Sweet and Spicy Beef Ribs

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1.5 tbsp ground ancho pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme
• 1.8 kg beef short ribs with bones (approximately 5 cm thick)
• 3/4 cup apple butter
• 1/4 cup mustard
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 cup non-alcoholic apple cider (unfiltered apple juice without sugar)
• 3 carrots, thinly sliced
• 5 green onions (white and light green parts only), thinly sliced
• Cornbread, for serving

Preparation:

1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic, thyme, 2 teaspoons of salt, and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle the spice mixture over each short rib and massage it into the meat.
2. Place the ribs in a single layer in a 6-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle with the remaining spice mixture.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the apple butter, mustard, ketchup, and cider. Microwave until very hot, then pour into a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
4. Using tongs, turn the ribs over in the sauce to coat them, then transfer them to a bowl. Skim off any excess fat from the surface of the sauce (there will be very little), then return the ribs to the sauce and add the carrots and green onions.
5. Cover and simmer on high for another 2 hours. Serve with cornbread.