Success BBQ-a-rama Weekend

Fed the team this weekend. Since I was doing 4 dishes, I spead it over 2 days (smoked 2 shoulders on Saturday and Sunday did Memphis Dry ribs (baby back), sweet spare ribs, and smoked chicken). Will detail highlights below

Shoulder: I did two 5 1/2 lb shoulders. Did the last of my Magic Dust rub on Friday night. Sticking with my rule of 1 hour per pound of meat plus an hour (example- two 5 and half pound shoulders went for 6 and a half hours). Used oak and hickory, which are my favorites for shoulder. Basted with cider vinegar, brown sugar, worcestshire (sp?) sauce and some magic dust. Let rest for 2+ hours wrapped in a paper bag. New tip- wear rubber gloves and pull by hand- goes much quicker. Warmed it up on Sunday for 325 for an hour and added some salt, pepper, and cider vinegar. Perfect!

Memphis dry rub ribs: Used Raichlen's recipe, but used an older basting recipe of white vinegar with dijon mustard. Turned our great.

"Wet" ribs: Used spare ribs. Basted every hour with my new favorite of cider vinegar with brown sugar. Used Raichlen's "Lord of the 'Que Spareribs" rub. Went 3.5 hours at 250, wrapped in foil, then another 2 hours. Used hickory chunks and applewood chips. Let rest for 1+ hours in foil in a cooler. I then tried a new technique I picked up from some restaurants. I turned on my gas grill and placed the ribs on there and brushed them with a sweet BBQ sauce (made raichlen's Nashville sweet sauce- great base sauce) for about 5 minutes. This really pushed them over the edge- great.

Smoke chicken: I've done this a million times, and still turns out great.

Sauces: I think we had a total of 10 sauces, and people brought some of their favorites. Mine was Elmers out of Oklahoma- great mixed sauce. The Sweet Mustard Sauce from Southern living was the favorite on pork, the Nashville Sweet was the favorite on ribs, and of course the white sauce was best on the chicken.

Pictures below. Took a lot of timing this weekend, but everything was well received, adn for the first time ever, I almost ran out. But check Andiken's fridge on Monday- there may be a few things leftover.

Also, check out my fully equipped BBQ cart, gift from the NEW Kids team- was a big help, especially having foil, paper towel, and trash can readily available. The last picture is Fergus, enjoying a rib, and he's a near full-blooded Irishman. If he likes my ribs, then everyone will.