Simple Barbecue Ribs and a Friend's Departure

The weird thing about when someone dies is how normal life somehow keeps existing around you. For example, on today's to-do list is the usually very enjoyable task of writing my food blog. But it's such an ordinary thing to do, cheery and a bit mundane.

When someone dies, it throws the cheery and the mundane for a loop. How can you keep doing the things that must be done when lives have been changed forever?

Yesterday we got word that my husband's best friend was killed in a motorcycle accident. It's been very sudden, and particularly tragic as his first child is due in May. As a fellow pregnant woman, I simply don't know what I would do.

But I don't want to wax dramatic on here. Partially because I only knew him through my husband's great stories, and we'd only met a few times in real life (though he was a perfect gentleman and friend every time). I feel the real grief of this accident is not mine.

And also this is a food blog, right? You all came here for yummy recipes (and I'm so glad that you come), and it hardly seems the correct venue for tragedy.

Yet tragedy comes, and not mentioning it feels even worse.

But I won't go on. And I will include a simple recipe for barbecue ribs (without the barbecuing, for those of us who don't have grills). But more importantly, I will say this: You will be missed, Josh. So many people loved you and you've left so many memories. Your empty place will be felt for a very long time to come.

Simple Barbecue Ribs (adapted from allrecipes.com)

2 1/2 pounds country style pork ribs (or beef ribs or riblets or whatever)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons salt
1 cup barbeque sauce
Potatoes (3-4, or however many you want), sliced
Onions (same), cut into quarters

Place ribs in a large pot with enough water to cover. Season with garlic powder, black pepper and salt. Bring water to a boil, and cook ribs until tender. This takes about 45 minutes, and they will look gross and grey when they are done. I am normally against boiling meat, but stick with me here, it comes out all right in the end. And save the water for stock - I got a good 3-4 cups of delicious pork stock out of it.


Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Remove ribs from pot, and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish with sliced potatoes and quartered onions. Pour barbeque sauce over everything, brush with pastry brush for maximum coverage. Cover dish with aluminum foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, removing 20 minutes before finish to slather with barbecue sauce one more time.

5 comments:

Em said...

oh, i'm sorry to hear that. it always hurts my heart a little bit to hear that type of news. i hope your hubby is doing okay. love you and thanks for the thank you card!

p.s. i wish you could be my personal chef.

jeannesioux said...

"Your empty place will be felt for a very long time to come."

So true.
Josh touched so many peoples lives.

Kris Ngoei said...

These bbq ribs are delicious!

I think the good side of a news like that is that it stops and reminds us to appreciate more of those that we love. And on top of that our own lives that God has given to us!

amlamonte said...

thank you all for the very kind words. we will miss him. kris, i think you are right, how much does this help us appreciate the people we do have and the moment we are living, when we see how things can be fleeting. happy, but heartbreaking.

Shaunee said...

Anna! We have the same tupperware!