RIBS MOP RECIPES

Steps:

• Prepping the meat: There is a skin-like membrane on the back of the ribs. The easiest way to remove it is to start in the middle of the rack and work a table knife or a screwdriver underneath the skin, going all the way across and teasing it up. Slide your forefinger in there and bring your thumb across, holding the rib down and pulling the membrane straight up. It'll peel from the middle.
• Once you start cooking the ribs, you can't leave the pit or grill unattended for any more than about 20 minutes. You'll need to continually check that the temperature remains between 250 and 275 degrees F at all times in the grill. If it gets too hot, shut the top and bottom drafts to smother the fire. If some of the coals appear to be glowing red, that will cause a hot spot. Don't cook the ribs directly over the hot spot, move them to a different, cooler, part of the grill. If the temperature dips too low, move the ribs to a hot spot for a while and add some hot coals.
• Sprinkle ribs liberally with Magic Dust, coating both sides. Put them in a shallow pan or on a cookie sheet and cover them with clear plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate them until you're ready to use them. I recommend letting them marinate for at least 1 hour. At the restaurant we dust the ribs up to a day in advance.
• Place ribs on grill and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. About 10 minutes before you remove the ribs from the grill, mop them with sauce. When you take them off the grill, mop again with sauce and sprinkle some more Magic Dust on them. Serve immediately. Serves 4 very hungry people or you can cut the rack in half to serve 6 to 8 people who have a regular appetite.
• Mix all ingredients and store in a tightly covered container. You'll want to keep some in a shaker next to the smoker, grill, or stove. Keeps indefinitely but won't last long.
• Combine the ketchup, rice vinegar, apple juice or cider, cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, white pepper, cayenne, and bacon bits in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the apple, onion, and bell pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes or until it thickens slightly. Stir it often. Allow to cool, then pour into sterilized glass bottles. A clean glass jar that used to contain mayonnaise or juice works real well. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• Rinse ribs under water. Remove membrane from bone side.
• Dust all sides with dry rub. Press rub into meat with open hand. Let sit at room temperature for 45 to 60 minutes.
• Preheat the smoker to 250°F using lump charcoal and hardwood/fruitwood combination like hickory and peach wood.
• Smoke ribs directly on racks, meat side up, for three hours.
• Spritz the ribs with apple juice every hour and/or add a water pan to the smoker.
• Lay down a sheet of aluminum foil per rib rack.
• Spread a quarter cup of ghee onto the foil. Sprinkle half a cup of brown sugar onto the butter and squeeze the honey in a zig-zag pattern over the butter and brown sugar. Then pour on the Tiger sauce . Mix together with a gloved hand.
• Place ribs meat side down into glaze mixture. Spread excess glaze onto the bone side of ribs. Be sure the rack of ribs is thoroughly and evenly covered.
• Wrap the foil tightly around the rack of ribs, making sure there are no loose spots where steam can escape. Place foiled ribs back on the smoker for 2 more hours.
• After 2 hours, carefully remove the ribs from the foil. Place back on the smoker rack and mop all over with BBQ sauce.
• Cook for another hour mopping once more at the half hour mark.
• Remove from smoker and serve warm.