There are times when you just have to have that rack of barbecue ribs. Maybe they have been sitting in your freezer since fall and you just can’t wait any longer, you just have to have those ribs. But with the cold of winter set in getting out to the grill is more of an exercise in survival making it hard to truly enjoy the barbecue experience. Throw in some snow and wind and the idea of cooking barbecue ribs on the grill goes out the door.

Now if your are truly hardcore you can put on your snow boots, bundle up in hat, coat and gloves, shovel a path out to the grill, get it lit and hope the wind doesn’t blow it out. The next part may be even trickier; actually grilling the ribs. While barbecue ribs aren’t all that hard to make they do need constant attention. Standing outside in the cold and wind can make this difficult not to mention that it’s either getting dark out or the sun has already gone down. Grilling in the dark, even with a flashlight, is not easy because it’s hard to tell if and when the ribs are done.

Now this doesn’t mean it can’t be done because many a hard core griller has endured the elements to fix their favorite barbecue dish. But if this isn’t you’re idea of barbecue fun then there is an alternative. If you have a large crock pot or pot you can put on the stove you can be enjoying tender barbecue ribs in a few hours.

Here’s how you do it.

Get your crock pot or large pot set up. Pour in some barbecue sauce then set your ribs in the sauce. You may have to cut your ribs into sections if you are doing a rack of baby back ribs. Pour the rest of the sauce over the ribs making sure to cover them well. You want to cook them slowly so don’t turn the stove up to high. With a crock pot set them to high to get the temperature up and then turn them down to low and let them simmer. By cooking slow you are looking at letting them cook for two to three hours, or even longer. The flavors of the sauce will work deep into the meat leaving it moist and tender. It will also fill your house with the smell of barbecue, which is good if you like that kind of thing.

While this isn’t exactly the same as cooking barbecue ribs on a grill it is a great way to enjoy the taste of barbecue even on the coldest of winter nights.

Andrew Bicknell is a barbeque aficionado with a website about barbequing. For more tips for a successful barbeque visit his web site Backyard Barbeque.

The summer is a perfect BBQ time across the US. BBQ is a great crowd pleaser and is sure to bring the family together. Here is an easy BBQ ribs recipe and some quick tips to make sure your BBQ experience is safe and fun.

First, to keep things safe:

1. Defrost meat before cooking so you get even cooking and do it in the fridge.

2. Marinate food in the refrigerator and don’t reuse the marinade unless you boil it first

3. Do not serve cooked meat in the same plate you had the raw meat (unless you clean it before re-using it)

4. Don’t bring out the meat until you are ready to cook to avoid leaving it a prolonged time in hot temperatures before cooking.

Make sure you follow the safety tips and you will have more fun during the summer cookouts. My summer is going great. BBQ’s are a big reason for that. One of my favorite dishes is an easy BBQ Ribs recipe. To make great ribs easily we need to follow these tips:

1. Marinade the meat or rub in the seasonings at least 1 hr before cooking more is better but if it’s done too long, unless it’s a tough cut, you could overpower the meat. Anywhere from one to six hours is good enough.

2. Grill ribs bone side down until the bones start to separate from the meat without turning. This is a key point that helps produce tender ribs.

3. Brush BBQ sauce or any sauce that has sugar only at the tail end of cooking.

4. Allow the ribs to sit for 10 minutes before eating or cutting this helps the meat stay juicy.

5. Use tongs to handle the meat forks will pierce the meat and allow the juices to escape. Piercing the meat reduces the flavor and moisture of the meat.

You can try this tips this weekend or the next time you grill ribs and you will see and taste the difference. In order to do that you need this simple recipe that’s great tasting:

6 pounds pork spareribs

1 tblsp red pepper flakes

2 tblsp Adobo or Seasoned Salt

1 tsp fresh ground black pepper ( use less to taste if using adobo)

A barbecue sauce you like

Combine red pepper flakes, Adobo and black pepper. Rub mixture all over ribs; cover ribs and marinate in refrigerator at least 2 hours. Grill ribs over low heat, bone side down until the meat separates from the bone, approximately 1 hour. Apply your favorite barbecue sauce and cook for another 15 to 30 minutes turning the ribs frequently to avoid burning the sauce. Serves 6 to 8.

There you have it an easy BBQ ribs recipe and some tips to make sure you wow your family and guests.