APPLEWOOD SMOKED RIBS WITH TENNESSEE BARBECUE SAUCE

I make my BBQ rub, but you can buy one in your supermarket. You can smoke these ribs on a regular small grill. Just be patient.

Lee's Kitchen Hints:  Spare ribs are cut from the belly of the pig where bacon comes from.  

St Louis style ribs are trimmed to a more rectangular shape.

Baby back ribs are cut from the loin section of the pig where pork chops come from.

Tennessee BBQ Sauce

1 cup dark brown sugar

½ cup apple cider vinegar

3 cups ketchup

½ cup molasses

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

3 T unsalted butter

2 T prepared yellow mustard

2 T hot sauce

1 T smoked paprika

2 t garlic powder

2 t onion powder

¼ t hickory liquid smoke
½ t fine ground black pepper
½ t sea salt

¼ cup Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey (optional) 

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan.  

Bring to a boil, reduce to low and simmer 20 minutes.

Ribs

2 to 3 slabs baby back ribs

BBQ Rub

Hickory wood soaked in water for several hours 

½ cup apple juice

If there is silver skin attached to the bone or back side of the ribs. Take a knife and make a small cut under the membrane at the end and pull it off using "kitchen-only" needle-nose pliers or use a paper towel to grip it and pull.

Rub both sides with BBQ Rub. Cover and refrigerate a couple of hours.

Prepare the charcoal grill with about 40 coals on one side of the grill.

Throw some soaked wood chips on top of coals.
Place an oven-proof pan on the bottom of grill next to coals and half fill with apple juice.

Or you can use a smoker and follow the directions.

Place ribs on a rib rack, insides together, on the cool side of the grill, cover with a lid and try to keep the temperature of the grill at 225-250 degrees F by keeping vents mostly closed. You can also just lay ribs flat on the cool side of the grill. Close the lid and let ribs slowly cook for 2 hours.

Pour the apple juice in a clean spray bottle and spray ribs. Close top and after 3 hours, spray the ribs with more apple juice. Spray with apple juice every 30 minutes for the next 2 hours. 

After 5 hours on the grill, generously mop ribs with BBQ Sauce and grill for an additional 30 minutes. 

Transfer to a cutting board and let rest a few minutes.  

Cut between individual ribs and generously spoon on more BBQ sauce.

For a real Southern-Style dinner, serve with:

            Potato Salad or Mac & Cheese

            Cole Slaw

            Corn on the cob
            Corn Bread

            Baked Beans
            Deviled Eggs