St. Louis style ribs: Come and Take It!

Hi, kids!

It's been a really fun weekend so far! It sure is nice when school lets out for the weekend! Last night some neighbor friends came over and we played kickball while my dad grilled hot dogs and sausages. Grilling was a lot of fun and we played with our neighbors until the stars came out, but I really wanted to try barbecuing again. Among my favorites: ribs. So we made plans to barbeque ribs for Saturday night.

We had a full day so far. I had to get some new running shoes in the morning for my flag football season that starts up tomorrow. Then we met friends from church for brunch -- yummy! Then a friend from Scouts had a birthday party at Jumpoline. Finally we went shopping for ribs!

I found a Memphis-style rub recipe to go along with the pork ribs we bought. You can see me picking out all the spices

and getting my hands messy getting the ribs all ready!

My dad got the charcoal and oak wood ready while I put the rub together. Once the temperature was ready at about 225 degrees Fahrenheit I was ready to put the ribs on!

My dad helped me move the ribs around, and while the ribs were smoking I played some more with my neighbors. My dad and I threw the football around so I could practice up for my flag football season starting tomorrow. After a couple of hours I put some corn on the cob on the grill, and we put the ribs in some tin foil with juice inside, so that we could keep the ribs really tender and not dried out.
 
The ribs turned out great! I put some barbeque sauce on one rack of the ribs for some extra flavor. Now for the best part: we have leftovers! I'm hoping we'll have that for supper tomorrow after we get home from our flag football game. I love playing football -- this will be my second year, and fourth season as we play each fall, winter and spring. My dad is my coach, and I have a few friends from Scouts and school on my team, so I can't wait to get back on the field! My dad was asking me what positions I like to play, and I think I like them all. My dad gets me to play them all too -- quarterback, running back, safety -- so I can try out all sorts of plays and options.

Ok friends, I hope you enjoy ribs as much as I do: Come and Take It!

Your friend,

--James

After bbq report: Mmm good

Hi, kids:

I spent the later afternoon and evening swimming, playing, barbecuing and eating! What's better than that? We first went to the neighborhood swimming pool to cool off from our 90+ degree heat here in Austin. Then we got home and my dad and I lit the charcoal. Dad had some oak wood ready to add to the charcoal as well.

I longingly call what I have a pit, but to a real pitmaster that's stretching the truth. It's a teensy-weensy grill but I am able to fit enough meat for our family. If you my new friends Come and Take It, I really need to hurry up and get a new & bigger pit!

I put the caribbean jerk rub on the chicken first, then placed it on the grill, away from the heat of the charcoal. I let it stay there a good couple of hours. Towards the end I put the corn, keeping it in its husk, on the grill and over the heat. Last came the Red Snapper -- also rubbed down with the spicy rub I made up this afternoon.

While all that was grilling and smoking I hung out with my neighborhood of friends. It looked like we were going to get a storm -- there was some good thunder and a few lightning bolts. We climbed our backyard tree and hoped to miss any lightning coming our way!

It was kinda hard keeping track of my friends and my bbq all at the same time! Luckily I had my dad to help. He was content watching and listening to Johnny Cash.

I pulled off the chicken, fish, and corn after about 2 & a half hours. My dad made up the mashed potatoes, and spiced them up in a few spoonfuls of the Caribbean rub I put on the meat. That tasted good!

I have some leftover chicken -- sorry we had to eat all the fish on you. So y'all are welcome to Come & Take It!

See you at my pit again soon.

--James

BBQ -- Come and Take It!

Hi, kids!

My names is James and I'm a 9 year old fourth-grader in Austin, Texas. Here I am in front of my official Texas flag that I received for my birthday. It was flown over the Texas State Capitol. My brother and neighbors are my bbq deputies!

I have been watching and helping my dad with barbecue at home. Now I want to be the pitmaster!

I love to grill steak, and eat ribs and brisket and all sorts of food you put on the bbq pit. I am learning the difference between grilling and barbecuing. In some parts of the country I might call putting a steak over the flame barbecuing. But here in Texas that is called grilling! Barbecuing means getting the grill out and putting the meat on for a long time. It is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!

Today I helped my dad prepare chicken and Red Snapper fish that we will put on the pit for supper. I made a Caribbean jerk rub that I'll put on the chicken and fish. I think we'll have some fresh corn and mashed potatoes.

I'll let you know how the bbq chicken and fish turn out! Come and Take It -- my bbq!

--James