BBQ Magic

     My definition of  "food snob" may be different than yours.  In fact, a more correct term may be persnickety.

     I do love remarkably fresh whole food prepared from scratch, but there are also drive through windows worthy of visiting.   Once I heard a local chef, whose food I love, say that his favorite fast food was a taco from Jack in the Box.  Needless to say,  I was taken aback.  I decided I must go try one of these tacos and dangalang, I also found it conflictingly gratifying. Not at all what I would like to eat on a weekly basis, but it had a strange appeal.  Food snobbery has it's exceptions.

     I grew up on a great BBQ sandwich.  When deciding to move to Texas (many many years ago), I was thinking there would be some great BBQ in my future.  Sadly, most Texas BBQ is sappy sweet and uninteresting. I much prefer the vinegar, black pepper based sauce.  And that doused with a generous sprinkling of Tabasco. The best BBQ sandwich I have found in our area is Dickey's BBQ.    They have received the James Beard award and it's fairly decent BBQ.  There are still locations in the area, one on Industrial in Bedford, one on Precinct Line in Hurst, and a Kimbell  Southlake location, to name a few.

     TBut the very best BBQ is when my nearest and dearest friend fires up her smoker and spends the day working her magic on pounds of succulent meat.  I make the old vinegar based sauce and we combine the two for a smoked delicacy good enough to make you want to slap your momma.  That and the company of the people you enjoy make for BBQ heaven.  The non sweet delectable sauce recipe follows... yes, it's just too good not to share.

UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING BBQ SAUCE

32 oz. bottle of ketchup
26 oz. bottle of vinegar
6 tsp. black pepper
6 tsp. sugar
6 tsp. chili powder
4 tsp. salt
16 oz. water
2 finely chopped onions

Combine all and cook slowly stirring occassionally until desired thickness.   About 4 hours.