Fall off the bone ribs

My mom starts with the crockpot.
“The crockpot builds taste,” she says.
I wait while her ribs marinate to perfection.

The process: a seven hour task,
...but it’s worth the wait.
I watch as steam evaporates from the pot.

“That’s the sign to switch to the oven,” she says.
But first, she covers the meat in Sweet Baby Ray’s Original BBQ sauce.
They soak in the sauce like a sponge absorbs water.

The oven to 350, ribs plop on the middle rack and the secret ingredient is applied.
Unlike the crockpot, after
10 minutes, the ribs are prepared for the feast.

The meat sizzles like bacon on a frying pan.
“It’s time to eat.”
I start to salivate. I don’t wait.

The succulent meat drops from the bone.
The taste, the flavor.
My mom says, “Eat up.”