Thursday, July 19, 2012

Easy BBQ Ribs

I like to do my ribs in the slow cooker but if you are on vacation and want to BBQ some ribs for guests, here is the easiest way that I do it.

Take your ribs and pull off the membrane on the back.  You can grab it with a paper towel and it should pull right off.  This helps the meat not to be tough.

RUB WITH LOVE!
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 -2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Spread this paste on the meat thinly and rub it in good with your hands. Let sit for a few hours or refrigerate overnight.  The flavors will get stronger the longer they sit.  You can use any rub even just salt and pepper, it still turns out great.

Wrap tightly in foil. I lay the racks vertically on long vertical sheets. I fold over the top and bottom, then bring the sides up so they are even and fold over and crease, then roll down until the seam is flush against the meat. Be careful not to allow the bones to puncture the foil (I usually use two sheets to prevent this) all your good juices will leak out!

Put in the oven at 300 for 2.5 hours. 

At this point, remove a rack and careful unroll the foil to check if they are done, the bones should be loose in the meat (you should be able to remove a bone just by pulling it with your fingers). If they are still tight, put it back in for another half an hour or so, keep checking.

Put them on the grill and baste them with a mesquite bbq sauce (I like Sweet Baby Rays), turn and baste with sauce every 5 minutes for 20 minutes until crispy!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Camping Trip - Bang Bang

Had a fun weekend with friends at Rimrock lake.  The setting was absolutely beautiful from each direction.


The evening was gorgeous, we made Mike’s spaghetti for dinner and smores by the campfire.

Awoke Saturday morning and made breakfast while some went fishing off the bank and boat.  We went up to the cliffs and the guys did some repelling and cliff jumping. 


The sun came out just long enough and hot enough for us to jump in our swimsuits and paddle out in the lake…. Then we saw the STORM coming!  Huge black clouds filled the sky fast and we scurried into shore, made a quick lunch and began covering and protecting all of our belongings just in time for the storm to hit.  We all crammed into one tent and played card games. 


It was the perfect day rain or shine.  I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life.  That is definitely a sign of being with the right people.  No matter what happens they can always find a way to have fun. 



The storm eventually passed and it was a beautiful evening so we took our chairs up to the cliff and laughed some more while we watched the boats trying to get to their destination before the sunset. 

Friday, July 13, 2012

Crazy Busy!

It’s been a hectic few weeks!  The invitations for the wedding are finished and have been sent out.  I’m pretty proud of them, especially the little poker chips.



We had a 2-day garage sale where we mostly played “words with friends” and “draw something” while sipping Margaritas and shopping through the stuff that we were selling.  Of COURSE I found things to bring back in the house… what kind of girl do you think I am?!   The best part of the garage sale was when the Schwan man wanted to barter… Mike agrees we ended up on the winning side with a case of rootbeer float ice cream bars.  We really did it just for the story! 

We had a mini photo shoot and here's a couple of pictures from that.


We spent the afternoons in the pool to keep cool and this weekend I’m looking forward to another camping trip with the gang!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Be Still and Know That I am God

Sometimes you can be tested to the extreme.  Your faith is put to the fire and no one, no matter who you are, is exempt.  The one question that always comes out of it is, “Are you willing to stand and believe in spite of all that is happening?”  My answer is always yes.

This week my struggle came with a miracle.  It showed me what an amazing man I’m going to marry.  It gave me a solid foundation to our relationship, unlike anything else could have.  And for that I am eternally grateful.