Cooking Ribs

Rib Cooking

2008-11-19T02:49:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been awhile since my last post, so this one is long overdue.
It's not everyone who wants to know how to cook ribs, but now that it is becoming summer again in the southern hemishere, barbeque ribs, smoked ribs and every barbeque recipe is becoming popular again.

Every Saturday and Sunday you can just smell the neighbours firing up their grills, getting out their bbq sauce recipes while preparing their favourite country ribs, barbeque ribs, smoked ribs or whatever they intend for grilling ribs.
Keep in mind here in sunny South Africa they call it braaing ribs.

What a distraction ! You cannot watch a game on the TV for want of these aromas wafting through your door or window. You are practically forced take a stroll outside and peek over the wall or fence at what the neighbour is up to.

Well, please keep your eye out for further posts here. You can be sure that with this advent of summer you will be reading a lot more about cooking ribs !

10 Homeless after Thanksgiving's cooking ribs ....

2007-11-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

This is so uncool !

Thanks giving is not about bad things happening to good people !

"I was cooking ribs, getting ready to put the barbecue sauce on," said Grandma Bonnie Anderson, who had most of her meal for 12 already on the table when she smelled smoke behind her in a storage room and saw flames."

Please read the whole story by following this link HERE !

There is a video as well !

Folks, the next time you grunt and growl about how hard life is treating you - think back on incidents such as these !

Cooking Ribs - the by products ?

2007-11-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

We've been looking at a lot of recipes and stuff all about cooking ribs.

Something I saw on Google made me think in a lateral direction. How 'bout by products ? You know, like bitumen, gas etc is a by product of crude oil ?

What can you get from Ribs, or more specifically from cooking ribs ? A couple of quick thoughts :

- doggy bones is a kinda corny and obvious answer
- a meaty soup ?
- a stock ?

This entry was more to provoke thoughts than anything else. Would like to hear about if anyone has some decent answers to the question.

Some contributions or suggestions ?

2007-11-17T12:36:00.000-08:00

Hey !

How about sending us some contributions or suggestions ?

The whole idea and fun of blogging comes about in the interaction and sharing.

Send yours to healthyfoodrecipes2@gmail.com !

Cooking Ribs Down Under !

2007-11-15T05:42:00.000-08:00

Hokay ! Let's try a new country !

I found this contribution from ABC radio site in Australia.....

Marinated Beef Spare-ribs in Wattleseed and Mustard

Chef: From the Old Ghan Restaurant and Gallery, Hawker.

Serves 4

Degree of difficulty: Medium

Preparation Time: Marinade requires 24 hours

Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes

You need:
8 Crosscut Beef Ribs

Marinade
2 tblspn Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup White Wine
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
1 Tbspn Wattleseeds
1/2 tspn Garlic Granules
1 tspn Dry Parsely

Sauce
Use Marinade
1 cup White Wine
1 Tbspn Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup thickened Cream
1 tspn Wattleseeds

Garnish
Shallots
Red Cabbage

And you make your favourite fresh garden salad.

Method:
Marinade
Combine Mustard, Wine, Soy, Wattleseeds, Garlic and Parsely. Place Beef Ribs
into the Marinade, and leave for 24 hours.

Ribs
Cook spare-ribs in a hot pan, for 20 minutes, turning over every 5 minutes.

Sauce
Whilst ribs are cooking, pour the marinade mix, Mustard, Wattleseeds, Wine, and
Cream, into a pan, and reduce the sauce, to a creamy consistency.

The final dish
When the ribs are cooked, pour the sauce over them. Garnish with thin sliced shallot and red cabbage.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with fresh garden salad.

Wine Suggestion: Your favourite drop of white.

Enjoy !

Cooking Ribs - Chinese style !

2007-11-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

This has to be the shortest ever recipe on cooking ribs ! - Chinese Style !

Recipe: Chinese Style Ribs

4 pounds of venison ribs 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup cooking sherry (optional) 1/2 cup water 4 Tbsp. brown sugar 2 cloves garlic, crushed Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the racks of ribs in a large roasting pan. Combine all other ingredients, stir well, and pour over ribs. Cover pan. Bake 45 minutes, turning ribs over once or twice.

Find more HERE !

Cooking Ribs

2007-11-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

Cooking ribs remains a very popular subject.

