Between near constant tossing, turning, and checking the clock – I think I only slept for a total of 4 hours last night. I was too excited to sleep!
BEN CAME HOME TODAY!!!! 
↑ Stud (sorry – I’m into captioning pictures now for some reason?)
I have been a hot mess for the past week, trying to keep it together while Ben was in Brooklyn with friends, and I was…not in Brooklyn with friends.
Originally we were both supposed to go on a trip this week – him with the boys and me with the girls – but my trip fell through, while his went on as planned.
On one hand it was miserable with him gone, but on the other hand I was happy he was having an epic trip, which included a chance meeting with ?estlove in a bowling alley (…) from which he might never recover. 
↑ Stay cool! Stay cool! STAY COOL!
It’s important as a married couple to have your own friends, in addition to mutual ones, and do your own thang once in awhile – but that doesn’t make it suck any less when they do and you MISS THEM LIKE CRAZY.
I am SO glad he’s home, and made a manly man meal for dinner to celebrate his return. Slow Cooked Ribs & Roasted Brussels Sprouts!
The recipe for these slow cooked ribs is from Mmm is for Mommy, and is legit.
A meaty rack of baby back ribs was seasoned with paprika, brown sugar, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper, then slow cooked in sweet bbq sauce.
6 hours later it was literally falling off the bone.
After reducing the cooking liquid ’til it was thick and bubbly,
the ribs got a nice thick coating, and were popped under the broiler for a few minutes to develop a thick and chewy crust.
Waiting for them to get cool enough to handle was pure torture!
These ribs were unbelievable. Tender, meaty, and that broiled glazed coating was the stuff dreams are made of. I kind of want to put it on, uh, everything!
The Wallace Farms ribs I used were top notch, per usual, and there were zero leftovers. 
On the side, I roasted up some brussels sprouts (they’re baa-aack!)
These are still going for nearly $4 a pound at the regular grocery store, but I found a big bag of ‘em at Trader Joe’s for just over $2!
After trimming and halving the sprouts, I tossed them with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, then roasted them for 12 minutes at 425 degrees.
After flipping the sprouts, I jacked the heat up on the oven to 450 degrees and let ‘em really sizzle, for 12 more minutes.
I literally cannot take in my soul how delicious roasted brussels sprouts are.
I have to limit myself to a certain amount and pack away the rest, because I WILL eat the ENTIRE batch.
Crispy, salty, chewy perfection. Gahhhhhyum.
We are full and happy. So happyyyyy….together!!!!
(Yep, still listening to my Beatles-esque Pandora station!)
Ok, off to go hang with my man – goodnight!!
PS thank you, thank you, thank you for all your advice regarding new countertops! Seriously – soooo helpful!
That meal looks awesome. Roasted brussels sprouts are one of my favorite vegetables! I especially love the browned edges!
I’m glad Ben is home! I had no idea he was gone – you’re so good at keeping things to yourself. I am so whiny about stuff like this! lol
I have yet to try ribs in the crock pot. Putting it on my list – my man too would love these! Glad he is home!!
brooklyn! what area(i was visiting my family at home this weekend, it’d be funny if we were in the same neighborhood)? i hope he had fun…and i’m glad you got your boy back, too.
That’s sooooo cute you missed him so much…………………but, this was probably a great thing, like you said………….so you can appreciate your time together………….that looked fun, his trip………..and Questlove, awesome!!!!!! Love The Roots!!!!
yay for ben being back home! i hate sleeping in the house by myself. those ribs look fantastic… what a great meal to welcome any man home.
Aww, so glad your man is back. What a way to welcome him home too with a big plate of ribs.
I have eaten a whole batch………..
Those ribs look delicious! I love making things in the slow cooker.
I’ve been wanting to make my man a “manly” meal so this cones at a perfect time. Thank you!!! Looks so delish!
Y’all are too cute! Awesome meal… I need to get a crock pot like whoa.
Yay, I’m so glad Ben’s home! My hubby was traveling for 5 weeks back to back at the beginning of summer for work and it was so great when he came home!
I’m going to tackle my brussel sprout fear and give them a try this fall!
