BBQ Sauce

A few years ago I watched an episode from Sandra Lee Semi/Almost Homemade.  It was a life changing event.  OK, maybe that is a little strong but it was very enlightening.  If you are like me and work full time, you do not always have all the time you want to make your recipes.  So knowing that you can do most of a recipe from scratch, yet use some existing products, is both OK and works well.

I have tried starting with a BBQ sauce before and adding to it and it works pretty well.  You find out if you like the sauce a little more sweet, smokey and add the appropriate ingredients.  In this case, the sauce is mostly homemade.  I used up some Sweet Baby Rays I had in the fridge to add some thickness to my sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 – 15 oz can tomato puree
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 yellow onion
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup Sweet Baby Rays
• 1 tsp Cayenne
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 – 6 oz can of tomato paste

Directions:

Heat a sauce pan on medium high, add the oil and then the onions.  Cook for 5 minutes until translucent.  Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.  Add the tomato puree and simmer for 5 – 10 minutes.  Add the rest of the ingredients except for the tomato paste.  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.  After 10 minutes or so, add the tomato paste and simmer for 5 – 10 more minutes.  Enjoy!