Spicy, Sweet, & Smoky Barbecue Sauce | The Talented Ribkins

Welcome to the TLC Book Tours stop for The Talented Ribkins, debut novel by author Ladee Hubbard! I'll start by saying that after reading the book jacket, there were two initial things that made me want to read this novel. The first being mention of the characters having "superpowers", the second being the reference to W.E.B. Du Boi's essay The Talented Tenth. (Which, if you haven't read it before, I recommend checking out The Talented Tenth just before or after reading The Talented Ribkins.)

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Lately I've talked a fair deal about grilling, cold cocktails, and frozen treats as ways that I like to beat the heat during the hot summer months, but I also like to take advantage of my slow cooker(s). It's great to have that comforting scent of food cooking without melting every time you walk into the kitchen. So, when my friend Leslie suggested that we plug in our slow cookers for this month's edition of she made, ella hace, I thought that was a brilliant idea.

Last week I shared Apple Barbecue Grilled Ribs and Old Fashioned Creamy Potato Salad recipes that were both part of the same meal. Well, guess what else went along with that meal? You guessed it—baked beans. While the ribs were parbaking in the oven and the potatoes were cooling, I poured a few different kinds of canned beans into my slow cooker, along with some smoky bacon, some veggies, and some classic baked bean flavorings like ketchup, molasses, vinegar, mustard and more.

Apple Barbecue Grilled Ribs

This post is sponsored by the National Pork Board in conjunction with One2One Network. All opinions are my own.

A couple of months ago, I teamed up with the National Pork Board to kick-off grilling season with these Sweet and Sour Pork Burgers with Pineapple Slaw, and today we're back with a little Fourth of July inspiration! I'm making one of my family's favorites, pork back ribs (also known as baby back ribs).  As a nod to our great country, I decided to flavor my ribs with the flavors of apple pie—because it doesn't get any more American than apple pie.

I initially toyed with the idea of using apple pie filling as a glaze for the ribs once they hit the grill, but instead decided to make a unique rub by combining apple pie spice with some savory flavors, and then mopping them with an apple barbecue sauce. From the oven to the grill, the smells that permeated the air were intoxicating. Is it apple pie? Is it pork? No, it's apple pie-spiced pork!

Aside from being delicious, this recipe is super quick and easy to put together. Aside from the pork ribs and pepper, there are only FIVE ingredients—all of which are readily available at any Walmart, the ultimate source for barbecue essentials and great pork deals, including ribs!