Late Summer Fare

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. 
The important thing is to not stop questioning."

 Albert Einstein 

Sticky Stout Barbecue Sauce

Cook’s notes: “Sticky” is a Kansas City barbecue (and Asian) term for thick and sweet sauces. The sauce can be made three days ahead. Pour into a covered container or jar with a lid and reheat when ready. This sauce is great on spare ribs and Chinese pork ribs.

I seem to gravitate to recipes where ingredients are used in an unusual combinations :)

This recipe was adapted from  Southern Living October 2011

Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 2TB. butter or vegetable oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 bottle of Stout beer (11.2 oz.) (I used product Guinness)
• 1 cup spicy barbecue sauce (I used product Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet’n Spicy Barbecue Sauce)
• ¼ cup fig preserves (look in deli section of store)
• 2 TB. apple cider vinegar 

Directions:

• Saute onion in oil or butter
• Over medium high heat for 4 minutes
• Add garlic and sauté 1 minute more
• Gradually stir in beer cook 8 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half
• Reduce heat to medium and stir in barbecue sauce, fig preserves and cider vinegar
• Cook 4 minutes or until heated through
• Soon over meat while grilling and drizzle some of sauce over meat when serving

Cold Herb Potato Salad

Cook’s notes: More dressing may be needed for the amount of potatoes used. But start with basic dressing of Miracle Whip, herbs with pickle relish and mustard. Salad tastes better if made day before for flavors to meld.  

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of potatoes-peeled and cut in large chunks
• 1-1/2 cups of Miracle Whip
• 2 TB. parsley flakes
• 2 TB. dill
•  ½ -3/4 cup chopped onion
• 3 TB. pickle relish
• 2 TB. mustard
• 4 hard boiled eggs chopped
• ¼ tsp. celery seeds
• 2 chopped celery ribs

Directions:

• Bring salted water to boil with potatoes and then cover cook till tender about 25 minutes
• Drain and then return potatoes back to warm pot and let sit at room temperature for an hour or so. This gets rid of any excess water
• Mix Miracle Whip, herbs, mustard, pickle relish
• Add chopped celery and eggs to potatoes and then add in dressing. Make needed adjustments for dressing