Barbecue Sauce
This isn't an imitation--it's just a really, really tasty homemade barbecue sauce. I told my mom I needed one, and she just whipped this thing out by pouring random stuff into a pot. I could not believe my tongue. I made her go right back in the kitchen and write down what she had done. She laughed--I think she doesn't take her skills very seriously, but she did it. I am SO glad she did.
As tasty as hers was, though, of course I can never leave well enough alone. So I tinkered, and I do like my version better. =) This is what I'm calling the finished product, though I would be sad if nobody ever tinkered with it to make it their own.
3/4 c ketchup (we used my homemade recipe--see the new and improved version!)
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp paprika
2 drops lemon juice (I keep on hand Real Lemon brand bottled lemon juice for just this kind of situation)
1 shake onion powder
2 drops liquid smoke
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp not-so-soy sauce
pinch pepper
1/2 pinch cayenne (laugh with me, now, at my half-pinch)
Mix all together and it's ready to use! It does improve with time--I made some for bbq beef the other day, and put the leftover sauce in the fridge to top the sandwiches with, and the stuff from the fridge was quite a bit better. That makes sense, though!
