Before I get to the Triple D, I have to implore all of you to make this barbecue sauce – I swear you will NEVER buy store bought barbecue sauce again!

First you need to start with the dry rub for the Ribs:

  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons celery salt
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice

Mix together in a jelly jar – this makes a lot and will keep in your refrigerator for weeks!

Next is the sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon of the dry mix above
  • 1.25 cups ketchup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup cold water
  • 1/8 tsp. liquid smoke

Mix well – this also makes a lot and will keep in the fridge for weeks.

put this in a jelly jar so you can just pop a lid on it and stick it in your fridge
put this in a jelly jar so you can just pop a lid on it and stick it in your fridge
they were so tender I thought I wouldn't be able to get them off the grill!
they were so tender I thought I wouldn't be able to get them off the grill!

We’ve learned to slow cook the ribs – based on our schedule yesterday, I put them in the oven at 11:30 a.m. and they cooked until 6:00 p.m. at 225 degrees.  I hit them up with dry rub, then wrapped tightly in foil and put the foil packets on a jelly roll pan, just to catch some of the juice if necessary.

my plate - about 1/2 slab
my plate - about 1/2 slab
look at how clean the bones are!
look at how clean the bones are!
After everyone was done, I picked the rest of the meat off the bone - 1.6 ounces of meat!
After everyone was done, I picked the rest of the meat off the bone - 1.6 ounces of meat!

My mom actually did very well at Baggo – she was teamed with Tony and I believe they won all but one game!  Once it got dark out, we started a bonfire – such a relaxing night!

from the comfort of our bug free gazebo!
from the comfort of our bug free gazebo!

We got up at 7:00 today – Hannah and Nana are headed to Virginia!   They flew out of Milwaukee airport – so much less hassle than O’Hare!  We left at 8:00 and it was a smooth ride in – hardly any traffic.

Hope you have fun!
Hope you have fun!

Reason 1,000,001 that I know Tony loves me – we went to a joint in Milwaukee they featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives!  It’s called the Comet Cafe in Miwaukee:

It was pretty crowded so we got a seat at the counter
It was pretty crowded so we got a seat at the counter
Tony got eggs and this weird sausage - it was very dry
Tony got eggs and this weird sausage - it was very dry

I should have ordered the special, still don’t know why Ididn’t!  It was eggs with fajita peppers and pepper jack cheese and chopped tortilla!  Sadly, I got the boring plate, it was just okay – I ate the eggs, 1 piece of bacon about 1/3 cup of the hashbrowns (those were good!) and 1/2 slice sourdough bread – maybe 20 carbs altogether?

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Then we just drove around Milwaukee – I love all the different types of architecture!

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And of course no trip would be complete without stopping ath the Mars Cheese Castle!

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So much to look at!
So much to look at!

I ended up getting chicken sausages with bacon and cheddar cheese, that are surprisingly only 120 calories a piece!  Also some jalapeno cheese curds and smoked mozzarella string cheese that is so smokey and good!

So Tony and I are empty nesters for the next week!  Come on back tonight for Grilled Steak with Marinated Grilled Shrimp and Baby Romaine Salad!