Ingredients

  • 4 (2 1/4 to 2 1/2-pound) racks center cut beef ribs
  • 3 to 4 cups apple wood chips (you can use hickory, pecan, sweet maple, or cherry, but it won't taste as sweet)
  • Magic Dust dry rub, recipe follows
  • Apple City Barbecue Sauce, recipe follows
  • 4 cups apple juice in a spray bottle
  • 1/2 cup paprika
  • 1/4 cup kosher salt, finely ground
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup powdered mustard
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 1/4 cup ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup granulated garlic
  • 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2/3 cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1/2 cup apple juice or cider
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/3 cup bacon bits, ground in a spice grinder
  • 1/3 cup peeled and grated apple
  • 1/3 cup grated onion
  • 2 teaspoons grated green bell pepper

Method

  • 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.
  • Yeild: about 2 1/2 cups
  • 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.
  • Variation: To make this sauce a little hotter, add more cayenne pepper to taste, approximately another 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon.
  • Be careful; a little cayenne goes a long way.
  • (c) 2005 Mike Mills and Amy Mills Tunnicliffe