This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media® and Farmland/Smithfield, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #ReadySetRibs http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH
MemorialDay is the official start of summer in the United States however, as a child I remember it being called Decoration Day. We always went up to our farm, 100 miles away, where my dad’s parents were buried so we could place flowers on their graves. The part I remember most about that was fashioning roses into large arrangements with twine then laying them on the grave and standing there – for what seemed like forever – in silence. It was usually hot and the smell of roses, lilacs, and jasmine would rise up, engulfing me in a swirl of told-to-me memories and pictures come to life of my grandfather dressed like a Bandolero sitting on a horse in front of his pharmacy in Nuevo Mexico while my grandmother, a Danish Mail Order Bride, stood by in a Victorian dress with flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. I also remember the year these grandparents were married was the same year that my Nana was born!
Then, we would make the drive down to my Nana and Jim-Pa’s by noon to take them to the cemetery in their own hometown another 75 miles away. That cemetery had loads of people placing homemade flower arrangements while visiting, greeting old friends, and shedding a few tears about those who had gone on the past year. Nana always prepared a big paper sack full of picnic food along with a big red and white checked blanket that we spread out under the tree near the graves of my great-grandparents’ three generations back along with relatives who died in several wars and a few babies. We had fried chicken and ribs, potato salad, baked beans, bread, and a big plateful of whatever had been ripe that morning in the garden………..always strawberries for dessert!
I know it may sound strange to those who have never experienced Decoration Day in the South but it was as normal to me as brushing my teeth. A cemetery is where much of your history lies and one of the most peaceful places left in the world. This morning while you are reading this, Mr. Picky Eater and I will be putting flowers on his mother’s, grandparent’s and great-grandparent’s graves so we can be back in time to grill ribs in the afternoon. That all takes a bit of planning but I get it done each year by shopping the day before and then rising before everyone else to marinade the ribs. I have a new marinade this year and I cannot wait to share it with you!
Yesterday I ran over to Walmart to grab some baby back ribs. I was so happy to learn that Farmland Foods has ribs – we have eaten their bacon and ham for several years. It is good quality meat and I was not disappointed with the ribs! I bought these three packages.
After I got the ribs home, I went over to ReadySetRibs to see what the two Pit masters had to say about preparing Farmland ribs. Their names are Tuffy and Moe (Don’t you just love those names?) Tuffy Stone is the Pit Master for Baby Back Ribs and Moe Cason is the Subject Matter Expert on St. Louis Ribs. I took Tuffy’s advice several times (listed in this post) and found several really great recipes on the site. Go on over and check it out, you will love it!
I even got a $1 off coupon at Coupons.com for each package that I bought and you can get them too! Just click on Coupons.com above and it will take you right to it although you DO have to click on “more coupons” twice to get down to it – it’s there! (**while supplies last)
So I rinsed off the ribs as soon as I opened each package, then I laid them on wax paper and pulled off the “silver skin”. I always have horrible trouble pulling that stuff off and I never do it very well but amazingly – with these ribs – I grabbed that skin on the small end and was able to pull it up in one piece easily………..THREE TIMES. I will buy those ribs every single time just for that reason alone (although there are many more).
When you pull this skin off, it makes the ribs so much tenderer!
Then I salt and peppers each side placing them in a long Pyrex dish and while I put dry rub on two of the racks, one of them got my newly made up mango pineapple marinade.
Ingredients:
1 fresh pineapple peeled and quartered
2 fresh mangoes peeled pitted and cut into chunks
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
¼ Cup brown sugar
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 large jalapeno seeded and chopped
Directions:
Put all ingredients in blender and puree.
Pour ½ of the marinade over the ribs like this:
To the other marinade add:
1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
Then, place in a small saucepan and cook on low heat until reduced by ½. It will turn dark brown. Set in the fridge until just before the ribs are done and then heat up again.
Let the ribs marinade in the fridge for at least 2 hours – 10 hours would be great! Take them out of the fridge and allow coming to room temp for about 30 minutes. Before you put the ribs with the mango pineapple marinade, wipe off some of it because the marinade has high sugar content and could easily burn.
We cooked our ribs on our son-in-law’s propane grill. We set the grill on 300 F putting the ribs in indirect heat for about 1 ½ hours, bone-side down first. We used these wood chips, soaked in water to “smoke” the ribs.
If you cook them in the oven, pre-heat the oven to 325F and bake covered with foil for 2 hours then 30 minutes uncovered.
Either way, allow them to rest about 20 minutes loosely covered with foil and then pour on the BBQ sauce. Notice how the yellow marinade turns dark brown when it cooks? It mellows the flavors into a subtle sweet spiciness you could eat with a spoon!
Just look at those ribs! YUM! I have served them with Aunt Irene’s Old-Fashioned Potato Salad and my own Baked Beans recipe. I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day if you are an American and if not – enjoy your Monday! Do YOU grill ribs during the summer?
I’m partying today at Weekend Potluck!
Good morning Kelli! As a child I remember our family going to the cemetery as well with flowers. Boy your ribs look delicious! The best part of smoking ribs is eating them but you gotta have lots of napkins! Happy Memorial Day! š
Thanks Michael and Happy Memorial Day to you as well!
