| Now we're ready to begin, right? Not yet! Some | | | | 5. Remember that sauces are meant to complement |
| barbecue sauce basics should be covered first. These | | | | your cooking, not hide it. View barbecue sauces as |
| recipes are a very good basic education. Once you | | | | condiments, the same way mustard and ketchup |
| are comfortable making various types of sauces, | | | | enhance a hot dog. Barbecue sauce should help draw |
| you'll probably want to concoct your own, and you | | | | out the flavor of your barbecued and grilled meats, |
| should. However, every aspiring sauce inventor should | | | | not overpower it. |
| follow these sauce commandments. | | | | 6. Write everything down! You'll be thinking up all |
| 1. Follow directions to the letter. If the recipe calls for | | | | sorts of interesting combinations of liquids, spices, |
| a certain ingredient, don't ignore it (at least the first | | | | herbs, and flavors, and mixing up one heck of a |
| couple of times you use it). The people who have | | | | recipe, but when you want to recreate it later you |
| developed these barbecue sauces have used these | | | | will forget how you did it! Don't waste that precious |
| specific ingredients in the recipe. | | | | culinary inspiration. Write down exactly what you do |
| 2. Use accurate measurements. I know firsthand the | | | | every time you make up a new barbecue sauce. |
| temptation to add just a pinch of that and a dollop | | | | Your creation could become the next big seller! |
| of this when making sauces, but how can you | | | | 7. Experiment. Hey, variety is the spice of life! You'd |
| recreate a sauce masterpiece if you don't measure | | | | be surprised how a little experimentation can lead to |
| the ingredients as you go? | | | | a truly tasty discovery in the kitchen. |
| 3. Always use the freshest ingredients possible. You'll | | | | 8. Most of all have fun! Cooking is an activity you can |
| wind up with better-tasting sauces. It never pays to | | | | enjoy by yourself or with friends and family. Nothing |
| cut corners on your ingredients. | | | | brings more people together with big, happy smiles |
| 4. Strive for balance in all things. If you are using | | | | than well-prepared barbecue, complemented by a |
| pungent woods such as hickory, mesquite, oak, or | | | | sauce you've made from scratch. |
| pecan in your barbecuing or grilling, you'll have better | | | | So to sum up, a little care and fresh ingredients and |
| results using a lighter-flavored sauce than one that will | | | | you are virtually guaranteed to impress friends, family |
| compete with the meat and smoke. Too many | | | | and the boss! |
| conflicting tastes will ultimately ruin your hard work. | | | | |