This is What Love Has to Do With It

A couple years ago, I came across an article in Country Living magazine that had a recipe for baby back ribs.  The part that stood out to me was the soda they used in the recipe.  It was called Cheerwine and the part that intrigued me was that the soda was invented by L.D. Peeler.  My mother’s maiden name is Peeler and it piqued my interest.   

Not too long after, I was talking to my cousin, Kirk Peeler.  He has this book that tells the stories of the Peeler family in great detail and always has fun stories or can verify things what I think I remember being told in old family lore.  It just so happens that he mentioned having a soda making relative and so I grabbed the magazine and read it to him.  
 
So, ever since then...I wanted some baby back ribs and some Cheerwine.  I can promise you that I’ve never heard of it before the article let alone seen it in all my westernly travels.  It took me a good couple years to have the light bulb idea – check on Amazon!!  Guess what!!  They had it!! 
Then I learned another amazing thing!!  My Walmart has pick up!  Wow!  I’ve avoided it because I thought it would be expensive, but after taking the time to look at it – IT WAS AMAZING!!  If I don’t have to walk into Walmart, I have more time to visit stores I like to be in hahaha!!  I told my friend just how amazing it was and she said, “Yeah, but you don’t get to look at the ridiculous clothes people wear there.”  Oh, yes, I can, girlfriend!  I have Facebook! 

But I digress.  The second my Cheerwine (sounds alcoholic, doesn’t it?) arrived, I placed my online pickup order for baby back ribs from Walmart!  Then I couldn’t find my recipe that I had torn out of the magazine and had for 2 YEARS(even through a move)!!!  and had to improvise.  Fortunately, (and unknownst to me) PINTEREST has a huge collection of Cheerwine recipes, so I took a little from one and a little from another and another, and this is what I came up with.  And Lordy, it was good!! 

You can download a printable version of the recipe here:  Cheer Wine Ribs

Or just read it from here!

1 tsp Smoked paprika 
1 tsp chili powder 
1 tsp dry mustard 
1 tsp garlic powder 
½ tsp ground ginger 
Salt and pepper 
1 (3 lb)slab baby back ribs 
1 8 oz can Cheerwine 
1 6 oz can tomato paste 
 3 Tbsp brown sugar 
1 ½ tsp yellow mustard 
1 tsp siracha sauce 

1.  Preheat oven to 325°F.  Stir spices together adding salt and pepper to taste.  Rub spice mixture evenly over ribs. Rap ribs tightly with foil and place on cookie sheet.  Bake until tender – 2 to 2 ½ hours.  Remove foil and let rest for half an hour. 
2. Combine Cheerwine, 2 tbsp of tomato paste, 1 cup water, sugar, mustard, and siracha sauce to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes. 
3. Turn oven to broil.  Baste sauce over ribs and broil until lightly charred – about 10 minutes.  ​

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