Help with young kids

[killbuck]

Hey All; Gotta a question fer ya. Anyone got a tried and true recipe
for a good rub for ribs and pork that say 3,5, 7, and 9 year olds would like? Any young kids for that matter. I'm talking very little, if any, bite or heat in it?

Reason being: I have about 6-7 good sized cook outs during the spring and summer with about 30-40 people at each and at least half are young kids. Last year a lot of the kids after tasting a bite or two wouldn't eat any more and I'd have to end up grilling dogs or something for them. This year I'd like to be able to smoke and grill something I would hope the kids could enjoy too.

I've tried a few rubs of my own this last fall but I'm not that good in this part of the game. Sauces either. Kids like the Sweet Baby Rays but that's getting old on most things for them too.

Thanks in advance if you wish to respond, and enjoy the day.

 

[harrylips]

One thing that you might want to try...is to get them involved in prepping the meat. Have them help make a rub, get some rubber gloves and let them apply it. It might sound corney, but as soon as my daughter sees the spices come out of the cuppord, she pushed a chair up to the counter and wants to help out.

As far as the rub...I like using Steven Raichlen's basic rub:

Here is an example of a basic Memphis dry rub from Steven Raichlen:
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Just use less or no cayenne to remove the bite. My whole family likes it and they don't like things hot. I use a lot of rub on my ribs and they don't even need sauce, but I still serve it on the side.

 

[irishteabear]

I would suggest trying Jeff's rub and sauce. I cut the heat in half on both of them and my guys who are 11 and 14 and are wimps loved them.

 

[trapper]

Try putting catsup on it. My kids would eat a turd if it had catsup on it. Just curious but what is wrong with feeding them hotdogs? If you are hoping to make something that a kid likes better than a grilled hotdog you are setting yourself up for a huge disappointment imho.

 

[azrocker]

Yow what he said!

 

[fishawn]

What Trapper Said !

BUT, I use Arthur Bryant's Poultry Seasoning rub on just about everything.
It does not have any heat at all & my kids love it, as well as the adult guests.
www.arthrubryantsbbq.com

 

[werdwolf]

Try Curious Aardvark's rub. Maybe leave out any pepper. Smoke with a "sweet wood" like cherry instead of Hickory.

If you can't find it PM him or me.

 

[got14u]

smoke the hotdogs...cheaper and the kids will like it more. that just means more good food for the "old people"

 

[forluvofsmoke]

It's pretty tough to get kids in that age group to want real people food. They are mostly interested in the snackin' types of food, and mostly like to eat and run. I still have trouble with one of mine (he's 10) now and then, though when I smoke or grill, they all come running. I just try to stay away from heated seasonings. If I make a split batch of hot season and regular, I just make sure everyone knows which is which...no problem.

Here's a simple and quick one...have you seen/heard of the Weber Kickin' seasoning blends for grilling? My wife bought me a grinder of it 1-1/2 years ago...I gave it a try a week or so later. We keep 2 grinders of Kickin' Chickin' on hand at all times now. I have even used it on pork chops. This stuff is a great back-up, or just when you need a change of taste.

They have it @ Sam's in our area, not sure, but it should be in grocery stores and other department stores. My wife said they have it for pork, too, not sure about beef. Probably not alot of difference in the seasonings.

Eric

 

[smokeguy]

*Ketchup.
*The cheapest sweetest BBQ sauce you can find on the shelves.
*Just plain ol' honey.
*Nothing on it, but then have these to dip it in.

 

[fishawn]

I love smoked HOT DOGS!

 

[diesel fanatic]

Finally got my toddler to eat smoked pork ... salt and blk pepper only on spare ribs, smoked with hickory/oak. He can't get enough.
Now I always smoke an extra rack with just salt/pepper lightly dusted, just for him. ((and he always dip the meat in ketchup))