Just wanted to let you know I got some Honeycrisp apples at Super Target today for $1.99 a pound. I went to the one on Plum Dr…if that matters. Just FYI
Why have I never roasted brussel sprouts? Seriously, where have I been? YUM! Doing that this week for sure! Ooh…and they take such pretty pics too!!
I wish I had an oven (living in transition right now… w/ two burners and a microwave) because those brussel sprouts look delicious! To believe I’d never eaten them until a year ago is beyond me.
Ahh! Love the pic w/ Ben + Questlove!
My husband used to travel a lot for work and was gone for two weeks in a row and home for a weekend, so like you, I’d get so, so, so excited the day before and the day he did come home! I would walk on air the whole day!
What a great welcome back dinner!
I’m so happy that the ribs turned out for you!!! They are sooooooo good
Yours look FANTASTIC!
As a military spouse I often forget that civilian couples have a completely different experience when their spouse is gone for a period of time… whether it’s a weekend or a week. BUT, I can totally relate to making fabulously manly meals for my hubbalicious upon his return. He’s gonna love having these ribs when he gets back again! Thanks for the recipe!
I love roasting brussel sprouts. I hope my boyfriend likes them because I plan on making them a lot. My former roommate was not a fan of the smell… so I cut back on the number of times I made them, sadly.
I am a mess when my Ben is gone!
I LOVE brussel sprouts and have totally eaten an entire pan before…
What a fantastic pic of the Brooklyn Bridge! I cannot tell you how much I love brussels sprouts.
Yum! I’m sure he was very happy to see that plate of food when he got home! Enjoy your time together!
Oh my those ribs look ridiculously good! I must make them for carnivorous husband. And, I am so glad to see someone else get as excited about brussels sprouts as I do!
Aw, so glad that Ben is home!
I LOVE roasted brussels sprouts. Seriously, they are one of my favorite things ever! I cannot wait until they drop in price so I can buy some fresh ones. The frozen ones just aren’t the same.
I know how you feel! My boyfriend travels a LOT for work and when he’s gone the time goes soooo slowww. We try to do cute things like I will send miss you cards to his hotel and he will send postcards, but I find myself doing the toss and turn before he gets back too. Hey, all that travel builds points for us to take fun weekend trips together though so I can’t complain too much!
We are going to San Fransisco in November. It’s my first time and your top ten things list to do there really has me looking forward to it!
I would die if I ran into Questlove….Ben is so lucky. Just to let you know, when my 5 daughters and I get together, we have so much fun discussing your blogs. You Rock!!!
how do you print the recipes off your site and not all the pics? thanks.
Hey Lindsay! Right now there’s not a consistent way, unless I include a link like here: http://iowagirleats.com/2011/09/19/cornbread-topped-chili-in-a-jar/
Working to change that when I launch the new design soon!
I know that feeling all too well! This time last week, The Boy was partway through his SECOND full week in Japan! He came home Friday and I was so excited I couldn’t sit still!
You rock! I absolutely love your blog (as I have previously stated in comments I am sure a few times AT LEAST)! I have the most awful memories of brussels sprouts dating back to my early childhood, as my dad used to shove a buttered-down version of this vegetable in my mouth and swear that if I ate them “they would allow me to run as fast as a deer…” Ya, not so much. Although I am a total veggie lover, I have never gone back to this particular one for that exact reason. After reading this, and knowing that my boyfriend would give me the “Best Girlfriend Ever” award if I made this and your delectable crock pot ribs, I think I will be able to finally conquer my fear of the infamous brussels sprout! So, thanks in advance!
Hubby LOVES ribs and these look yummo! But I only have a 6 qt. oval crock pot so I can’t stand them up. Do you think this is a problem?
This looks like the most delicious meal ever!!! I am a sucker for baby back ribs, i need to try this recipe!!!
These roasted brussels sprouts are delicious and I never would have thought of making brussels sprouts this way (before I only ate them smothered in hollandaise sauce.)
Theese roasted brussels sprouts are also great cold the next day added to a salad (but I have to make extra in order to have leftovers.)
Who knew a cooked veggie could be so good?!
[...] Roasted Brussel Sprouts [...]
I made these last night for dinner and they were amazing! Fall off the bone tender with that lovely crunch from the broiler!