Sweet and Spicy Braised Short Ribs

I have been "thinking" about this recipe for a long time.   I had the basic idea written down in my work in progress cookbook, which is basically a huge 3 ring notebook with all my recipes and potential recipes in a semi organized fashion.   After a quick trip to the grocery store for the short ribs - I was ready to go!   Making the sauce in the blender is super easy, searing the short ribs a piece of cake and putting the entire pot into the oven for 3 hours a breeze!   The end result was sweet and spicy fall off the bone tender meat served with a side of mashed potatoes.   This is amazing.

Sweet and Spicy Braised Short Ribs

 Ingredients:

• 6 lbs short ribs, excess fat trimmed
• 3 dried ancho chiles
• 2 C boiling water
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 C tomato sauce
• 3 T canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 4 T molasses
• 2 T honey
• 1 t peppercorns
• 1 t cumin seeds
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 1/2 C water
• 2 T canola oil
• 6 slices jalapeno bacon, chopped
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
• salt and pepper

Directions:   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Stem ancho chiles and tear into pieces then soak in boiling hot water until soft, about 20 minutes.   Transfer chiles to blender and puree with the onion, garlic, tomato sauce, chipotles with adobo, brown sugar, molasses, honey, peppercorns, cumin seed, cloves, 1/2 C water and a pinch of salt.

In a large dutch over or heavy oven proof pot, heat oil.   Season short ribs with salt and pepper and brown ribs.   I did this in batches so I didn't over crowd the pan.   Transfer to platter and hold.   In same pot, cook bacon until crisp and transfer to platter to hold.   Remove all but 2 T of fat from the same pot, stir in chile puree and bring to a boil.   Return ribs and bacon to the pot and add the broken cinnamon stick.   Cover and place in preheated oven to braise - about 3 hours.

To serve, skim as much fat off the top of the sauce and plate with mashed potatoes or grits, with lots of sauce!