99-cent Rib Dinner and Doggie Treats

A few years back at a neighbor's house I watched as he opened a package of 'treats' to reward his massive mutt for sitting upon command. I took a look at the package, asked him what it cost and calculated that it would cost less to buy the dog steak filets!

A while later, I happened upon Heavy Western Ribs at eighty cents a pound and bought a package thinking I would treat our dogs.

While they might not have insisted it be roasted, baked broiled or boiled, I thought to cook the ribs low and slow (hours and hours at 300 degrees in a shallow pan in the oven) in the winter time (Dog Treat and Heat!). Added a little barbecue sauce and discovered there was enough tasty bits of meat left on those Heavy Western Bones to make a meal for two as well as days of bones for our best friends.

Last week I tried the slow cooker thing and decided to share the process and results.

The Walmart coleslaw cost $2 and the main course $3. Three days later there are a couple of 'dog' bones left!

As Momma used to say "Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.

Enjoy

A package of Heavy Western Ribs

Favorite spice assortment

Favorite barbecue sauce

Slow Cooker Liner

Slow cooker

I lay the ribs out and, from some height, sprinkle spices and monosodium glutamate first on the one side and then on the other. Let the meat sit out for a while to absorb the spices.

The Slow Cooker Liners are great! They make cleanup a simple task - you'll see.

Put a liner in the pot.

For this recipe, I scrounged up three partially full/empty bottles of barbecue sauce from the fridge and tried heating them in the microwave to help them flow - bad idea as the bottles were plastic and began to melt!

Put the Ribs in the pot.

So, I rescued them and slathered (Is, I believe the appropriate term) the ribs with whatever I could salvage from the bottles. You, of course, may use fresh sauce or even build your own - this doesn't have to be a barbecue it was simply easier this time out.

Set the temperature on HIGH

Set the time for ten (10) hours

Cover the pot and take a break.

Frankly, it never reached the ten hour mark before my wife decided the aroma and the hour decreed we eat whatever dinner I'd created in the cooker.

The ribs were perfecto - falling off the bone - no need for knives or teeth.

A slice or two of fresh French Bread (Publix Bakery - love it) and some leftover Cole Slaw and . . . Dinner's served!

As I said, the meat was falling off the bones.

This made the puppies very happy

As I said, these Slow Cooker Bags are the cat's meow and make the cleanup process very simple - especially if one doesn't have a big, deep kitchen sink!

The lid goes in the dishwasher and the liner bag is closed up and removed along with the remaining liquid/sauce in one fell swoop.

Then the pot can be wiped clean with a paper towel.