Week 7: Baby Back Ribs and Pumpkin Mania

Dan and I spent this Saturday picking out pumpkins, carving jack-o-lanterns and making Pumpkin Seeds.  I had the better pumpkin.  I had the better pattern.  And in the daylight, I had the better jack-o-lantern. 

Then, darkness descended on Quinapoxet Avenue. 

 Literally. 

When lit up, his jack-o-lantern kicked my jack-o-lantern’s ass!  How did he know it would look like that!?!?!?!  Friggin’ Engineers.

Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Raw Pumpkin Seeds
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• ¼  teaspoon Seasoned Salt
• ¼ teaspoon Garlic Salt
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Butter, melted

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.  Spread on a parchment lined baking pan and cook 1 hour at 275, stirring every 15 minutes.

Dan asked for homemade ribs this week since I was sick last Sunday during the Dallas game. These need to be started the day before, but they are well worth the extra preparation. You can make this with pre-made BBQ sauce or use the Zesty homemade version below!

Zesty BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Ketchup
• 2 Cups Tomato Sauce
• 1 ½ Cups Brown Sugar
• 1 ¼ Cups Red Wine Vinegar
• ½ Cup Molasses
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 3 Tablespoons Liquid Smoke
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ½ teaspoon Chili Powder
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Celery Salt
• ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Pepper

Directions:
1. Combine wet ingredients in a large saucepan.  Add spices and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.

Oven Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients:

• 2 Racks Baby Back Ribs
• 8 Tablespoons Light Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Salt
• 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
• ½ teaspoon Cayenne
• ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
• ½ teaspoon Old Bay
• ½ teaspoon Thyme
• ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
• ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 2 Cups BBQ Sauce

Directions:
1. Combine dry ingredients and rub into Ribs.  
2. Create a large foil packet and place Ribs inside.  Refrigerate 8-48 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 250.  Leaving the Ribs in the foil packet, bake 3 hours.
4. Remove Ribs from foil and place on foil lined pan.  Increase temperature to 300 and bake for 1 hour, basting with BBQ Sauce every 10-15 minutes.
5. Broil for 5 minutes just until sauce in bubbly and charred.
Serve with extra sauce on the side.

Happy Cooking!