Birthday dinner

For his birthday dinner Isaac requested baby back ribs, corn bread, steamed broccoli, and buttered noodles. Because I was short for time, I made the ribs differently than I ever have. And I needed to come up with a bbq sauce to go on them.

This is what I came up with:

1 pint homemade bbq sauce
1/2 pint apple butter
1/2 pint pure Ohio maple syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 beer (I used Newcastle Founder's Ale)

Mix together on the stove. Simmer until thick. Serve on the ribs.

What didn't get eaten on the ribs, Tim drank like a beverage when he got off work.



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Cuzin' Carol

Tim and I stood at the counter, meticulously layering brandied apples into hot jars, and almost simultaneously said that our all-day canning fest--especially these apples--reminded us of Tim's cousin Carol.

We talked about her for a few minutes, and Tim said, "This really makes me think of Carol."

Then we were quiet. Lost in our thoughts of Carol. 

Isaiah piped up from his spot at the table where he was failing miserably at pretending to do his homework. "Isn't she the one with that corvette?"

"It's not a corvette," Tim said. "But yeah. She has a really cool car."

We layered and ladled and burned our fingertips on hot lids and rings. 

Tim got to see Carol a couple of months ago at his dad's retirement party. The rest of us stayed home because of soccer and football and more soccer.

Carol is a person who I want to be like when I grow up. Adventurous. Sincere. Fun-loving. Eclectic. Creative. Resourceful. Kind. And a whole lot like home.

Filling those jars with brandied apple goodness makes me anxious for Christmas--when I'm sure we'll get to catch up with Carol. And we can share some of our kitchen creations with her. 

Especially the brandied apples. 

I think she'll love those.

Tim's Dad and Cousin Carol
August 2012

Brandied Apples
November 2012

The making of apple butter