Sauce on the Side

Everyone loves some good ole barbeque, especially in the South. However, there is always the sauce debate. Whether it's sweet, ketchup based, vinegar base, or the consistency is thick or thin, each area has it's own unique version. What you usually find in Houston is the smokier flavor that the meat is not only marinated in, but then also dipped in while eating. I am weird because I am not really a sauce person while eating barbeque. I don't like the meat drenched in sauce, but I do appreciate the meat that's marinated in the sauce. I found an interesting sauce recipe on Pinterest via The Black Peppercorn.

I have never made a barbeque sauce before and figured this would be the perfect time to try one. Father's Day is right around the corner and it seems like every weekend has the perfect weather for an outdoor gathering. This sauce is on the sweeter side and had a thicker consistency. I made a few modifications to the original recipe based on what ingredients I had. I had some difficulty with getting a super smooth texture, but it could be because my onions were diced not minced. You can definitely taste the sweetness of the brown sugar and it has a hint of of smoke at the end. Note*: I doubled the recipe and got about 42 ounces worth of sauce or about 3 of the containers pictured.

I haven't had a chance to try it on some meat yet, but I know it will be great. It will also be a great accompaniment to the dry spice rub I just made! What more could the father in your life ask for? Now you have all the essentials to create a perfect piece of barbequed meat. Try it out and let me know what you think! 

BBQ Sauce Recipe:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 onions, minced
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 cup beer (I used Miller Lite)
• 1/2 cup vinegar (I used rice wine vinegar)
• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp cayenne (I used chili powder)
• 1 cup (8oz can)tomato paste

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the onion, and garlic to the saucepan and saute until they are tender and beginning to caramelize, about 8 minutes.
2. Add the molasses, beer, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper and cayenne . Bring to a boil. Let it cook with a low rolling boil for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally so that nothing sticks to the bottom of the saucepan.
3. Stir in the tomato paste and lower the heat. Let the sauce simmer for 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
4. Remove from the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature.
5. Puree in a blender until smooth.

The Lone Star

After hearing that a friend was moving to Oklahoma, I was trying to decide on the perfect going away gift. I knew I wanted to do something Texas related since he's a big fan of the state. Browsing the internet, I saw some wall art and decided that I would attempt to make my own piece for him. I was thinking about painting the Texas Flag as the background and then doing an outline of the state on top. Well after trying that, it didn't exactly work out like I had planned. I added the phrase 'The Lone Star State' at the bottom, but it still wasn't what I had in mind.

So now what? I spent a long time looking at the painted canvas hoping for some inspiration, but nothing came. It was time to solicit some advice. After adding the suggested brads to the star, it started to look better but it still looked incomplete. I began to think about the signs that I had been trying to recreate and remembered that most of them had some kind of fabric tied to the hanger. I was afraid of looking it too girly, so instead of using ribbon I opted for a red bandana. What could be more representative of Texas than that?!

So here's the final product. Though it's hard to see in the picture, it still says 'The Lone Star State'. I think it turned out pretty well and came a long way from where I started. I found that I have a somewhat frustrating relationship with artwork. I think I have a clear idea of how I want something to look, but due to my limited drawing skills, it doesn't always go according to plan. But as I was reminded, it's art and you can never go wrong because there isn't a right or wrong way. So next time you find yourself discouraged about a craft project, just remember it's totally up to you, so you can't go wrong.

What to do in Austin

 Austin is a great place to visit for a quick day trip or a weekend getaway. Though I have not been as often as I wanted to, I have found that there are always things to do and see. You can always visit the capital, the art museum, or watch the bats, however, I wanted to do something a little different. The South Congress district has a very eclectic shopping area and lots of food trucks. There were definitely some interesting costume stores, but it was great to see all the promotions of local artisans and businesses. Austin is a place where everyone seems to watch out for others and aren't afraid to talk about other places of business. I was disappointed that none of the food trucks were open around lunch time because there are several I would have liked to try.

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

If you are looking for something to a bit on the educational side, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum was great. It was an interactive look at the history and development of the industries in Texas. Each of the three floors covered the major development periods, starting with the Native Americans and early settlements and ending with all the major industries, like oil and cattle ranching. This museum also had an IMAX theater that was showing a film about the arctic. It was a very inspiring and educational film.


Unfortunately, I was only there for a day, so I didn't get to do to much, but post your favorite things to do so I can be sure put them on my list for next time I am in Austin.