SMOKED PORK LOIN BACK RIBS RECIPE

Steps:

• Day before: Remove membrane on underside. Removal makes the ribs more tender and allows penetration of the seasoning and smoke. Using a butter knife, start at the small end of the slab and pry-up part of the membrane. Grasp the membrane with a paper towel and pull it off toward the wide end of the slab. The membrane on loin back ribs may shred when pulled off, so you may have to pry up a few remaining bits and pull them off. Rub mustard over ribs, generously sprinkle rib rub all over ribs - front and back. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Actual cooking time is 6 hours. Allow additional 10 minutes for foiling and saucing ribs. Set smoker to 225 - 228 degrees. Preheat to temperature. If you have vents, set to 1/2 open. Add wood chips and let smoke for a few minutes. Place ribs in a rib rack on smoker rack with a drip pan underneath. I use a foil lasagna pan. I also cut my ribs in half, they are easier to maneuver. Smoke the ribs for 3 hours adding wood chips when needed. (I smoke 2 batches of chips. For smokier flavor, smoke longer) After 3 hours remove the ribs from the rack and set rack aside. Pour 1/4 cup of apple juice in foil lasagna pan, add ribs and cover tightly with foil. Cook for 3 more hours. Remove the ribs from the foil pan and place back in rib rack. Brush with barbeque sauce and place the ribs back into smoker. (I put the rack and ribs back in the foil pan). Cook uncovered 1 hour. Remove and serve with bbq sauce, if desired. Ribs - 550 calories per 1/2 rack Sauce - 70 calories per 1/2 rack