BBQ Sauce Recipe

Since next week is July 4th, I just HAD to share my recipe for BBQ Sauce. A friend asked for the recipe and I promised. So, here it is.

 I make 4 times the recipe, put it in ketchup bottles and refrigerate. It will keep for 6 months or more. In my son's house, the kids call it "Daddy's Ketchup" because he uses it on everything! Make it as hot as you like by adding more red pepper. It's great on ribs, chicken or pork roast (or French fries....etc.....) It's an Alabama BBQ sauce, red and spicy sweet.

Alabama BBQ Sauce

1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce

Simmer first 8 ingredients in a small pan for 20 minutes. Add ketchup and Worshestershire; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cool. Store in refrigerator or use immediately.

Foodie PenPals

When I was a little girl, I loved having a pen pal. When my best friend moved away, we became pen pals of a different sort. When I went to college, my roommate and I wrote back and forth all summer (no cell phones back then!). Recently, I came across a post announcing Foodie Penpals! I'm sure you can guess the rest of this story!

I signed up and recieved a box from my new Foodie Penpal, Diane in Pennsylvania. It was a box filled with goodies that make a "Foodie" squeal with delight... dark chocolate, chocolate coated wafers/cookies, pita chips, dip mixes, garlic hot sauce, Italian grissinati (tiny crusty breadsticks)..... frankly, I was too excited to take a photo, but I promise to next month! WHAT FUN! I love a package and I love a surprise and I love pen pals and (obviously!) I love food! A match made in heaven!

Every month this inventive young lady, Lindsey, at The Lean Green Bean, puts together a mailing list. I don't envy her figuring all this out, but she does an awesome job! You get a box from one person but send a box to someone else. There is a $15 spending limit. Here's the link if you'd like to participate. Boxes have to be mailed by the 15th of the month. And you commit for 1 month at a time.
Have fun!!

I'll bet you're wondering what I sent my penpal...... OF course, it contained Southern items... sweet potato chips, Creole seasoning, Martha White mixes, homemade apple butter with a recipe in which to use it, seasoning mixes etc.....

Here's the link... (sorry, I'm not savvy enough to add her button, but you still get the idea....)

http://www.theleangreenbean.com/foodie-penpals/

Tme Flies When You're Having Fun!

Has it really been a month since I've blogged? Those of you who are Facebook friends know exactly where I've been and it has not been in the kitchen! Summer is for grandchildren, especially our oldest who is spending his entire summer vacation with us is this year.

We have been on a cruise to Alaska, he has attended Vacation Bible School, day camp at John C. Campbell Folkschool (www.folkschool.org)and will go to overnight camp before going home. He's 11 yrs old and going into middle school this fall. I suspect after this summer, he will outgrow us. I guess that is even more motivation for trying to make this one special!

That being said, I am taking the month of July off from blogging. I hope to see each of you again in August! Enjoy cold meals, cookouts, picnics and homemade ice cream while you think of me!

Happy summer vacation!