Recipe: Saucy Ribs and All-Dressed Mashed Potatoes

I’ve written before that we often have my family over for dinners.  Tonight, my parents are in town so we’re having a full house.  7 adults, my toddler and the baby.  On the menu tonight:  Ribs in the crock pot and All-Dressed Mashed potatoes.

You can feed a lot of people with ribs and some side dishes. Also, since the crock pot is being used for the meat, last minute prep isn’t as stressful.

While I’m making enough to serve 8 tonight, the recipe below is for 4.

Saucy Crockpot Ribs – Ingredients

• 2 racks of back ribs
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 tbsp Flour

1-Cut each rack of rib in half, place in crock pot.

2-In saucepan, warm through rest of the ingredients.

3-Pour over ribs.  Set on high for about 3-4 hours, or until meat is cooked and falls off the bone.  For best results, baste or spoon sauce onto top ribs often.

**NOTE: The above proportions listed for the sauce are approx.  I don’t really measure any more – but taste it.  If you like it a bit more sweet, add extra brown sugar and molasses.  Like the tartness?  Add a bit more vinegar.  There’s no wrong way!

All-Dressed Mashed Potatoes – Ingredients

• About 8-12 red potatoes (depends on size, but judge by what your clan can eat – we’re big potato eaters!), washed but unpeeled
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 pound or about 5-10 slices of bacon
• Fresh chives, chopped
• Milk and butter

1-Boil potatoes with skin on (cut potatoes into cubes for quicker cooking time)

2-Cook bacon, about 5-10 pieces.  Cool and chop into pieces

3-When cooked, mash potatoes and add sour cream.  Add milk and butter to taste if not creamy enough (however, it will be a bit chunky because the peels are on)

4-Add bacon and chives, stir until well blended.

Serve the mashed potatoes along side your delicious ribs.  Add a salad or side veggie of your liking, if you wish.  Restaurant quality for a fraction of the price!

Enjoy!