Last time we had a look at what cooking ribs means to a country like South Africa. Well we now look at a different culture or country adaptation.

How does Asian Country Style sound ? We picked up the following off the website infopages4all.co.za - do yourself a favour and go there for absolutely anything you are needing information for.

Ted Abela's Asian Country-Style Pork Loin Ribs

The Washington Post, October 31, 2007

Course: Main Course
Features: Grilling

Summary:

Redskins tailgaters know who Ted Abela is: the guy from Woodbridge with three grills, eight or 10 warming trays and a pot of bubbling oil where funnel cakes are made every few minutes.

This is a recipe he is semi-famous for and makes at every home game. He buys the ingredients in large quantities from big-box retailers such as Costco and Sam's Club. These ribs are quite salty, so taste the marinade, adjusting the seasoning to your liking.

12 servings

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups (1/2 of a 45-ounce bottle) store-bought barbecue sauce, preferably KC Masterpiece Original, plus more as needed
2 to 3 cups low-sodium soy sauce, or to taste
14 dashes (about 1/2 tablespoon) hot pepper sauce, preferably Crystal brand
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 2 large lemons)
1/2 cup lemon pepper
1/3 cup garlic powder (optional)
48 medium cloves garlic, chopped
6 pounds boneless country-style pork loin ribs, trimmed of excess fat

Directions:

Combine the barbecue sauce, soy sauce, hot pepper sauce, lemon juice, lemon pepper, garlic powder, if using, and chopped garlic in a mixing bowl; stir to a syrupy consistency, adding more barbecue sauce if needed. Reserve about 1 cup in a small resealable plastic food storage bag (for basting on the grill later); divide the remaining sauce mixture between 2 large resealable plastic food storage bags.

If the ribs are not already in handy portions, cut them into strips 3 to 4 inches long and 1 inch wide (about 24 pieces). Divide them between the 2 large bags with the sauce mixture, then divide the remaining sauce mixture between the bags. Seal and massage to coat the meat evenly. Refrigerate and marinate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

When ready to cook, prepare the grill: If using a gas grill, heat it to medium-high. If using a charcoal grill, light the charcoal or wood briquettes; when the briquettes are ready, distribute them evenly under the cooking area for direct heat. Place the meat on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Before turning the ribs over with tongs, drizzle a little of the reserved sauce mixture on the meat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the second side or until the meat is cooked to the desired degree of doneness. (Discard the remaining marinade.) Serve hot, warm or at tailgate temperature.

Recipe Source:

From Ted Abela of Woodbridge.

Cooking Ribs - try the South African way !

2007-09-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to study the practice of cooking ribs in the context of different nations and their customs.

In South Africa, the term "cooking ribs" is almost never used. The South African use a term called "braai", which is the American equivalent of "barbeque". In South Africa, the most traditional way of cooking ribs is to braai ( or barbeque ) them. South Africans are especially fond of what is called "Spare Ribs", being a smoked pork rib which is grilled, barbequed, or braai'd over an open flame. Of course, basting sauces and all the rest go without saying.

Spare ribs are to be found in most steak houses in South Africa, one of the most well known being Spur Steak Ranches all around the country. In fact, Spur made name for themselves with their famous Spare Ribs and secret spur basting sauce.

Spur Steak Ranches has played an integral part in South African family life for over 37 years. Spur founder and executive chairman Allen Ambor first established the company's reputation for tasty, nutritious, value for money meals when he invested R4 000 to open the Golden Spur in Newlands, Cape Town in 1967. A Spur burger cost 40 cents ( South African currency ) in those days! Today, 40 years later, it costs about 100 x more, going at around R40.00 !

From these early beginnings, Spur has grown into an internationally recognised brand comprising 200 South African and 24 international outlets. In the last financial year ending June 2005, annual turnover increased by 11 per cent up to R200.6 million. In the past year 11 new Spur outlets were opened, while 19 revamps were completed and four stores were strategically relocated - quite an accomplishment for people in the business of cooking ribs.

Even more interestingly, most South Africans have the idea that Spur is an American franchise, since the whole look and feel is in line with the historical American image of Ranches, the wide open plains , and the wild west of yesteryear with Cowboys and Indians - in the minds of South Africans anyway.

Coming soon : Instead of cooking ribs, try braaing ribs the South African way.