The ribs sound wonderful. I was happy to see your memories of Decoration Day (what we always called it up here in Ohio, too) and we also visited several cemeteries each year but never had a picnic there although we did bring a lunch for a nearby roadside table. A beautiful tradition.
Lillian
I’m so glad I am not the only one who still calls it Decoration Day! I remember roadside tables – we don’t have them in Oklahoma anymore, I’m sorry to say, but I think the upkeep and vandalism is what led to their demise down here. Thank you!
Oh, I LOVE the sound of your Memorial Day dinner! I haven’t even pulled any meat out of the freezer for dinner yet! But you’ve inspired me š
Thank you Liz!
Yes, I remember hustling from one cemetery to another to decorate graves. I haven’t been back in years to do this. I even wonder if I could locate all the family plots in all the different cemeteries in north central Oklahoma. Happy Memorial (Decoration) Day.
my parents always put flowers on their grandparents’ and then partents’ graves on Memorial Day as well. Lovely tradition.
Ribs are a great tradition too. My fave meat ever š
This dinner looks absolutely delicious, the refreshing sauce would be perfect š
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you!
I bet that flavor condiment is dynomite! š
It is! Try it sometime – bet you love it! Thanks and good luck!
Hey Rust! You won on the second round – send me an email to davidson(dot)Kelli(at)gmail(dot)com!!
Got it! Emailing now ….
Thank you!
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We always put flowers on our loved ones graves too, and called it Decoration Day.
I knew there were more of us out there. Good Luck!
Love to smoke ribs, the smell is one of the best things about summer. Mango and pineapple are both favorites of mine, this is a must try.
Thank you – you will love it!
I’ve never cooked ribs before. This looks like a must try.
You should try them! Don’t forget to take that silver skin off so it will be tender!
I loved reading your memories! It sounds so much like what I did in the panhandle of Oklahoma as a child. My Aunt and grandma would work for days getting things ready to go to the cemeteries. It is true about our history being there, I’m so glad my family taught me how special our ancestor’s are. And your ribs look wonderful! We like to smoke them too.
I’m so glad you shared your memory with me – good times, weren’t they? Good luck!
I’ve never tried mangoes at all for anything! The ribs look delicious though. My husband just loves ribs. I’ve never tried pulling off the silver skin — never even thought of it. I’ll be trying it next time I make ribs, though! Thanks for all your great posts!
Btw, we’ve always done Decoration Day! When I was a kid, we took my Grandmother to the cemeteries and we must have gone to at least six or seven! Some even in other towns! In those days, my Grandmother saved coffee cans and always took peonies in those cans to all the graves we visited. I don’t think anybody did artificial flowers back then.
I think you are right – all fresh ones from the gardens in your yard. Now, most people don’t even have yards!
Glad you like them – pull that skin off and find out what a huge difference it makes!
Love pineapple and mango, will have to give this a try!
Wonderful! Thank you and Good luck!
Kelli, Those ribs look delicious!! The sauce looks awesome! Beautiful job!
Thank you so much and good luck!
We don’t do it on Memorial Day, but every year when we visit relatives in Louisiana, we visit my grand- and great-grandparents and put new, bright silk flowers on their graves. It’s just something we do and I always feel sad for the empty graves without flowers.
Your spicy pineapple mango marinade sounds divine, Kelli! Definitely going to try it this summer!
I feel sad for those too!
You are going to love it – I promise!
You won! Email me with your mailing address!!
Yay! Thank you so much!
Congratulations!
Those ribs sound great! I always love a good sweet and spicy combo.
Nothin better than smoked pork ribs with a great sauce! š
When I was a young girl, our family always drove (in a Corvair without AC or expressways) from Kentucky to Little Rock, Arkansas for our family reunion every year. Mom packed grapes, bananas, sandwiches and other snacks for the trip. We always stopped at little diners on the road for dinner. It was such a treat to stay in a motel with AC and a swimming pool! Such fond memories being with all the family! My husband and I do enjoy ribs and I will be trying your Mango Pineapple Sauce real soon! š
PS A trick to pulling off the tough skin underneath the ribs is to use a paper towel. It helps grip the skin as you pull it off.
I am going to try that next time for sure! I always want that thing off but I have the worst trouble with it…….except this time!
My MOM had a Corvair! She called it the Silver Streak. Sounds like lovely memory. Glad you liked the recipe!!
Looks like I just made up my mind of what we’ll be making this weekend!! Yum-YUMMMMMMM!!!!!!! Can’t wait!!
Let us know how you like it – it’s great!
This recipe sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it !
Yum, I love anything with mangoes!
This looks delicious, can’t wait to try this!
I LOVE mango salsa and think perhaps these will make an appearance at our 4th of July picnic š YUM!
Great – I’m sure your family will love it!
This looks absolutely amazing! We usually smoke our ribs, so I’m thinking of trying this sauce and doing them low and slow with…hmm, apple wood or another fruit wood. BTW I’d love to know what you use in your dry rub. I’m still working on mine.
Thank you! We generally smoke our ribs as well. Oh man, 2 weekends ago we smoked a pork butt/shoulder and it was to-die-for! Anyway, here’s the link to my dry rub and my wet sauce – hope you like it! https://kelliskitchen.org/2013/09/best-dry-rub-and-wet-sauce-ever/