Recipe: Smoked chuck beef ribs

Photo provided

Family Features -- For home chefs looking to take their cooking skills to the next level, it all starts with a little inspiration and a few new skills. Turn family meals into extravagant adventures, take backyard barbecues to new heights and impress friends and neighbors with pitmaster-worthy recipes.

In fact, it can be as easy as turning on the TV. From beef ribs and barbacoa to curried brisket rice and pho rub beef belly spring rolls, viewers are in for a treat by tuning into season 3 of "BBQuest: Beyond the Pit," a video series that dives into the long-held traditions, new flavors and everyday inspiration that make Texas barbecue legendary.

The show follows four themes that capture the essence of Texas barbecue: legacy and tradition; creativity and innovation; Texas trailblazers; and family and community.

You can bring barbecue flavors home and cook like a pitmaster with dishes recreated from the series and developed by "Hardcore Carnivore" cookbook author Jess Pryles, including Smoked Chuck Beef Ribs, Grilled Jalapeno Cheddar Meatballs and Szechuan Skirt Steak with Crispy Rice.

"Since launching BBQuest four years ago, it's truly remarkable to see how much has changed and yet stayed the same when it comes to Texas barbecue, and that's exactly what you see in season 3," said Rachel Chou, Texas Beef Council's director of consumer marketing. "There has been so much exciting innovation around cooking methods and international flavors while there's still a huge dedication to long-held recipes and smoking techniques."

Learn more about the show and find inspiration to bring the taste of barbecue to your kitchen at BeefLovingTexans.com. Below is Pryles' signature Smoked Chuck Beef Ribs recipe.

Smoked Chuck Beef Ribs

Recipe courtesy of Jess Pryles on behalf of Beef Loving Texans

Cook time: 10 hours, 30 minutes
Servings: 8

What you'll need:

1 slab beef chuck short ribs (about 4 pounds)
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons coarse black pepper
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 cup water

Here's how to put it together for your next meal:

Preheat smoker or pellet grill to 275 F.

Pat ribs dry with paper towel; remove moisture on surface.

Combine salt and pepper. Rub beef ribs well on all sides and ends with seasoning, coating generously.

Place ribs in smoker and close lid. Cook 5-6 hours.

In spray bottle, combine cider vinegar and water. Lightly spritz ribs every 30 minutes for first 4 hours of cooking.

Ribs are ready when completely probe tender. If parts still feel tough, continue cooking.

Once completely tender, remove ribs from smoker then wrap tightly in butcher's paper and place in small cooler to rest 30 minutes.

To serve, slice ribs between bones.

Which is flu shot is right for senior citizens?

Photo: CDC/Unsplash

Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

DANVILLE --- As we enter fall, the emails from your workplace or pharmacy may start to pop up in your inbox.

"It’s time for a flu shot!"

But how early is too early to get the yearly jab?

It depends, says Jason Kole, MD, director of Emergency Department Services at OSF HealthCare in Danville, Illinois.

Dr. Kole says every influenza season is different. When will it peak? What will be the dominant strain of the virus? How effective will the flu vaccine be against that strain? Plus, Dr. Kole says, health care providers are still devoting time to treating COVID-19 patients.

"If [the vaccine] actually hits the strain of flu that’s prevalent during that season, then the flu season’s going to be relatively mild," Dr. Kole says. "If it doesn’t hit that strain, then we’re going to have a heavy flu season."

"We’re all going to have to stay on our toes and make sure we’re well prepared," Dr. Kole adds of the upcoming flu season.

Dr. Kole recommends taking the month of September to talk to your health care provider about the flu shot and other vaccines.

Questions to ask: Which vaccines and how many doses are recommended for me? Should I have concerns about side effects or other issues? Are there special circumstances to consider if I’m pregnant? Are there special circumstances for my child? My elderly parent?

Then by October, you’re ready to make an appointment to roll up your sleeve.

Immunizations like the flu shot are an important tool for everyone to stay healthy. But for seniors and people with underlying health conditions, Dr. Kole stresses that they need to be a priority.

"For the most part, when [the emergency department sees] someone come in with flu, we’re looking at a patient that’s older. We’re concerned about the complications of the flu developing into pneumonia or another serious illness," Dr. Kole says.

Some misconceptions on the flu shot:

"I made it to January without getting the bug. I can skip the flu shot this year."

Dr. Kole says you should still talk to your health care provider about the shot.

"We have seen [flu season] come in January or February," Dr. Kole says. "Sometimes it’s late. It doesn’t necessarily have to be coming in October, November or December."

"I got the flu shot last year, so I’m still good for this year."

This one elicits a smile and a shake of the head from Dr. Kole.

"Every year, the flu is different," Dr. Kole repeats. "The vaccines are designed to attack that particular [year’s] flu strain. So it’s key that you get [the flu vaccine] every year."

"I didn’t have any side effects after my flu shot, so it must not be working."

Like the COVID vaccine, flu shot recipients may experience a headache, muscle aches, nausea or other minor symptoms. Those are a sign the vaccine is working, Dr. Kole says. But not having side effects doesn’t mean the immunization isn’t effective.

"I need a flu shot and a COVID booster, but I don’t have time for two appointments."

Research has shown it’s safe to get both at once.

"I got the flu shot but still got sick later that day."

Dr. Kole says once you get the flu vaccine, you have some level of immune system response fairly quickly. But it takes a few days for you to build up a more robust immunity that, hopefully, prevents a trip to the emergency department.

"Once you’re vaccinated, you can be confident that you’re not going to get seriously ill," Dr. Kole says.

Rockets head south in search of win #4

Rocket duo blast SJO, 50-7

In the photo above, Cale Rawdin hands off the ball to running back Garrett Richardson during the Unity's road game at St. Joseph-Ogden. The sophomore took the ball 21 yards to chalk up his fourth touchdown of the game in the 50-7 win in Week 2 for the Rockets.

Tonight, the Rockets (3-1) are back on the road, this week heading to Paris to take on the Tigers in a non-conference gridiron affair. Unity's Little Illini conference opponent is 1-2 after a 19-7 loss to Casey-Westfield and a 35-7 non-conference loss to Harrisburg. Paris' first and only win so far this season was a 60-16 shellacking over Lawrenceville two weeks ago.

See more game photos from the Unity-St.Joe game here: SJO-Unity Photo Gallery. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

---