Some great pointers on Cooking Ribs

2007-08-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

I came across these great pointers on a website www.chefs.com on the subject of cooking ribs.

by Steven Raichlen
From Raichlen on Ribs, Ribs, Outrageous Ribs

Ribs are easy to cook, but there's more to the process than simply throwing them on the grill. A proper rack needs to be trimmed and peeled, seasoned or marinated, and mopped and sauced at the right intervals. You also have to know when they're done. Here's an eight-point game plan.

Trim the ribs
Chances are, if you buy pork baby backs or beef ribs at the supermarket, they'll come already trimmed. If you see any large lumps of fat, sinews, or loose pieces of bone, cut them off with a paring knife.

Spareribs, on the other hand, often come with the rib tips (cartilaginous ends) and point (a triangle of small bones and sinewy meat at the loin end of the rack) attached. Using a sharp knife and following the line of fat at the base of the ribs, cut off the rib tips. Then cut off the pointed end of the rack of ribs. This will give the rack a neat, rectangular appearance (the point and the rib tips can be cooked separately). And, if the rack has one, remove the tough flap of meat (the skirt or flap) from the bone side. You can use it to flavor baked beans or for making stock. The more evenly you shape the rectangle of the rack, the more evenly the ribs will cook.

Remove the membrane
Most racks of ribs come with a papery membrane on the bone side. I recommend removing this for a couple of reasons. It impedes the absorption of spice and smoke flavors, and it's tougher than the rest of the rib meat. Two good tools to help you get under the membrane so you can pull it off are a butter knife or the tip of a meat thermometer. You'll find detailed instructions for removing the membrane in each recipe.

Season the ribs with a rub or marinade
You can cook ribs seasoned with nothing more than salt and pepper. Most pit masters opt for the more complex flavors of a full-blown rub or marinade. Rubs are blends of spices, herbs, and often salt. You sprinkle one over the ribs, then rub it onto the meat, which is why it's called a rub. Rubs can be applied right before cooking, in which case, they act like a seasoned salt. Or they can be applied four to six hours—or even a half day—ahead, in which case, the rub cures the meat in addition to seasoning it. Throughout the book, you'll find many recipes for rubs

A marinade is a wet seasoning, comprised of flavorful liquids, like wine, soy sauce, fruit juice, or olive oil, to name a few, plus spices and aromatic vegetables, like garlic, ginger, or chiles. Marinades are often used to make Asian-style ribs, but they're also frequently used by pit masters in North America. I like disposable heavy aluminum foil drip pans or large resealable plastic bags for marinating.

Always keep meats in the refrigerator as they marinate. Avoid reactive metal containers—unlined aluminum, for example, or cast iron—for marinating, especially with such acidic ingredients as tomatoes, citrus juice, or vinegar. And, never reuse a marinade that's been in contact with raw meat as a baste or as a sauce unless you boil it briskly for three minutes to kill any bacteria. Strain the boiled marinade before using.

A wet rub features the best of both; it's a seasoning paste that's thicker than a normal marinade and wetter than a rub.

Use a rib rack
Only two racks of ribs will fit flat on most kettle grills, but there's an easy way to double the capacity (and the number of people you can feed): Cook the ribs upright in a rib rack.

Mop the ribs
Direct and indirect grilling and smoking are inherently dry cooking methods. One option for keeping ribs moist is to mop them with a mop sauce. Mop sauces contain little or no sugar, so you can apply them throughout the cooking process without them burning. Use a barbecue mop or basting brush for applying mop sauces. Or, you can pour the mop sauce into a spray bottle and squirt it on the ribs.

Wrap the ribs, if necessary
Depending on the size and weight of the ribs, the heat of your grill, and the intensity of the smoke, among other factors, ribs may start to dry out before they've reached the optimal tenderness. Don't worry if this happens—there's an easy solution: Wrap them tightly in aluminum foil and continue grilling. Wrapping seals in moisture because the steam captured will help tenderize the ribs. Be careful when you unwrap the ribs; the escaping steam can burn your fingers.

Sauce the ribs—or not
Purists will argue that a great rib doesn't need sauce. Nonetheless, most people prefer their ribs with at least a light basting of barbecue sauce. What I often do is grill the ribs indirectly until they reach the desired tenderness, then lightly baste them with sauce and move them directly over the fire to sizzle the sauce into the meat. The idea is to use the sauce as a sort of light varnish for the ribs, rather than a thick gloppy coating that camouflages the meat.

