My son loves to eat ribs, when I ask what you would like to smoke this weekend, his reply is always the same RIBS. So I named this recipe after him. This recipe is a simplified version of our competition recipe, designed so even the novice backyard cook can produce the best ribs on your block. 

Ingredients:

Directions:

Start by heating a smoker to 250 degrees. I like to use Applewood but other fruit woods and hardwoods like Hickory or oak work fine. (Most grills can be set up for slow cooking) While the smoker is coming up to temp prepare the other ingredients.

For the simple dry rub combine ½ cup of brown sugar (light brown sugar is fine) ¼ cup of sweet paprika, and then 1 tablespoon of the following: chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, kosher salt, ground black pepper, dry mustard, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin. Store in airtight container and make sure the rub is smooth and not lumpy, if lumpy crush with fingers to make smooth rub.

Or use an already prepared dry rub from a store.

Simple Awesome BBQ Sauce 1 cup of cider vinegar, ½ cup of ketchup, ¼ cup of hot sauce, 1 tablespoon of the following: salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes. ¼ cup of brown sugar. Mix all ingredients in pot, heat until everything dissolves but do not boil. Allow to cool, after cool mix one cup of sauce with 1 18oz jar of apple jelly. Blend until smooth. Store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Once temperature of the smoker is settled in at 250 take a slab of St Louis style spare ribs, ensure membrane is removed, apply dry rub liberally on both sides.  (Tip, by rubbing 1 teaspoon of mustard on both sides of the ribs will help the rub adhere to the ribs)Place ribs meat side up on the smoker, cook for 2 and a half hours until a nice dark color appears on ribs (not to dark). Take ribs and place in heavy duty aluminum foil, put a hand full of brown sugar over top of ribs, also put honey and parkay spread on top of ribs. Flip ribs over and do the same on the backside of the ribs. Then seal the ribs tightly in the foil. Place ribs upside down in the smoker, this means meat side is facing down. Cook for about an hour. Once ribs are tender remove from wrap, place back on smoker this time coating the ribs with the Simple awesome sauce or favorite store bought sauce. Allow time to glaze about 20mins. Remove ribs and enjoy.