BBQ Sauce: A Memorial Day Weekend Necessity
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During the course of the year, a myriad of magical smells swirl through the air, captivating our noses and transporting us to places of nostalgia, yearning, and bliss. The woodsy types love the smell of fresh pine and honey suckle in the spring while the coastal kind linger on every last note of salty sea spray and sunscreen in late August. As we turn the corner towards cooler seasons and their accompanying scents, spicier sniffers look forward to the wafting aromatics of pumpkin spiked everything and cinnamon seekers break out their candles amongst other infused holiday decor. But of all the calendar events we as a collective link our most beloved inhalations to, there truly is no better scented seasonal kick-off than the sweet smelling, BBQ marinated celebration of Memorial Day Weekend.
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Everyone loves that singeing, sugary bouquet as it tangles with a warm summer breeze, a billowing smoke signal that burns bright in backyards across America as the unofficial ignition to summer commences. Now it may be safer to argue politics amongst friends versus engaging in debate over which stateside region does barbecue best, but at least we can all agree that this staple condiment, no matter its secret and delicate balance of flavorings, is righteous. Whether you slather it on chicken, douse it on a hot dog, mix it in your burger meat, or toss it with your tofu, BBQ sauce is the nectar of Memorial Day Weekend and an essential ingredient to summer. You can load it with molasses, splash it with vinegar, or throw in that special something that only you and Aunt Mabel know about, but you must have this sauce on hand for this momentous holiday weekend or summer might not even happen. So grab a bottle of your favorite flavor or whip up this easy and delicious recipe and let the scrumptious smell of the season begin.
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BBQ Sauce Recipe
What you need:
2lbs of protein (chicken, shrimp, firm tofu, burger meat)
2 Cups of ketchup
½ Cup of brown sugar packed
3 Tablespoons of garlic powder
2 Teaspoons of paprika
¼ Cup red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons of Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
What you do:
Prepare and set aside chosen protein. Mix all other ingredients in a bowl to create BBQ sauce. Reserve ½ cup of sauce to serve as post cooking condiment. With remainder of mixture, marinate protein (except burger meat) for at least an hour and up to 24 hours in advance. If using burger meat, you can mix in sauce just before cooking. Preheat grill and cook according to recommended cooking temperatures for your specific protein. Use leftover marinade to baste protein as it cooks. Serve cooked protein hot with reserved BBQ sauce on the side.