Baby Back Ribs

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon mustard
2/3 cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
4 racks baby back ribs


Combine all but ribs in a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until sauce thickens. To make ribs, preheat oven to 300 degrees. Brush sauce over entire surface of ribs. Wrap each rack tightly in aluminum foil and arrange on a baking sheet seam side up. Bake for 2-2 1/2 hours. Remove ribs from foil and grill for 4-8 minutes until they begin to char. Brush ribs with sauce just before being done.

Gizmo Sandwich (State Fair)

1 pound Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef 90% lean
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
30 ounces pizza sauce
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
shredded mozzarella cheese
hot dog buns


In a small pan heat pizza sauce and Italian seasoning, simmer for 15 minutes. In a large pan brown sausage, over medium low heat, until no longer pink. Remove sausage from pan and put into a food processor; pulse until sausage is small crumbles. Add fennel seeds to pan and heat until fragrant. To pan add hamburger, browned sausage and 3/4 cup water. Cook until hamburger is cooked; drain. To make sandwich; spoon meat mixture into hot dog bun; spoon pizza sauce over meat mixture; top with cheese. Broil on low until cheese is browned.

Lasagna

15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
1 1/4 cups grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil leaf, chopped fine
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
9 ounces no boil lasagna noodles
4 cups mozzarella cheese
6 cups spaghetti sauce with meat


Combine the first 7 ingredients, mix well. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Cover the bottom of the pan with one 1 cup of sauce. Smear a 1/4 inch layer of the cheese mixture on the noodles. Arrange the noodles on the sauce cheese mixture facing up, make sure they overlap. Top the cheese covered noodles with 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella, then 1 1/2 cups meat sauce. Repeat. Top with a layer of noodles with out cheese mixture, top with a cup of sauce, a cup of mozzarella and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Cover tightly with foil, and bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees. Remove foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Remove from oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes.

Iowa Ham Balls

           1 pound ground ham
           1 pound ground beef
           1 cup graham cracker crumbs
           1 egg, beaten
           3/4 cup milk
           1 can condensed tomato soup
           1 cup brown sugar
           1/2 cup white vinegar
           1 teaspoon dry mustard

           Preheat oven to 350°
           In a bowl combine the 1st 5 ingredients.  Scoop 1/3
           cup of mixtures and form into a ball.  Place into a 9x13
           baking pan.  Whisk together the last 4 ingredients; pour
           over meatballs.  Bake uncovered for 1 hour baste 2 or 3
           times during cooking.  Cool meatballs for 5 minutes
           before serving.

Mac & Cheese

2 cups macaroni, uncooked
1/4 cup margarine
3 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups Sharp Cheddar freshly grated

Cook macaroni in salted water according to directions, drain.In a pan, over medium heat, melt butter, add flour, cook for 2 minutes.Add milk and cook until slightly thickened.  Add cheese and stir untilmelted. Add macaroni, salt and pepper to taste, mix completely.

Mom's Pizza Dough

1 package yeast
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup oil
3 cups flour


Add yeast to water let sit for 5 minutes. Add rest of the ingredients and knead for 1 minute on a floured board. Put dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until it doubles in size. Punch down and let rest for 5 minutes, form into pizza crusts bake at 425 degrees for 5 minutes before topping. Remove from oven, top with favorite toppings return to oven and bake at until crust is brown and toppings melted.

Maple Country Ribs

3 pounds country style pork ribs
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon


Place ribs in large kettle, cover with water. Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, drain. Place ribs in a greased 9x13 pan. Combine remaining ingredients, pour over ribs. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 1 1/2hours, baste every 15 minutes.