Three Tips for Making Great Ribs

Michael Hockett of Chesapeake, Virginia, worked in the auto auction industry for more than 40 years before he transitioned to a career as an independent real estate developer. In his free time in Virginia, Michael Hockett is famous in his family for cooking ribs.

Among barbecue enthusiasts, ribs are a best-loved dish that need the correct cooking approach. Successfully grilling a rack of ribs does not have to be difficult if you follow these three tips:

1. Remove the membrane.

A rack of ribs typically has a thin membrane running along its underside. This membrane becomes tough and almost inedible when cooked, and it inhibits the absorption of spices and smoke flavors in the cooking process. When prepping ribs, remove the membrane by sliding a knife under it and carefully pulling it away from the rack.

2. Do not boil ribs before you grill them.

While boiling or otherwise precooking your ribs can reduce overall cooking time, it can also sap the ribs of flavor. For cooking ribs, low and slow is the way to go.

3. Do not add barbecue sauce until the end.

As for rubs, spices, and smoke, a little goes a long way. Apply multiple layers of flavor, but do not overpower the natural flavor of the ribs. Wait until the very end of your grilling session to apply barbecue sauce or you may end up with charred ribs.

A Look at Piper Aircraft’s Malibu and M350

Virginia-based business leader Michael Hockett boasts over four decades of experience working in the auto auction industry. He also works as an independent real estate developer focused on short-term rental properties in the area of Chesapeake, Virginia. Outside of his professional pursuits, Michael Hockett enjoys a variety of activities, including piloting his Malibu M350 aircraft.

Introduced in 1983 by Piper Aircraft, Inc., the PA-46 Malibu is a cabin-class single-engine piston aircraft that has stood the test of time, thanks in part to a bit of redesigning along the way. The first redesign came in the late 1980s when the 310-horsepower (HP) Malibu was refitted with a more powerful 350 HP Lycoming single engine. The latest iteration of the PA-46 Malibu is the M350, which hit the market in 2015.

With a dual-turbocharged engine powering a Hartzell three-blade propeller, the M350 is capable of cruising at up to 213 knots (approximately 245 MPH) with a maximum range of around 1545 miles. The engine performance is only a part of the appeal of the M350, which also has a luxurious interior with premium leather, wood/metal trim, lighting controls, power plugs, beverage holders, and seat controls.

Another highlight of the six-seat M350 is the enhanced Garmin NXi G1000 Avionics Suite. Top features of the system include electronic stability and stall protection, automatic level mode, and an autopilot mode capable of flying the plane unassisted at lower altitudes.

The M350 Jet by Piper

Michael Hockett served as president and general manager of Tidewater Auto Auction in Chesapeake, Virginia. As an independent real estate developer and owner of short term vacation rental properties. An accomplished Virginia business leader, Michael Hockett is a pilot with nearly 25 years of experience. He owns multiple aircraft, including a Malibu M350.

The Malibu M350 by Piper is powered by a twin-turbocharged piston engine, which provides ample performance power at no expense to passenger comfort. The jet is capable of a max cruise speed of 395 kilometers per hour with a maximum range and approved altitude of 2,487 kilometers and 7,620 meters, respectively.

The pressurized cabin is outfitted with premium leather seating and a carpeted interior lined with metal and wood trimming, ranking the M350 among the most luxurious cabin experiences in this class of aircraft. Comparable aircraft options include the M500, M600/SLS, and the Seneca family of jets.

More information about Piper’s M350 is available online at http://www.piper.com.

Spectacular Ruins of Catedral de Santiago in Antigua, Guatemala

The owner of an independent company in the property rental and management business in Chesapeake, Virginia, Michael Hockett’s career spans more than four decades, much of it in the auto auction industry. He is the former owner of Tidewater Auto Auction. Personally, Michael Hockett enjoys traveling from his Virginia home to help build churches in locations such as Antigua, Guatemala.

Founded by the Spanish in 1543, Antigua offers visitors a diverse range of opportunities ranging from hiking up active volcanoes to exploring the area’s history and culture. Its historical sites include the ruins of the Catedral de Santiago.

Construction of the cathedral began two years after the city’s founding and continued into the 1600s. An architect with African and Mayan heritage named Joseph de Porres oversaw work on the main structure, which features enormous pillars and archways bordering the large nave.

Today, with the exception of the reconstructed facade, only ruins remain due to several successive earthquakes, including a major one in 1773. However, the ruins themselves offer visitors an experience of peace and beauty, open to the sky above, and with a variety of flora decorating the crumbling walls.