So, here’s the thing about being retired. You don’t have to go to a club, make a date or wait for the weekend to dance. You can do it on a Thursday. At noon.

My friends Liz and Charles moved from Cape Cod to Atlanta in the 80’s. Since then it has been a planned event to get together. I catered their wedding on Cape Cod, but I missed the actual ceremony in order to make sure all was well for the reception. I’m pretty sure they actually went through with it, though, ‘cause her mom didn’t lose her mind or anything, at least at the after party, and certainly not when they had kids. Also, there were witnesses, so it’s all good.

Since then we’ve yo-yo’d to visit many times. They’ve travelled north, I travelled south soon after the birth of their son Nate 28 years ago, they came to our wedding at which their now soon-to-graduate-college daughter Jessie was the ring angel almost 14 years ago. But it is always a big time when we get together.

Liz had been planning a trip north for her 40th High School reunion on Cape Cod in September, and a trip north always means a stop in to spend a few days with us. She called before the trip.

“Goose!” I answered.

“Hello, darlin’.”

“How are you?” I asked.

“Older and crazier than the last time we talked,” she replied.

“The older was inevitable, but I didn’t think you could get any more crazy,” I responded.

And we were off.

Our conversations bring out the best, funniest, and most irreverent part of me. Sometimes I wish there was someone making a recording, ‘cause we could make money off of this. Seriously.

So, there is only one thing better than a visit from Liz and Charles, and that is an afternoon with Liz, Charles, Mike and Anita. That much hilarity should be illegal without a license. While alcohol is not necessary it certainly is a lubricant, and we went through a very large bottle of tequila, which was made into a bunch of pitchers of margaritas. Hence the dancing.

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But of course I don’t do gatherings without food, so there was plenty of that as well. I tried a new recipe for country style pork ribs, which are more of a pork chop/rib combo than a true rib, which means you can grill them in a timely fashion vs. spending the day with a beer or three next to the grill. The ribs, local sweet corn and a zesty coleslaw were all we needed for the feast.

Grilled Country Style Pork Ribs – courtesy Cook’s Illustrated Magazine

Spice Rub:

4 Tsp. packed brown sugar

1 T. kosher salt

1 T. chili powder

1/8 tsp. cayenne (I used more)

******

4 lbs. bone-in country style pork ribs, trimmed of excess fat

BBQ sauce, with extra for serving (Bull’s Eye or Sweet Baby Ray’s work well)

Combine the dry spices in the spice rub and blend well. Rub the mixture over the ribs, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hrs.

Turn your gas grill to high (all burners) and heat for 15 minutes. Clean and oil grill, and turn off ½ of the burners. Place ribs on lit side, and brown on both sides for 5-7 minutes. Move to cooler side and brush with BBQ sauce. Cover and cook 6 minutes. Flip, brush with sauce and cook 5-10 minutes longer, until pork registers 150 degrees. Remove to a platter, cover with foil and let rest 10 minutes. Serve with extra BBQ sauce.

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Trust me, you will have happy campers at the table, even if you don’t have multiple pitchers of margaritas and your favorite people here from Atlanta. But I’ll tell you, having your favorite people at the table makes it all taste much sweeter.

Deborah

PS: My dad never wanted to miss a good party, and certainly not one where Liz was in attendance. Today was no exception.

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