Dads sweet and sour spare ribs

Always has been my absolute favorite meal

We always had it once a month growing up and there was never any left overs

Where is the recipe from? I don’t know. I feel he said once that 30 years ago one of our local grocery stores (COOP) used to have flyers with a new recipe every week. I think my grandma got the flyer and one say he decided to make it. He improved the recipe and it’s just the most delicious.

My dad was a great writer, but not with recipes. Because we don’t know what the original recipe was, and he made it so often there was no measuring anything, and changed things for his own taste and enjoyment of sweetness, I know I’ll never truly be able to replicate the dish.

He wrote out the recipe twice for me over the years. The first one was so vague and confusing. I asked for more instructions and this is what he was able to translate into a more detailed recipe.

The special soy sauce that is mentioned is just a sweet sugary soy sauce. He only ever used this brand but I’m sure there are similar sauces out there.

He specifically added this as one of his photos he left for me in his phone which he wiped and made his phone into a memory love you goodbye without saying it but here’s a whole phone of our life. He wanted to make sure I remembered the brand haha

What makes this dish even more special, is that last year in uncertain times, he promised me a last visit. He ended up staying a week. The first thing he did was not only make me the spare ribs , but also made sure he taught my husband how to make them so I could enjoy them after he was gone. He even pre planned and brought his own flour, spices, and huge cooking pot. He wanted to make sure that he made them for me and we weren’t missing any ingredients.

I’m so thankful for this moment. My dad was happy, he was cooking in a kitchen again, for his family. He was proud to share his recipe and loved that the meal was enjoyed. He wasn’t doing the best here, but he looks like a million bucks in this photo. It’s nice to have captured his happiness. For a moment the worlds struggles disappeared. We both went back to a time where we were happy, together, and our best selves.

Bon appetite!