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.)

 

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.

 

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.

 

Open up the foil, drain off the juices 

and baste both sides with bbq sauce

every 15 minutes for 45 minutes.

 

First one side....

 

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

 

Slice and eat!!!

Pulled Pork Pineapple Pizza

We've done it again! Thanks to the ease of Mama Mary's pizza crust, we had a fast and delicious dinner and something that would be great for Labor Day! This pizza was topped with all kinds of yummy things and it was like a flavor explosion! IT Guy and I were the only ones home when I made it so there were a couple of slices leftover. We had to leave and I was thinking I'd have another piece when we got home. But guess what? #1 Son came by and scarfed it down and left me none! We all loved it so much! This is a great pizza if you're wanting something hearty. It tastes like you spent lots of time making it but it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and bake. A perfect menu item for your Labor Day festivities! Really, REALLY delicious!!!

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Pulled Pork Pineapple Pizza



1 Mama Mary's pizza crust ~ any kind
2 cups prepared pulled pork with barbeque sauce (I used Jack Daniels, found in the deli section)
1 cup barbeque sauce
1 8-ounce can pineapple tidbits ~ drained well
1/2 cup sliced red onion
1/2 cup sliced banana peppers ~ drained
3 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Spread barbeque sauce over crust then sprinkle with 2 cups of the cheese.

Scatter pulled pork over the cheese then add additional toppings.

Sprinkle remaining cheese over toppings.

Bake for 12 - 15 minutes until hot and bubbly.


 
Here's what you need!

 
Spread the bbq sauce on the pizza 
crust then top with 2 cups of the cheese.

 
Scatter the pulled pork on top.

 
Then the rest of the topping and the remaining cheese.

 
Bake it up and serve!

Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo

Yum, yum and yum! Not much else to say about this. How can you go wrong with pasta and Alfredo? Well, you can't. And easy? So easy. This dish always reminds me of #2 Son because it's one of his favorites. You gotta try this simple and filling meal! 
 
Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo



2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts ~ large dice
Salt & pepper
1 12-ounce bag steam & serve broccoli florets ~ cooked according to package directions
4 tablespoons butter 1 cup heavy cream
1 clove garlic ~ minced
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese1 tablespoons dried parsley
8 ounces fettuccine ~ cooked and drained

 

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat.

Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes then add garlic.

Stir in parsley, cheese and salt and pepper. Whisk quickly.

Add cooked broccoli. Set aside.

In a large skillet, saute the chicken in a little olive oil until cooked through. Season with salt and pepper.

Add cooked pasta to the chicken then add the Alfredo sauce and stir. Heat through and serve.

 
Okay....here we go!

 
Melt butter in a medium saucepan 
over medium low heat. Add cream 
and simmer for 5 minutes then add garlic.

 
Stir in parsley, cheese and salt and pepper. 
Whisk quickly.

 
Add cooked broccoli. Set aside.

 
In a large skillet, saute the chicken 
in a little olive oil until cooked through. 
Season with salt and pepper.

 
Add cooked pasta to the chicken.

 
Then add the Alfredo sauce and stir. 
Heat through and serve.

 
Pour it into a big bowl. Serve with 
some hot bread and dinner is done!

Meatball Pasta Skillet

I love anything with an Italian flair. I think it's because my mom doesn't so she didn't cook much of it when I was a kid. I guess you could say I'm making up for it now by eating it whenever I can. I think of Italian food a lot like Mexican food in that it's a lot of the same ingredients just switched around into various dishes. But why does it all taste so good and so different?? You gotta try this!!!

Meatball Pasta Skillet



8 ounces penne pasta ~ cooked and drained (or use the entire 16-ounce box to stretch the meal)
1 32-ounce jar marinara sauce
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion ~ diced
1 green bell pepper ~ diced
1 clove garlic ~ minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup panko crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
2 cup grated mozzarella cheese

In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, milk, egg, crumbs, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Mix gently then form into bite-sized meatballs. Set aside.

