Spicy Ginger Coleslaw the perfect side for a BBQ!

One of my favorite Summer side dishes is Coleslaw! Unfortunately, quite often coleslaw can be boring. Average. Not worthy of seconds. Add some extra carrots, tart apple and the zing of fresh ginger, and Oh! let's not forget the cayenne pepper, and you will be going back for thirds!!

Spicy Ginger Coleslaw

printable recipe

1 14 ounce bag Coleslaw

1/2 Red Bell Pepper sliced thin

1 cup or half a bag matchstick Carrots

1 Granny Smith Apple shredded (or any other tart variety)

1 tablespoon fresh Ginger grated

1 cup Mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tablespoon Sugar...more if you like your slaw sweeter

1/2 teaspoon Morton's Natures Seasonings Salt

1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper...more if you like it spicy

1/2 teaspoon Coleman's Mustard Powder

salt and pepper to taste

Paprika for garnish

In a large mixing bowl combine bag of coleslaw, matchstick carrots, shredded apple, and Red Bell Pepper cut into thin strips. Toss to combine. In a smaller bowl whisk together mayonnaise, grated ginger, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and seasonings. If you like spicy don't be afraid to add more cayenne, or more sugar if you prefer a sweeter slaw. Make it your own...I will never know (wink). Pour dressing over slaw mixture, fold until combined. Give it a taste, add salt and pepper if you feel the need. Transfer to a smaller bowl and sprinkle with paprika to make it look purdy.

Spicy Ginger Coleslaw made a slaw lover out of my Kenny. He is not one for salads with mayonnaisey dressings, but this one has enough flavor and crunchy texture from the apple, pepper, and extra carrots, that is has won him over.

Pair this coleslaw with these BBQ Ribs.......

Or with these Hawaiian Burgers. Is it just me or do you have a hard time spelling Hawaiian? It's a freaky word to me...anyway...however you spell it, these burgers are amaaaZING!

Then add these Taters.....

And this SCRUMPTIOUS Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, from my gal Heather at Down Home with the Nesbits and you will be the BBQ QUEEN guaranteed!!!

There you have it I just put your next outdoor BBQ Menu together for you! Like I said you will be the BBQ Queen, unless that is you are of the male persuasion then you will be the BBQ King.

Looking for some more great summer recipe ideas? Head over to my friend Kim's new blog Recipes to Run On!

Have a great weekend!

LUV yuh!

BBQ ribs

These would be the spices I use to make the rub for my BBQ ribs. My kiddos love ribs. I need to make them more, not sure why I don't......

Note to self....make BBQ ribs more.

This would be the secret weapon in my rib rub. Although it's really not that surprising, and now that I have told you all, it isn't secret either. There are exactly 1 gagillion ways to do BBQ ribs. I don't believe there is one correct way. But I do have to say......of all the times I have made these babies. They have turned out pretty yummy.

If you don't have a mini food processor no fretting. You can just mix up these spices and let them be with out whacking them around in the processor. I have to add you can double even triple this rub mix if you don't want to make it every time. AND it's great on chicken if you have a hankering for some BBQ chicken dinner.

RIB RUB

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons oregano

1 teaspoon celery seed

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dry rub sage

1 teaspoon smoked paprika MUST be smoked not plain ol' paprika

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (you can add more, be my guest)

1 teaspoon dry mustard

This is my favorite BBQ sauce. I used to sweat and toil over making my own, but why when you can buy a really good one. More time to make yummy side dishes and such! You can use your favorite sauce too. You don't have to use Sweet Baby Ray's. But I have to say, it's pretty good!

I grilled up 8 1/2 pounds of pork ribs for my crew and my dad. Rinse, trim, and pat your ribs dry with paper towel before you bathe them in the rib rub.

Now lay it on thick, don't be shy. I used the whole recipe of rub on my nearly 9lbs of ribs.

Just apply the rub to the meat side don't worry about the bony underside.

Then I slide my ribs into these plastic bags. I have to admit, precooking my ribs in plastic has always kinda eeked me out a bit, but after I bite into these tender morsels I forget about the plastic.

Read the package directions......you need to dust the inside of bag with flour or something or nother......it's easy.

Bake them for at least an hour at 350. I lost track of time and mine baked for 1 1/2 hours, they were perfectly happy for that extra 1/2 hour.

Then take the ribs out of the oven, remove them from there plastic cocoon and lay on a platter.

At this time I cut them into individual portions. Then I have Kenny fire up the grill....

This is where the sauce come in. Lay those babies down on the grill and give them a good dose of sauce.

How do you like my beautifully clean grill. Isn't it purdy? OK look past the years worth of grilling and take a lookeee at those RIBS, slather on the sauce. They are already cooked so at this point you just want to bake that sauce on there. It won't take long just 10-15 minutes or so.

Keep it up, you can put more than one coat of sauce on there. OOOhh doggie I am singin' the sauce song.

It goes like this...

Oh gosh, you don't need to hear that it'll ruin your appetite!

There they are. Ready for eating. Sitting ducks....just about ready to be devoured by 7 hungry people, and one dog that was DIEing to get is chomps on a rack-O-ribs.

Enjoy!