Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450 g) Ontario pork button ribs
• 1 lb (450 g) Ontario pork mild Italian sausages
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) canola oil
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (540 mL) stewed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) tomato paste
• 2 bay leaves

Cooking Instructions:

1. Pat ribs dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, over medium-high heat; brown sausages all over and remove to a plate. Add oil and brown ribs on both sides; add to plate.
2. In your slow cooker, stir together carrots, onion, celery, garlic, tomatoes and tomato paste. Add bay leaves. Nestle button ribs and sausages into vegetable mixture. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours until pork fall off bones.
3. Remove lid and stir well, removing button bones and bay leaves. Break up sausages and rib meat and spoon mixture over or alongside your favourite mashed potato, polenta or pasta.

Tip: Want a bit more kick to this dish? Use hot Italian sausages or add 1/2 tsp (2 mL) hot pepper flakes to the vegetable mixture in the slow cooker.