Summer Backyard BBQ #Recipes

Summer is about sun and fun! Take that, add good friends and tasty food, and you have a recipe for an outdoor barbecue.  

What’s fun about barbecues is there are just as many ways to cook as there are ways to enjoy. Choose your favorite meat, poultry or fish. Decide if you want to bake it, grill it, or leave it in the crockpot all day. Baste, soak or simmer accordingly and apply sauce generously. Because when it comes to BBQ, the secret is in the sauce!

Make your own Texas BBQ sauce by following this simple recipe to yield 3 cups:

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups ketchup
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard or spicy mustard
• 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (more or less depending on how much kick you want)
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• Optional: half a can or bottle of your favorite beer

1. In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, 30 to 40 minutes, or until sauce is thick and glossy.

After preparing some tasty BBQ ribs or sandwich sliders and adding baked beans, you’re halfway to the hoedown. Have guests bring their favorite side dishes and get a taste of all the traditional favorites.

Mustard potato salad basics include peeled, baked or boiled russet or Idaho potatoes (3-5), equal parts yellow mustard and mayonnaise (1/2 cup), chopped onion /2 yellow), chopped celery stalks (1-2), chopped pickles or 1 tablespoon relish, 1 chopped boiled egg, salt & pepper and paprika sprinkled on top. Look for variations with new potatoes, red onion and mayonnaise.

The best southern BBQ feasts also include cole slaw, macaroni salad and pea salad. Grab your grandma’s cookbook and find her favorite recipes for all of these classics. Or try making one of your own!

Be sure to add some hamburger buns, Texas toast or homemade cornbread to sop up all that great BBQ sauce.  To make jalapeno cornbread, follow the traditional recipe but add half a can of strained corn, add 2-3 seeded and chopped jalapenos. Some recipes also call for chopped red pepper or chopped pimentos.

Wash it all down with an Arnold Palmer! Just mix Iced Tea with Lemonade for this tasty combo. 

Have a great week from the @FoodieGems family to yours! Remember to come on over to FoodieGems.com to become a #Foodie for FREE! And be sure to connect with us on Social Media: Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter!