I was afraid today would be go-go-go, since Ben and I were such slackers yesterday, but we tag teamed our to-do list early this morning and finished grocery shopping, laundry, errands, cleaning the basement, tidying up the house and prepping meals for the week in under 3 hours – viva teamwork!
That left us plenty of time for a nice, long walk in the sunshine this afternoon. 8)
It’s gorgeous out today – HOT, HOT, HOT, but gorgeous – so we ditched the treadmill for the trail and ended up walking 6.4 miles in just under 2 hours.
I couldn’t believe it! I knew we had been gone pretty far, but my eyeballs popped after I plugged our route into Livestrong.com when we got home.
After slamming some cold water and hobbling to the shower for a cold & long one, we were more than ready to dive face first into the delectable, finger-lickin’ supper that had been cooking during our walk – Baked Baby Back Ribs!
Sing it with me,“I want my baby back, baby back, baby back, I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…IGEEEEEEEE’s Baby Back Ribs. Barbecue saaaauce.” Ahhh!
I started with a gorgeous rack of baby back ribs from Wallace Farms. I joined their uber-convenient buying club a few weeks ago, ordered these ribs, bacon and beef sticks for Ben, then picked them up fresh a few days later at a location near my house.
The ribs came fully trimmed (love) so all I had to do to prep them for baking was sprinkle salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and cumin on each side, rub it in, then wrap the rack in saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.
This afternoon I laid the ribs out on a foil-lined, non-stick sprayed baking sheet,
covered the ribs with more foil, then baked at 250 degrees for 3 1/2 hours.
After 3 1/2 hours, I drained the liquid that cooked out, brushed on our favorite BBQ sauce, Big Daddy’s, then popped the ribs back in the oven without the foil top for 30 more minutes. Just enough time to let the sauce start to caramelize.
Ben and I hovered nearby, our stomachs competing for loudest growl, as we let the ribs rest for 10 long, agonizing minutes…then we dug in with a fierceness!
These ribs were so incredibly tender from the loooong, sloooow and loooow cooking process. The meat literally fell off the bone.
Baked Ribs
Serves 2-3
Ingredients:
1.75-2lb rack baby back ribs, trimmed
salt
pepper
onion powder
garlic powder
cayenne powder
cumin
BBQ sauce
Directions:
- Sprinkle both sides of the ribs with seasonings, then wrap with saran wrap and marinate in the fridge overnight.
- The next day, discard the saran wrap and place ribs on a foil-lined, non-stick sprayed baking sheet. Cover the ribs completely with more foil then bake at 250 degrees for 3 1/2 hours.
- After 3 1/2 hours, remove the foil on top and drain off liquid. Brush BBQ sauce on top of the ribs and bake for 30 more minutes.
- Let the ribs rest for 10 minutes, then dig in!
I was able to completely bypass the dreaded “sauce face” phase of eating ribs, ’cause I ate every tender bite with a fork my fingers!
I am totally ordering another rack from Wallace Farms. There was SO much yummy, edible meat in every bite. Per. Fec. Tion. Baked ribs are the bomb!
Alright, while I managed to avoid sauce face, I was unable to escape sticky fingers. This is a condition one must accept when dining on delectable ribs, I suppose. Small price to pay!
I served some sweet baked beans on the side.
They were Trader Joe’s Organic Baked Beans.
Vegetarian and without the “gloopy” sauce that comes surrounding most baked beans. I loved them! Ben wasn’t a huge fan, but he’s not a big baked bean guy in the first place.
Can’t have a summer BBQ without sweet corn, either. Freshly shucked and cut off the cob by yours truly this morning. 
A meal fit for a King!
Speaking of…HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
Unfortunately I couldn’t spend today with my Dad, as he & my Mom are en route home from visiting family in Ohio. 
Therefore I sent virtual hugs to my #1 cheerleader and fan, the person I can always count on, and the one who’s taught me to reach for my dreams, whatever they may be, all day. That’s my Dad. I’m so thankful to have him!
AND I’m so thankful for my Father-in-Law! I have been blessed with THE best in-laws. Seriously. Giving, thoughtful, hardworking & kind best describes my FIL – I’m so glad to have him! 
Since neither Ben nor I could be with our Dads today, we felt it was only appropriate that we fix ourselves a dessert that both of them love dearly. Cookies. Fresh, warm chocolate chip cookies.
When I say “fix” I mean break & bake, but still…
It made us feel closer to them, somehow. You understand… 
Clearly Ben is feeling better!
At least this spectacle was conducted in the privacy of our own home. Unlike cupcake gate… 
Who can blame him though, really?
Well with that, another weekend has officially come to a close! I LITERALLY CANNOT BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ENTERING THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE TOMORROW. Where, OH WHERE, does the time go?!
I feel like I spent all of June fearing that we’d have another snow storm or something (seriously, that is how fickle weather in the Midwest is) so I haven’t really accepted the fact that it’s summer. I need to be spending WAY more time on outdoor patios, sipping cold beverages, ya’ with me?!
’til tomorrow!
~~~~~
Tell me one of your favorite things or memories about your Dad!
My Dad has always been my #1 protector. Knowing this, I’d torment my brothers (who me?) when we were growing up and they’d yell “C’mon Dad! Give us the green light!!!” aka C’mon Dad, let us tackle this little brat! but he’d never let them do it. I, as you can imagine, loved this!
We made some ribs for dad’s day, too! Yours look phenom!
Fun post! I always love seeing pictures of other bloggers with their family! Makes me feel like I know you a little bit better.
One of my favorite memories with my dad is when he used to put on old ’70s music on his record player and we’d dance around the living room together – just him and I. He’d swing me around and I’d laugh and squeal so loudly. I’ll never forgot those times.
