Shirley Mae’s BBQ Ribs

Everyone says that their mom is the best cook! But for real....my MOM is the best cook! She grew up in a small town called Warsaw, NC and learned from her mom who was also an amazing cook! I remember going to my grandma's house as a little girl and always finding her in the kitchen. She passed away when I eight years old but I still remember having the best buttermilk biscuits, lemon meringue pie and field peas in her kitchen. Obviously, my mom picked up her amazing cooking skills and would make the most flavorful food I have ever had! My moms BBQ ribs are no exception! These ribs are so tender, so flavorful and so GOOD! The key to getting the ribs so tender is to par boil them first and then bake them in the homemade BBQ sauce. For your next Soul Food Sunday dinner, these ribs would be a hit with your family dinner. Give them a try and don't forget to "spill the tea" on how they came out!

Serves 8

To par boil the ribs

2 slabs of pork ribs (I like the Smithfield brand)

1 cup of apple cider vinegar

4 cups of water

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

For the BBQ Sauce

40 oz bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar

1/8 tsp of crushed red pepper

1/2 stick of butter

1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut your ribs into individual pieces and place in a deep pot. Add water, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper.

2. Cook ribs over medium heat until the ribs are fork tender. At least an hour to an hour and a half.

3. While the ribs are cooking, you can start making your BBQ sauce. In a large sauce pan, pour bottled BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, crushed red pepper, and cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and whisk until combined.

4. Add a half a stick of butter and cook over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk again and simmer BBQ sauce for about thirty minutes.

5. Place your fork tender pork ribs into a roasting pan and pour the BBQ sauce on top of the ribs. Cover the ribs with foil and bake in the oven for 30 mins 400 degrees.