In a large skillet, saute the onion, garlic and bell pepper for about 10 minutes.

Add meatballs to skillet with the veggies cover and cook through.

When meatballs are almost done, stir in marinara sauce. 

Stir in the pasta. Stir all to combine.

Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and bake at 375 about 20 minutes until heated through and cheese has lightly browned.


 
Here we go!

 
Combine the ground beef, milk, 
egg, crumbs, salt, pepper and Italian 
seasoning. Mix gently then form 
into bite-sized meatballs.

 
Saute the onion, garlic and bell 
pepper for about 10 minutes.

 
Add meatballs to skillet with the 
veggies cover and cook through.

 
When meatballs are almost done, 
stir in marinara sauce.

 
Then add the pasta and stir to combine.

 
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese 
and bake at 375 about 20 minutes 
until heated through and cheese 
has lightly browned.

 
Awww yeah, baby! Delicious!

Mystery Brownies

Okay, okay....these are not *those* kind of mystery brownies. We're not in the 70's anymore so let's all move on. These are so good! I got 4 different candy bars and cut them up and tucked them inside these little goodies. You could use the same kind of candy if you're not into being surprised but then you couldn't call them "mystery brownies" anymore, could you?

Mystery Brownies



2 sticks butter ~ melted
4 eggs
4 tablespoons water
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 candy bars of your choice cut into 12 pieces. I used Reese's peanut butter cups (which I didn't cut up), Snickers with almonds, Kit-Kat and Butterfinger.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, eggs, sugar, water and vanilla.

Add the cocoa and the salt and stir gently. 

Next stir in the flour and the baking powder.

Pour half of the batter into the pan.

Arrange the candy bar pieces on top of the batter. I did 3 across and 4 down.

Pour remaining batter over the candy bar pieces and smooth batter to cover.

Bake 30 - 40 minutes until brownies are done.

Allow to cool completely before cutting. 

 
Okay. Let's go!

 
Combine the melted butter, eggs, 
sugar, water and vanilla.

 
Add the cocoa and the salt and stir gently.

 
Next stir in the flour and the baking powder.

 
Cut up your candy bars into 12 pieces. 
You might have a little bit leftover and 
those are up for grabs to whoever is in 
the kitchen. Lucky you!!!

 
Pour half of the batter into the pan. 
Arrange the candy bar pieces on top of the batter.

 
Pour remaining batter over the candy 
bar pieces and smooth batter to cover.

 
Bake!

 
Look! I got a Reese's peanut butter cup! My favorite!

Kielbasa Potato Bake

This went fast. Too fast. You know why? Because it was stinkin' good, that's why! We are huge kielbasa fans around here so anything involving that tasty little meat makes us happy. I love the way it flavors a casserole! The cheesy goodness at the end was just the crowning touch!! A perfectly tasty and simple meal that everyone will love!

Kielbasa Potato Bake



1  1 1/2-pound bag baby Yukon Gold potatoes ~ cut into chunks (about 8)
1 medium onion ~ cut into chunks
1 14-ounce package smoked sausage or Kielbasa ~ cut into 1/2 inch coins
1/2 stick butter ~ cubed
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

Place potatoes and onion into pan.  Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Scatter butter over potatoes and cover with foil. 

Bake for 30 minutes.

Remove pan from the oven and add the chunked sausage. Stir to coat.

Replace foil and bake another 30 minutes.

Sprinkle cheese on top and heat another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Stir to combine. Serve!


 
The cast of characters.

 
Place potatoes and onion into pan. 
Season with salt, pepper and garlic 
powder. Scatter butter over potatoes 
and cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes.

 
Remove pan from the oven and add 
the chunked sausage. Stir to coat. 
Replace foil and bake another 30 minutes.

 
Yummy!

 
Top with cheese and cook another 5 
minutes or so until cheese has melted.

 
Stir it up!

 
Serve it up! So good!