This weekend is Rib Fest. In our house we call it the most wonderful time of the year.

We only live a block away from the park where it is held so all weekend long we can hear the crowds, the bands playing and smell all the ribs cooking.

I am getting hungry just thinking about it!

As much as I love Rib Fest I can not go more then once. It is just too expensive and very crowded!

It is also insanely hot every year and I can’t tolerate the heat.

I love ribs and a good pulled pork sandwich as much as the next guy but standing in a long line in sweltering heat is not my idea of a great time.

So as an homage to Rib Fest I am making some delicious, sticky and sweet ribs at home.

These are an all day affair. Between the marinating time and the cook time its about 8 hours.

But they are so worth it!

Fall Off the Bone Ribs

2 racks of pork ribs (or beef ribs if that is what you are in to)

First you need to make your rub.

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons paprika

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon pepper

Before you can start rubbing your ribs you need to remove the silver skin on the underside

Insert your knife under the skin and twist up creating a hole

Grab the skin and pull from one end to the other

Now apply the rub

Wrap in foil for put in the fridge on a baking sheet for several hours. I have been tight on time and only done one hour and they were still delicious.

After the ribs finish in the fridge you need to slow cook them in the oven

I cook mine at 225 degrees for 3 hours

Keep them in the foil and on the baking sheet

After the three hours is up it is time for the BBQ

I keep them on the foil for two reasons:

1) it keeps my grill clean

2) sometimes the meat starts to fall off the bone and I don’t want it to fall between the grates.

Now it’s time to make the sauce

I use this sauce for ribs, chicken and hamburgers

You will need:

3/4 cup of ketchup

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine all the ingredients in a small sauce pan. Let simmer until bubbles start. Take off the heat and let sit for at least 5 minutes before using

Slather the sauce on the ribs at the tail end of cooking that way your sauce doesn’t burn

Remove from BBQ and cut into pieces and enjoy

As much as I love Rib Fest and all the different vendors and types of food there are, there really is nothing better then sitting on your back porch with a cold beer and a rack of ribs.