Good morning. We're five days from Memorial Day weekend—a 72-hour stretch where at any moment, somebody, somewhere is begging someone to "pick up ice." Thankfully, unceremonious freezer demands aren't the holiday's sole guarantee—there's also parades, family, friends, and (if you're doing it right) ribs. I can help with that final piece. Here's one way to do ribs right:
1. Make ribs. Can't stress how important actually making ribs is to making ribs. It's just not the same without them. That said, if you're seeking recipe recommendations, here are three: Emma Laperruque's baby backs with dry rub (likely the most praised rib recipe on our site), Ian Knauer's Genius sticky-balsamic ribs, and Eric Kim's grilled ribs with salt and pepper.
2. Slaw something. Doesn't matter what or how, so long as it's cold, crunchy, and teeming with acidity. Potential candidates include: Sonya Gropman's green cabbage slaw, Amanda's summer slaw, or this celery, radish slaw that's tied together with "blue cheese sauce."
3. Pick up ice. But don't do it yourself. Instead, text somebody who's already on the way to your house. After they concede, turn around, sit through holiday traffic, find parking, and eventually set foot in the gas station, text them, "cups too." Afterwards, three things will happen: 1) They'll buy the ice and cups. 2) While driving to your house (for the second time that day), your friend(s) will disparage your entire existence. 3) Upon arrival, you'll hand each ice acquirer a glass of Brigid Washington's sweet tea rum punch and all will be forgotten.
