Barbecue To The Rescue

Barbecue season is at its peak right now in the High Country, but is it something you eat, or something you do? The term barbecue, BBQ, or bar-be-que has always created a bit of confusion amongst us mountain folks. We hear people talking about barbecuing, but that doesn’t always mean they use that tomato-based sauce we love to smear on everything that won’t move. It simply means they’ve had a cookout, they just didn’t know it. When I invite people over for barbecue, it probably means I’ve baked a Boston butt roast for several hours and then drowned it in a heavy, savory sauce. Now, if I’m going to throw a steak on the grill, I’ll say, “Let’s grill out,” and if I’m “doing” burgers and dogs, it’s a “cookout.” But I have friends who, regardless of what they are cooking on a grill, still say they are having a “barbecue.” If someone can set me straight on the proper terms of barbecuing, (if it really matters!) I’ll be glad to listen. In the meantime, fire up the grill, turn on the oven, invite your friends over and have a ball!

Baby Back Ribs
1 Tbsp. paprika
1 ½ tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. celery salt
½ tsp. ground black pepper
¼ tsp. ground red pepper
4 lbs. pork baby back ribs, cut into 3 to 4-rib portions
Barbecue sauce (recipes follow)

Combine seasonings, and rub over all surfaces or ribs. Place in foil-lined roasting pan, bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, fire up the grill. Grill ribs over medium heat for 10 minutes. Brush with barbecue sauce for 10 minutes on each side or until ribs are tender and browned.

 

Grilled BBQ Chicken Recipe
2 chickens, quartered, rinsed and patted dry
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup prepared barbecue sauce (see recipes below)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place chicken in a large roasting pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; lightly brush with ¼ cup barbecue sauce. Bake about 20 minutes.

Preheat grill with medium-hot coals. Grill chicken about 15 minutes (3-4 inches from heat), until done, brushing with remaining sauce and turning halfway through grilling.

 

Basic Barbecue Sauce
½ cup ketchup
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. soy sauce

Combine ingredients and apply to ribs, chicken, etc. as desired.

 

Sweet & Sassy BBQ Sauce
1 large onion, chopped
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
¾ cup sugar
1/3 cup hot sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce
½ teaspoon ground allspice

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in medium saucepan; cook onion until tender.

Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until thickened, stirring often.

Baste on grilled chicken or ribs last 10 minutes of cooking.

Refrigerate any leftover sauce or serve as a dipping sauce.

 

Barbecue Meatballs
1 ½ lbs. ground beef
½ cup milk
¾ cup oats
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped green peppers
Salt and pepper to taste

Sauce:
1 cup ketchup
½ cup water
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped green peppers

Combine first 6 ingredients; make into small balls and place in large baking dish. Combine sauce ingredients in saucepan; heat until sugar melts. Pour over meatballs. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Makes approximately 30 meatballs.