

OH YUM! You would have to post this at dinnertime! It looks so good..maybe the weekend! Come say hi :D

Vintage Marigold said...

We are actually taking a day trip from Las Vegas up your way this weekend! I am excited to get out town:)

Unknown said...

I'm gonna make these tomorrow the sauce sounds sooo good, by the way...ribs are on sale at Target...$1.49 St. Louis, $1.79 Babyback! Dee bought a shopping cart full yesterday!

Prudy said...

Oh, Penny! You scored! Wish I had known-actually-wish I had a Super Target!

Michal said...

yummy. trying to think of a way to make this sauce without using the soda. or maybe i'll look for some natural soda without the HFCS in it . . . this is my favorite technique for ribs, always so tender, but i'm interested in trying out your sauce. and bring on that onion ring recipe!

so excited that i get to be one of your guests this summer. glad i booked early;)

Fantastic Mr. R said...

Michal:
Skip the soda and use cherry juice, or even orange juice for a little different flavor. You might have to add a bit more sugar in the end.

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