Main Dishes

Root Beer Bbq Ribs, Classic Whiskey Sour, and The Night Watchman

April 21, 2025
editor
Delight in a culinary and literary retreat by pairing the savory Root Beer BBQ Ribs with the intriguing novel 'The Night Watchman' by Louise Erdrich and a refreshing Whiskey Sour cocktail. This pairing marries the rich, smoky flavors of the ribs with the nuanced storytelling of Erdrich's Pulitzer Prize-winning work, all while the classic cocktail provides the perfect, balanced refreshment to an evening of savory indulgence and introspective reading. Ideal for a book club gathering where culinary excellence and thoughtful discussion go hand-in-hand.
Root Beer Bbq Ribs

Ingredients

  • 2 racks of baby back ribs (about 4 pounds)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 2 cups root beer
  • 1 ½ cups ketchup
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  • Remove the membrane from the back of the ribs for better seasoning penetration.
  • Season the ribs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
  • Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
  • Place the ribs in a large roasting pan and pour 1 cup of root beer over them.
  • Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until the ribs are tender.
  • In a saucepan, combine the remaining 1 cup of root beer, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, liquid smoke, and chili powder.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
  • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
  • Remove the ribs from the oven and place them on the grill.
  • Brush generously with the root beer BBQ sauce.
  • Grill for 10-15 minutes, basting with more sauce and turning occasionally, until the ribs are nicely caramelized.
  • Remove the ribs from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes.
  • Slice into individual ribs and serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side.

The Night Watchman

The Night Watchman

Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich's grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington D.C.
WINNER OF THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WASHINGTON POST, NPR, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, KIRKUS, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a “termination” that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”? Since graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau has insisted that everyone call her Patrice. Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, has no desire to wear herself down with a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, a job that barely pays her enough to support her mother and brother. Patrice’s shameful alcoholic father returns home sporadically to terrorize his wife and children and bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to follow her beloved older sister, Vera, who moved to the big city of Minneapolis. Vera may have disappeared; she hasn’t been in touch in months, and is rumored to have had a baby. Determined to find Vera and her child, Patrice makes a fateful trip to Minnesota that introduces her to unexpected forms of exploitation and violence, and endangers her life. Thomas and Patrice live in this impoverished reservation community along with young Chippewa boxer Wood Mountain and his mother Juggie Blue, her niece and Patrice’s best friend Valentine, and Stack Barnes, the white high school math teacher and boxing coach who is hopelessly in love with Patrice. In the Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich creates a fictional world populated with memorable characters who are forced to grapple with the worst and best impulses of human nature. Illuminating the loves and lives, the desires and ambitions of these characters with compassion, wit, and intelligence, The Night Watchman is a majestic work of fiction from this revered cultural treasure.

Discussion Questions

  • What impact does the setting of North Dakota have on the story and its characters?
  • How does Erdrich portray the struggle between tradition and progress within the Native American community depicted in the book?
  • Discuss the role of dreams and visions in the novel. How do they influence the characters' decisions?
  • How are women portrayed in the novel? Discuss the challenges they face compared to men.
  • Examine the political elements in 'The Night Watchman'. How does Erdrich balance historical fact with fiction?
  • In what ways do the characters' personal stories converge with the larger political narrative?
  • How does the author use humor, and what effect does it have on the narrative?
  • Discuss the significance of the title 'The Night Watchman'. What symbolic meanings does it hold?
  • How do the shifting narrative perspectives enhance the storytelling?
  • What is the significance of family and community in the novel? How do these themes interplay with the characters' struggles?
Authors: Louise Erdrich
ISBN: 0062671189
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2020-03-03

Classic Whiskey Sour

Classic Whiskey Sour
A Whiskey Sour is the perfect cocktail to pair with meals featuring rich flavors like BBQ ribs. Its tart lemon juice and hint of sweetness balance the smokiness of the ribs, allowing you to enjoy both the drink and the meal to their fullest.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
  • 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 ounce simple syrup
  • Ice cubes
  • Lemon slice and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
  • Shake well until chilled.
  • Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  • Garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy alongside your meal.