Learn to recognize when the ribs are cooked
The two keys to master grillmanship are learning to control the fire (and consequently the heat) and to tell when the ribs are done. We use a three-part doneness test at Barbecue University. Here's what to look for:

A. An exterior that's darkly browned and crusty.

B. Meat that has shrunk back about 1/4 inch from the ends of the bones (or a little more on large beef ribs). I call this a rib's built-in "pop-up thermometer."

C. Meat that's tender enough to tear apart with your fingers. Remember, a rib should have some chew to it.

In addition, if you're smoking ribs, when you cut into one you'll see a layer of reddish pink just beneath the surface. This is called the smoke ring, and it occurs naturally when you expose meat to wood smoke for an extended period of time. I call it the "red badge of honor" of barbecue: If your ribs have one, you've done them right. Display the smoke ring proudly to your guests, taking full advantage of your bragging rights.

The next time you intend cooking ribs - remember to apply the above pointers !

A taste of community - it's like cooking ribs

2007-08-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

"It's like cooking ribs" ! - I could not help myself but to bring this piece of news to you, especially because of the context in which it is told. There is a tremendous analogy and insight into the mind of the human, but let me tell you upfront - while I am pasting the link for you to follow, if you love cooking ribs then do not go and read this !

Man ! I consider myself fairly insensitive to "gross" imagery, but when I read this I really felt so put off that I myself was considering becoming a vegetarian, much the same as this writer. I shudder to think what will come up in my mind the next time I sit down to a serving of ribs. I am fairly sure it will be a while before I consider cooking ribs again.

And then, the guy he is speaking to, likens community life to it - "it's like cooking ribs" he says. When there is joy or sadness, pigs are slaughtered.

A taste of community
News-Leader.com, MO - 18 Aug 2007
It's like cooking ribs. I make a joke about becoming a vegetarian. But this dead pig stench, strong and powerful as it is, smells familiar. ...

Please forgive me placing this, but it just hit home hard and left me deep in ponderance. How will you feel the next time you find yourself cooking ribs ?

Cooking Ribs

2007-08-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

Cooking Ribs raises $64,000 and goes ECO !

One so easily associates cooking ribs with the pleasurable and usually gluttonous pastime of eating ! But who would have thought that it could raise $64 000 for a charitable organisation ?

The Ribfest organised by the Rotary club of Guelph-Trillum, at Hillside, Guelph lake in Canada, boasts the attendance of around 50 000 rib hungry fans.

Also, RibFest and the Hillside music festivals have become summer events in this city, being fun events that have strong followings. A green roof above the main stage signals Hillside's ecological message to the world.

Artistic director Sam Baijal made the comment "We were green before the word green was even in the vocabulary,".

Food is served on plastic plates with reusable cutlery which is washed by volunteers. Beer is served in plastic reusable mugs. Free city water is supplied by a 15,000 litre tanker truck to be drank from a thousand stainless steel canteens.

If you drink from a can, it will be recycled, and your beer will come from a keg instead of a bottle. Grease, an inevitable byproduct of a weekend of cooking ribs, is recycled into biodiesel. Power comes from a generator.

But some problems aren't so easily overcome, problems like the Styrofoam containers that hold the ribs, beans and coleslaw. Since they're the container of choice for the ribbers who come from far and wide to RibFest to sell their product, local organizers' hands seem tied.

Now does that not provide a different picture that gets conjoured up in our minds when cooking ribs ?

Cooking Ribs

2007-08-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

The news on Cooking Ribs

It is always fascinating to read what the news has to say on the subject, e.g., just take a look at the following article:

Stick to your ribs
Washington Observer Reporter, PA - 13 Aug 2007
Raichlen's preferred method for cooking ribs is on the grill - preferably charcoal - or in the smoker. However, the cut dictates the technique, and Raichlen ...
Of course, to get it straight from the horse's mouth you need to take the following link :

Raichlen on Ribs, Ribs, Outrageous Ribs

Cooking Ribs

2007-08-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

Cooking Ribs

The pastime or practice of Cooking Ribs might seem like an everyday task to some. However, it has become a quest to cook the perfect rib, and far surpasses the traditional quest of the finest sausage.

To whet your appetite right at the beginning of this great site for cooking ribs :

Click here !