I told you that you would love Wallace Farms
I made one of their whole chickens tonight and then picked it apart and discarded the skin & then made homemade chicken stock with the bones. It’s amazingly good, some of the meat is being used tomorrow for your chicken tortilla soup, can’t wait. I also recommend trying their Bratwurst, they are fantastic!! I’ve been debating about ordering ribs for a few weeks, which ones did you get?
I think they were just called the baby back pork ribs. COULD NOT recommend them enough!
I love going on hikes! So much better than the boring gym sometimes
Those cookies look AMAZING
I remember when my sister & I were really little, my dad would do what he called his judo move on us…Basically pulling us over his shoulder & flipping us onto our backs. He’d do it for hours & we absolutely loved it. It sounds like it could be painful, but he never hurt us.
And BTW, LOVED the Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls!
my favorite memory of me & my dad is when we used to take our horses on trail-rides!! it was wonderful…
First off, I seriously LOVE how into BBQ you are right now! It’s great though because you’ve shown me how easy it is to do at home. Oh, and I love the TJ’s baked beans! They’re great.
My favorite memory of my Dad is when I was in the third grade and he helped me make a cake with my Easy Bake Oven. I also fondly remember him coming home from the first Gulf War and another time from the Middle East. It was so good to have him back home!
oh gosh! i have lots of happy memories w/my dad who has passed away. him taking all 3 of us little girls mushroom hunting for many years till we outgrew it. he would take me with him alot just running errands, even sometimes to ride in his work truck if he was called in after hours. when i was real small he would let me roll his hair up in my pink foam rollers! ha! he taught me to tell time & tie my shoes, and how to use tools. so many other things….to numerous to mention!
I have many, many great memories with my dad. Some of which include, getting me out of school early so we could go hunting, spending HOURS on the ball field practicing softball, and singing me a song before bedtime when I was little. I was fortunate enough to spend the day with him today!
Totally got ya with the cookies
The ribs look tasty! Dad memory– he’s a farmer so my favorite memories involve farm life. I loved checkin’ cows with Daddy… can’t beat riding in the pasture in an old truck with Dad!
i had chipotle on a sunday (today) and thought of you!
one of my favorite memories is when my sister, dad and i would go bike riding and he would insist in a single file line… as a kid, i was just focused on not falling off! haha
MMM I made baby back ribs for my Dad tonight. They were delicious and one reason I could never be a full on vegetarian.
Yum! Those look like fantastic cookies!
It is the last week of June?! Where has time gone? It has rained this past week here and I am more than ready for some warmth so I can enjoy some patio drinks
My dad loves puppets and making voices for puppets. When my sister and I were little and needed some serious coaxing to finish our dinners, Dad would bring out Edgar (a lizard) and One-Eyed-Stripey-Kitty (don’t ask). My sister and I had some very real and serious conversations with Edgar and One-Eyed-Stripey-Kitty, and they ALWAYS helped us finish our dinner. Love this about my dad and cannot wait for him to bring puppets back out for this baby that’s on its way.
Wait – you’re skipping ahead! There are 2 more Mondays – Thursdays in June…so the month isn’t as close to being over as you think. I need all the days of June I can get
The sad thing for me is that the days will start getting short soon. I haven’t been able to take advantage of the daylight as much as I would have liked.
HEY kIRSTEN JUST WANTED TO SAYI REALLY ENJOY YOUR BLOG WITHE ALLTHE GREAT RECIPES & STORIES. WHAT PART OF IOWA ARE YOU IN? I USED TO LIVE IN CHARLES CITY FOR ABOUT NINE YRS. THEN MOVED BACK TO CALIF.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND KEEP US POSTED !
My Dad was always so much fun – he loved being around my friends.
But whats so cool is my Dad was a writer. He always wrote me – epecially if he was trying to make a point and hit home. I kept all those wonderful letters and I love to read them from time to time.
He was a very loving and strong man. I miss him every single day.
That meal looks DELICIOUS!!!
My dad is seriously the kindest, gentlest person I know. He’s a big teddy bear. He’s so loving and supportive to me, my mom and big sis (yes, he’s the only guy in the family – even the dogs were female!) and I knew my hubbie would have to measure up to that.
Those ribs look AMAZING! Wanted to let you know that I made your “Grandpa’s Pasta Salad” this weekend and everyone loved it! It was so easy to make and such a tasty salad – thank you for sharing!
Aww, you look so much like your dad =) too cute!
There’s nothing I love more than some delicious ribs on a hot summer evening…so perfect. I definitely hear ya on needing to spend more time outside sippin’ on tasty drinks and fresh summer eats!
When I was little I used to love walking along the big boulders and jetties along the shore with my dad when we took daytrips. Sometimes we’d fish, or pick up these awesome translucent yellow and orange shells. Relaxed and low key, just like Dad.
I am impressed with your rib baking skills. Nicely done
I can totally see how baking cookies makes you feel closer to your dad. The more you eat the closer ya feel right?
You guys killed your to do list is record time! Those ribs look so good. Seriously.
Your AC or tolerance to heat (maybe both) must be better than mine. We grilled out last night because it was tooooooooo hot to cook! Looks delicious though!
Thanks for highlighting Wallace Farms! I’ve been looking for something like this to stock up our deep freeze and cut back on weekly/monthly grocery bills!
Thank you so much for showcasing our ribs, Kristin! It always warms my heart to see someone do simple, creative things with our products. Say hi the next time our buying club is back in town. –Nick
One of these days, you are gonna have to change your website name to Iowa Girl Diets!
lol…
NEVER!!!!
I can’t believe the month of June is almost over either! I wish summer would just slow down
I need more time to enjoy awesome summer foods like these ribs. They look fantastic!
Love that prom photo! Ahh memories.
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