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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Thursday, August 28, 2014

Baby Back Ribs with Dry Rub

Ribs are messy and sticky and delicious! I love getting my hands into a big pile of ribs and goin' to town on them. I have a funny story about a friend of mine who, unbeknownst to me, did NOT like getting her hands messy when it came to food. I invited her over to eat with us once and I cooked a bunch of baby backs. I kept looking out of the corner of my eye as she tried to eat her ribs with a knife and fork. It was fascinating to watch, actually. I think she finally picked them up with two fingers and nibbled a little bit before giving up and eating only the side dishes. Fun memory of a fun friend. If you don't have a phobia about getting your hands dirty when it comes to food, then these ribs are for you. They are delicious and worth all the mess!

Baby Back Ribs with Dry Rub



2 racks of baby back ribs
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons paprika
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder

Mix all spices in a bowl.

Oven method:

Place foil on baking sheet.

Remove membrane from the back side of the ribs.

Place ribs on foil and sprinkle both sides with dry rub. With meat side down, close foil over ribs and allow to set in the fridge overnight or for several hours. Remove ribs from fridge about an hour before cooking.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Bake ribs about 2 hours.

Remove ribs from oven and increase temperature to 350 degrees.

Open foil and drain juices. Brush bbq sauce on both sides. With meat side up, cook another 45 minutes, basting with bbq sauce every 15 minutes.

Allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing. 

Serve with bbq sauce.


For grilled ribs: Follow above directions except finish on the grill....about 2-3 minutes on each side, basting with bbq sauce, if desired.

Makes about 3/4 cup of dry rub...enough for two slabs of ribs.

Here's what you'll need! (I only cooked one rack for us.) 
Here's what you'll need! 
(I only cooked one rack for us.)

Mix up the spices. 
Mix up the spices.

Peel the membrane off the backside of the ribs. Once you get it started, it should come off in one piece. 
Peel the membrane off the backside 
of the ribs. Once you get it started, 
it should come off in one piece.

Lay the ribs on some foil, then sprinkle both sides with the rub. 
Lay the ribs on some foil, then 
sprinkle both sides with the rub.

Fold up the foil around the ribs and cook about 2 hours. 
Fold up the foil around the 
ribs and cook about 2 hours.

Open up the foil, drain off the juices and baste both sides with bbq sauce every 15 minutes for 45 minutes. 
Open up the foil, drain off the juices 
and baste both sides with bbq sauce
every 15 minutes for 45 minutes.

First one side.... 
First one side....

...then the other. Allow to rest for 15 minutes. 
...then the other. Allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Slice and eat!!! 
Slice and eat!!!