With Chinese New Year right around the corner (Monday, February 8th) what better way to celebrate this occasion,  then with some fall off the bone, flavorful, easy to make, Chinese Ribs.

I was in the mood for something different last night for dinner when I decided to make these ribs.  I hadn’t had them in a very long time.  What a great surprise to see my daughter Jenny go back 2 times for more ribs.  These really are “finger lickin’ good”!

DSC_0002

Cut one rack of ribs (I used baby back) into individual pieces.  Lightly salt and pepper ribs.

DSC_0006

Place 2 tablespoons of canola oil in a skillet or or dutch oven skillet with oil.  Add ribs and brown on all sides over medium high heat.  Deglaze  ribs with 1 ¼ cups of your favorite Sake….I used DSC_0003

Add ½ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 teaspoon of ginger, and ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

Cover pan and reduce heat to simmer for 2 hours or until the meat pulls away easily from the bones.

Remove ribs from skillet and place on a sheet pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

DSC_0009Add 1 tablespoon Karo® light syrup, 2 tablespoons of your favorite barbecue sauce, ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds to skillet.  Stir until heated throughly.DSC_0007

Using a silicone pastry brush, brush glaze over ribs and place under broiler for 2-4 minutes, or until slightly golden brown.

DSC_0010

Click below to download the recipe:

Chinese Braised Ribs

Hope you enjoy these “finger lickin'” ribs as much as we do!

Buon Appetito!

Chinese Braised Ribs


Happy 4th of July!  And what a great time of the year to share with friends and family over some yummy ribs, salads, watermelon, and whatever else you like on this wonderful holiday.  My son, Rob, is our families official rib cooker, but since his relocation to Colorado I’ve had to try and come up with my own recipe/style of cooking ribs.  I hope you enjoy them, remember, low and slow…..

The rub:

2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion The Rubpowder
2 teaspoons Weber® Smokey Mesquite Seasoning
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Smoked Paprika
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Cayenne Pepper
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Pasilla Chili Powder
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Chipotle Chili Powder
½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Rinse ribs and remove the membrane from the rack of ribs using a paper towel.

Remove the Membrane

 

Sprinkle ribs with rub.

Sprinkle ribs with rub

Wrap ribs in foil and place in refrigerator overnight, if possible, or at least for 60 minutes.

Prepare the grill:
Preheat your grill to 225°, try and maintain this heat throughout the entire cooking process. Place a smoke box (filled with soaked chips) directly over the coals.

Remove ribs from foil and place on grill, but not directly over the coals.* Smoke ribs for 2-3 hours for baby back ribs and 3-4 hours for Saint Louis style ribs. Remove ribs from grill and wrap in foil (this will prevent ribs from drying out). Continue smoking the ribs (adding additional wood chips as needed) until the ribs are done (check doneness by bending the ribs, if they bend easy, they are ready, if not, go grab a beer and come back later).

Memphis BBQ Ribs

Bon Appetito!

Memphis Style BBQ Ribs

1 Rack Ribs, Baby Back

Rub:
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons Weber® Smokey Mesquite Seasoning
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Smoked Paprika
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Cayenne Pepper
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Pasilla Chili Powder
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Chipotle Chili Powder
½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Ribs:
Rinse ribs and remove the membrane from the rack of ribs using a paper towel.
Combine rub and sprinkle on both sides of ribs.
Wrap ribs in foil and place in refrigerator overnight, if possible, or at least for 60 minutes.

Prepare the grill:
Preheat your grill to 225°, try and maintain this heat throughout the entire cooking process. Place a smoke box (filled with soaked chips) directly over the coals.

Remove ribs from foil and place on grill, but not directly over the coals.* Smoke ribs for 2-3 hours for baby back ribs and 3-4 hours for Saint Louis style ribs. Remove ribs from grill and wrap in foil (this will prevent ribs from drying out). Continue smoking the ribs (adding additional wood chips as needed) until the ribs are done (check doneness by bending the ribs, if they bend easy, they are ready, if not, go grab a beer and come back later).

Brush your favorite sauce on top of ribs, cook an additional 2-3 minutes and remove ribs from grill.

*Great website with lots of information regarding ribs…
http://amazingribs.com/recipes/porknography/best_BBQ_ribs_ever.html

Memphis Style BBQ Ribs


Thank you all for supporting my blog…2014 in review. 2015 will be even bigger and better!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.



2015 Galena’s Cucina Calendars

Just in time for the holidays, the perfect gift for that “foodie” in your life.  Monthly recipes along with beautiful photos.  Now available for ordering, first 25 orders will receive a free recipe collection. Special price of $12.95 plus shipping and handling.

Deliveries will be available after November 20, 2014.  Click on the “Order Form” to place your order.

Order Form

Galena's Cucina 2015 Calendars

Galena’s Cucina 2015 Calendars



Happy Labor Day

Labor Day is the third largest cookout events in the United States.  Tradition dictates that food cooked on a open flame is synonymous with summer holidays and as Labor Day is the last holiday of the summer, it had better be good!  If planning a backyard cookout then this is the right place. It’s important to take advantage of Labor Day celebrations to mix up some summer time drinks, pop open some Beer, light up the grill or smoker, and have a great cookout with your friends and family!

Here are some delicious recipes for your Labor Day Cookout!

The number one most popular food cooked on Labor Day is Barbecue Ribs

Memphis Style BBQ Ribs

Labor Day is also known for the end of “hot dog season“…

Perfect Grilled Hot Dog

Perfect Grilled Hot Dog

Some of my favorite salads include Asian Slaw, and Orzo Pasta Salad, or Black Beans, Rice & Avocado Salad

Orzo Pasta Salad with Weber® Just Add Juice® Citrus Herb Marinade

Orzo Pasta Salad with Weber® Just Add Juice® Citrus Herb Marinade

A cookout is never complete without Watermelon

Grab and Go Watermelon

Grab and Go Watermelon

or a wonderful Blueberry Cheesecake

Blueberry Cheesecake

Blueberry Cheesecake

And of course you will need the best Margarita

The Best Margarita

The Best Margarita

I hope you all enjoy this Labor Day Weekend as you celebrate with your family and friends!

Boun Appetito!!!


Turn Your Grill into a Smoker and ROCK these Ribs!!!

Happy Father’s Day! Today is the perfect day to do some outdoor “smoking”.  I have owned a propane grill for years, just love it.  But I have always wanted a charcoal grill to get the real charcoal flavor for some types of food. A few weeks ago, I finally made that leap to a charcoal grill!  Last night I attempted my first ever (yes its true) smoked ribs.

Weber Grill

Weber Grill

This has always been my son’s tradition (I think because it gives him an excuse to drink beer….hehehe)

Rob & Cecile smoking ribs

Rob & Cecile smoking ribs

I found this great blog about smoking ribs without a traditional smoker.  See below.  I prefer to use “baby back ribs” instead of “St. Louis” style, also I love Wickers instead of apple juice, has a LOT more flavor.  And here is my recipe for the “rub”:

2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Smoked Paprika
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pasilla Chile Powder
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Cayenne Powder
1 tablespoon Webers® Smokey Mesquite Seasoning
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Black Pepper
½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Salt

I also prefer to leave the rub on as long as possible, preferably overnight.  One more thing, I wrap my ribs in foil or the first couple of hours of cooking, this is known as Crunching”.

The Texas Crunch

The Texas Crunch

Memphis Style Smoked Ribs

Memphis Style Smoked Ribs

Buon Appetito!