Apple Jalapeño Smoked Ribs

The night before grilling make the BBQ sauce and chill in the refrigerator. BBQ sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can however make it same day and it will still work.

Ingredients for Apple Jalapeño BBQ sauce:

1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 cup apple juice
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 TBSP molasses
1 TBSP black pepper
1 TBSP garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp celery salt
1 tsp ground coriander
1 medium jalapeño finely diced (if you want a more mild sauce remove seeds)

Directions for BBQ Sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients (ketchup, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, ground coriander, and diced jalapeño. The spice level is adjustable. If you like it spicy, you can dice the whole jalapeño (seeds and everything). If you like it more mild, remove the seeds and white ribs inside the pepper before dicing.


Ingredients for Ribs:

2 racks baby back ribs
4 TBSP sweet rub (I like using Pit Boss's Tennessee Apple Butter Rub)
1/4 cup yellow mustard
2 cups apple juice
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 medium jalapeños (sliced into rings)
1 cup Apple Jalapeño BBQ sauce (see below)

Directions for Ribs
Begin by removing the membrane on the back of the ribs.

Slather both sides of the ribs with the yellow mustard and season liberally with the sweet rub.

Prepare your smoker for indirect smoking at 225°F. Apple wood is a good one to use for this recipe. Place the seasoned ribs on the smoker and close the lid. Leave them to smoke for 3 hours.

Tear off a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil and place it on a large working surface. Transfer the ribs to the foil, bone side up so the bones don't tear through the foil. Sprinkle generously with brown sugar, top with the butter cut into small pads. Slowly pour apple juice over the top. Once the liquid has settled, top with the sliced jalapeños.

Tightly crimp the foil together to create an airtight seal. Return to the grill and keep your cooking temperature to as close to 225°F as you can. Let the ribs braise for 2 hours in the foil.

Carefully remove the ribs from the grill and place on a large working surface. Open the foil package (be careful of hot steam). Carefully remove the sliced jalapeños and set aside. Use tongs to remove the ribs from the foil and place them back on the grill, bone side down. Discard the foil and excess cooking liquid.

Brush the ribs with the Apple Jalapeño BBQ Sauce and arrange the jalapeño slices, you set aside, on top of the ribs. Close the lid of your grill and cook at 225°F for an additional hour until the ribs are done to your desired tenderness and the sauce is sticky and set. I like to brush the ribs with additional BBQ sauce after about a half hour.

After removing the ribs from the grill slice into individual ribs and brush with additional BBQ sauce. Any remaining sauce leave out for anyone who wants extra sauce.

Mango Salsa

Ingredients:

1 Mango

1/4 C Red bell pepper (finely diced)

1 green onion (finely chopped)

2 TBSP fresh cilantro (finely chopped)

1 fresh jalapeño (finely diced)

2 TBSP lime juice

1 TBSP lemon juice

1/2 avocado (diced)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. Allow to sit for a couple hours in the fridge before serving.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

2 TBSP Peanut Butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a 1/2 inch thick roll. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces.

Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes.

Steak Marinade

Ingredients:

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 TBSP garlic powder

3 TBSP dried basil

1 1/2 TBSP dried Parsley flakes

1/2 tsp ground pepper

1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce (optional)
1/4 cup pickled jalapeño juice and jalapeños 

Korean Beef Bowls

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef

6 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
6 green onions, chopped, divided
4 cups hot cooked brown rice
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Directions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook, stirring and crumbling into small pieces until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess grease.
2. Add garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, stirring until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in soy sauce, brown sugar, and red pepper. Cook until some of the sauce absorbs into the beef, about 7 minutes. Add 1/2 of the chopped green onions.
3. Serve beef over hot cooked rice; garnished with sesame seeds and remaining green onions.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1/2 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1/4 cup cream cheese1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
  
  1/4 tsp minced garlic
  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  In a small baking dish, mix together artichoke hearts, spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, cream cheese, Romano cheese, and garlic. Cover dish.
  Bake until heated through and bubbly, about 25 minutes
• 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups  all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon  baking soda
• 1 teaspoon  baking powder
• 1 teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon  ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon  salt
• 1 1/2 cups  granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup  butter (1 stick), softened
• 1 cup  LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 large  egg
• 1 teaspoon  vanilla extract
• Glaze (recipe follows)
• 
  
• INSTRUCTIONS
• PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets. 
• COMBINE flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.
• 
  
• BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Drizzle Glaze over cookies.
• FOR GLAZE:
• COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.