Barbecue Sauce

This recipe is so easy to make and so good. Be warned, it makes a lot. I like to can mine, it makes about 8 pints. If you don't know how to can, you could freeze it too, or just decrease the amount you make. This only gets better with age.

BARBECUE SAUCE 

(makes 8 pints)

Ingredients:

*2 tablespoons butter, melted

*1/4 sweet onion, chopped very fine

*2 garlic cloves, minced

*2 cups ketchup

*2 cups tomato sauce

*1 cup brown sugar

*1 cup Italian red wine vinegar

*1/2 cup dark molasses

*4 teaspoons hickory-flavored liquid smoke ('colgin' is gluten free)

*1/4 teaspoon chili powder

*1 teaspoon paprika

*1/2 teaspoon celery seed

*1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

*1/2 - 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (depending on how spicy you want it)

*1 teaspoon sea salt

*1 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

~Put all the ingredients into a medium sized saucepan, and cook over medium heat.

~Stir and once it's hot, turn the stove down to a simmer.

~Simmer for 30-40 minutes. The longer you simmer it the thicker it will be.
~Place barbecue sauce into sterile jars, leaving a 1/2 inch head space.

~Put lids and rings on jars, making sure jar is free from any residue first.

~Cook in hot bath for 20 minutes.

~Make sure all lids have sealed, and store after sitting for 24 hours.

Variations:

`Substitute the onion with 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.

`Substitute garlic with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

`Substitute the red wine vinegar with apple cider vinegar.

`Substitute the molasses with maple syrup.

`If you like more heat, add 1 tablespoon "chili pepper based hot sauce.

`If you like a mustard based BBQ Sauce, substitute the tomato sauce with 1 cup of spicy brown mustard.