Semi-Homemade Barbequeue Sauce

My husband smoked a Pork Shoulder on his Traeger Smoker this weekend, and I decided I would make two different sauces for the smokey, rich and delicious meat!

They are both delicious as hell and very different. I tried to remember every ingredient, but don't blame me if I missed something! My husbands favorite is the Piquant and mine is the Strawberry Root Beer Sauce.

Piquant Barbecue Sauce Top Photo, Root Beer Sauce the second one

Piquant Barbecue Sauce

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup yellow mustard (measure this, I was dumb and didn't)

1/4 cup finely minced onion

2 cloves garlic minced well

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tbl Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar (you may add more to taste after it cooks awhile)

1/2 tsp Cayenne

1/2 tsp garlic salt

Tabasco Sauce to taste (I put a fair amount in)

1/2 cup catsup

4 tbl molasses

1/4 cup tomato paste

Place all ingredients into a saucepan and let cook for an hour or more on low. Stir often.

Taste often and adjust to your own tastes. I will last a long time in the fridge due to the acid content.

The second sauce I absolutely pulled out of my ass. I had an idea and ran with it. I knew I wanted a sweeter sauce with fruit. I also cheated a bit and added some smokey barbecue sauce at the end to thicken it up. This one is my favorite of the two and is a beautiful color. The root beer gives it a nice and bright flavor.

Strawberry Root Beer Barbecue Sauce

1 12oz bottle of regular root beer (get a good quality one)

1.5 cup strawberries, cored and chopped medium

1/4 cup onion, diced small

1/4 balsamic vinegar

4 tbl Molasses

1/4 cup catsup

1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce

Pour your bottle of root beer into a non stick sauce pan on low, and let reduce by half, it will take a good 30 minutes

Add the strawberries, onion, balsamic, catsup and molasses

Let cook together for 15 minutes or so

Add a 1/2 to 1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce, mix well and let continue to cook for another few minutes

Taste and add seasoning/ingredients as needed

Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth