On cold winter nights, I like to cook hardy meals that take the chill out of the air. This second polar vortex has thwarted my gallant attempts. I knew the only way to avoid a scene from the Shining was to daydream about summer. My steamy fantasy included sunshine, grass between my toes and a picnic, but my reality was faced with gray skies, snow-broth and another night of gruel. My ever optimistic imagination really wanted a picnic with barbecue and fresh melon, crisp salad. I often have hurry home after a long day and decide in a few minutes what to cook and ribs take 4-6 hours, but tonight I vowed I was going to take control of my life and my disposition. I had schemed all morning about having supper cooked and ready to serve in twenty minutes after I rushed in the door. I would have a picnic, even if it was seven below zero,snow was up to my ankles and the sun had gone to the dark side of the moon.
On my lunch hour I rushed home. I threw frozen pork spare ribs in the electric roaster .I had the salad in the serving bowl, I even had desert, cantaloupe waiting in less than twenty minutes. I knew I was victorious,so like Peyton Manning, my mind could now just focus on the Super Bowl for the rest of the day. At 6 o'clock even I proudly strolled in the door like I was Violet Crawley, and the staff had dinner prepared without me even having to summon them. I opened the fridge and slammed the door in disgust, muttered and whined like Brady as I searched the pantry, and I moved the chair reminiscent of Bobby Knight as tried to find the nonexistent bottle of barbecue sauce on the top shelf.
My mind raced with options, I could just given in to winter and open jars of kraut and boiled potatoes, I could order pizza and pretend the ribs were for a pitch in at work, or I could just make my own barbecue sauce. I knew it was an option, but I feared messing up and ruining supper. My own sauce takes hours to simmer, and I didn't really want to even wait for it to come to room temperature. So I modified my recipe to cook on the meat and the result was great. I was able to believe that this cold weather would soon change and I would be in my garden soon.
1 cup ketchup
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp or to taste ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce
a squirt of prepared mustard(or 1/4 tsp ground mustard)
1/2 cup brown sugar
In a medium bowl, stir together ketchup, paprika, (canning) salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, , Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and brown sugar until well blended. Brush on ribs, and cook for 15 minutes or until the sugar carmelized.
