Barbecued Pork Ribs

Chris Codden has been preparing these mouthwatering over-the-top ribs for a number of years. They rank high among her family’s favorite recipes!

Chris knows that Bishop John Kinney loves ribs, too. “I’ve heard he’s got a secret recipe for them that he doesn’t divulge to anyone,” she said with a mischievous smile and a quick wink. “These ribs are so good, however, that I have confidently challenged the bishop to a Rib Cook-Off!” CJK

Barbecued Pork Ribs

(Chris Codden)

3 long racks of baby back pork ribs

Rub:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 1/2 tsp. white pepper

1/2 cup paprika

1 1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. cayenne

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup apple juice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce*

Preheat oven to 250°F. Remove membrane from ribs. Cut ribs so there are three to four ribs for each set. Combine ingredients for rub and reserve 1/2 cup. Rub mixture on ribs. Bake uncovered at 250°F for two hours and 15 minutes.

Combine apple and orange juices. Place ribs meat side down on aluminum foil. Pour juice mixture over ribs. Wrap and seal. Bake for one hour longer.

Combine additional brown sugar with remaining rub mixture. Take ribs out of aluminum foil (discard foil and liquid) and rub mixture on them. Bake (meat side up) uncovered for 30 minutes.

Turn oven up to 350°F. Brush ribs with barbecue sauce. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

A note from Chris: My husband, Rich, loves ribs. I always make them for his birthday, which is the Fourth of July. The original recipe for these barbecued ribs came from a “Southern Living” annual. I learned from that article that removing the membranes makes a big difference. I experimented with sauces and found that my family and I like the taste of Ken Davis Barbecue Sauce the best. Over the years, I’ve added other touches of my own to this delicious recipe.

A note from Carol: Chris, the director of the diocesan Office of Marriage and Family, is also a trustee for St. Anthony Church in St. Cloud, where the Coddens are members. She and Rich have been actively involved with Marriage Encounter in the past and Chris is president of the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers and an advisor to the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.

Chris and Rich have four children: Michelle, Lynette, Donny and Clayton, who died in infancy in 1980, and two grandchildren: Isaiah and Angelo.

Bishop John Kinney is the bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud in St. Cloud, Minnesota.