Apple Glazed Barbecued Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients

1/2 dark brown sugar

4 t garlic salt

4 t pure ancho chile powder

2 t salt

1 t ground black pepper

1/2 t celery salt

1/4 cayenne pepper

1/4 t cinnamon

1/4 freshly ground white pepper

1/2 cup apple cider

1/4 cup apple jelly, melted

1/4 cup honey

2 racks baby back ribs (about 4 pounds)

1 cup prepared BBQ sauce

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.  In a small bowl, mix the 1/4 cup of the sugar with the garlic salt, chile powder, salt, black pepper, celery salt, cayenne, cinnamon and white pepper.  Transfer 1 T of the spice mix to a medium bowl and whisk in the cider, apple jelly, honey and remaining sugar.

2.  Pull the membrane off the underside of each rib rack using a towel to grasp the corner.  On a rimmed baking sheet, rub the ribs with the remaining spice mix; bake meaty side up for 2 1/2 hours.  Pour the cider mixture over the ribs and turn to coat.  Tightly cover with foil and bake for 1 hour.

3.  ligh a grill.  Uncover the ribs and brush with the barbecue sauce; grill over moderate heat, turning and brushing until glazed, 15 minutes.  Let rest for 10 minutes then cut between the bones and serve.

[ As seen in Food & Wine Magazine, June 2009 ]