noob recipe question!!

[mistergee]

ok guys, did my first ribs this weekend. Smoked them using oak chunks for about 5hrs on a UDS at about 250F.

They turned out ok, meat was nice but not quite fall of the bone. I think it was because the ribs were pretty heavy at about 2.2kg.

Anyways the rub recipe i was using turned out pretty bad, it was from an AMerican book - Americas best bbq , the memphis style ribs.

Looking back i think that i may have got the units all wrong, it says 1/4 cup of pepper and 1/4 cup of chili, so this with all the other stuff made it rather hot!!

Now what is a cup? hardly an SI unit but i guess my interpretation could be wrong as i just used a cup from the kitchen.

help me out in what went wrong....

[jotch]

Marks and Sparks sell them...you definitely need a set if you're following any US recipe. Also, don't make the mistake I made and stick to the measurement if you have an Extra Hot Chilli Powder...adjust it to taste...just glad I had some ice cream in the freezer...phew!

[Curlie028]

Ah, got caught with this myself.
When an american, sorry Al, American recipe calls for chili, they refer to a chili con carne mix.
You will find a good one in the rubs forum.
Oh and don't get caught with the cup measures. It is an official measurement and Tesco do a set of measures: cup; half cup; quarter cup and eighth cup for I think it was £4, that are worth looking at.
Made the same mistake a few times until someone here put me right.

[jotch]

I've found the opposite in the UK Curlie...most Chilli Powders are already blends of other spices such this one - http://www.schwartz.co.uk/productdetail.cfm?ID=5153

However if you specifically want ground Chilli then it usually states the Chilli used on the packet e.g. Cayenne Pepper or Chilli Birds Eye...just check the ingredients list.

But yes, American recipes want Chilli Powder Blend

[Chris__M]

1 cup = 235 ml

I actually use 250ml for conversions - it's easier to remember, and easier to halve and quarter.

[mistergee]

thanks guys really appreciate your input i guess i was just rushing to get them ribs on the go.

i have remeasured my kitchen cups and they are actually pretty close at 250ml! i think it was the amount of chilli i put in but definately will taste from now on !!!