Ribs for Kate
Today is Kate's 18^th birthday. Kate is the daughter of some good friends and last summer she asked me if I would whip up a batch of barbecue ribs for her birthday. I was happy to oblige. Our families had vacationed together a few years back and the highlight (for Kate) of the trip was the night I cooked ribs and pulled pork for the gang. There is nothing a cook enjoys more than a happy, effusive bunch of satisfied eaters. The fact that out of all the things a young lady could want to do on her eighteenth birthday Kate chose to hang out with me (!) was just about the best compliment I have ever received.

Kate's parents said she had talked about little else for weeks; the pressue was on. These ribs had to satisfy her. I like to cook, and Sophie always enjoys my ribs, but could I recreate the magic of our North Carolina rib feast?

I set out this morning for the store where I gathered all the necessary ingredients and soon I had the ribs seasoned and baking in the oven. The secret to good ribs is "low and slow"; low heat and slow cooking. After about 3 hours I mixed up a batch of mop sauce, lit the grill, and settled in with a beverage to watch the ribs smoke to perfection.

Corn was boiled; beans were baked, and still I tended the ribs. The coals have to be kept away from directly under the ribs, or they'll burn. Kate popped her head outside -- are we ready yet? Soon it was time. She tasted. She smiled. We sang Happy Birthday. Her sauce covered face said it all; her birthday celebration was complete.

I remember Kate from when she was knee high to a grasshopper. She has grown into a confident, personable, and delightful young woman. Bravo to her and to to her parents for guiding her into adulthood. Before she headed out for a night of celebrating with some friends I gave her my standard two pieces of young adult advice.

#1 - Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should do something.

#2 - Tattoos are forever.

Sophie is only 6 now, but I'll probably say the same things to her when she turns 18.

Live Long and Prosper, Kate. Happy Birthday.

Posted at 23:14 by Chris   []   | | | Email | del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble It! | Reddit | Link