Not sure if this really fits the austerity thing, but it is about a bargain - and a delicious one too.
Watching that compulsive-repulsive programme Man vs Food (I find it excellent, my wife takes a different viewpoint) I saw a way of cooking BBQ ribs that just had to be tried - steamed before baking. So I put a rack of ribs each in a roasting tray, rubbed them with a mix of ground spices - pepper, cumin, fennel and smoked paprika, plus some salt - added a glass of water, and put them in a low oven - 120C - for 2.5 hours. Then they were drained, had a tomato ketchup and spice sauce added, and baked at 200C for 25 minutes.
The flesh falls off the ribs, almost like jelly, with no loss of flavour. Best thing I've cooked, or eaten, in months. For three of us a pig-out ran to about £7, and with homemade coleslaw and a green salad we didn't feel too guilty. Indeed, I guess a lot of the fat comes out of the ribs in the steaming time. Will definitely try this with the finishing cooking done on the barbie when we get (if we get) some decent summer weather. Meanwhile, it is what I have planned for this Thursday's evening meal.
Now all I have to do is find out how the US BBQ joints do that brisket that falls apart.
