Top 3 BBQ Sauce Recipes Used This Summer

Summer is winding down but we haven’t covered our BBQ grill just yet. Most of our summer family meals are prepared either in the crock pot or on the BBQ grill. So I thought I better get some last minute grilling recipes on so you get grilling while the grilling is still good!

I have never been a big fan of the store bought BBQ sauces and so for the first time this summer we started creating  our own homemade sauce . Why didn’t I do this before? It is so easy to make your own BBQ sauce and when your trying to prepare cheap meals for large families, yes even the sauce counts.

Some of the BBQ Sauce Recipes I had came with a list of ingredients I wouldn’t even know where to purchase let alone pronounce them. But to my delight from search online most of the recipes I found for making my own BBQ sauce were simple and my favorite’s called for ingredients I already had on hand.

Here is a list of the top 3 BBQ Sauce Recipes I used in 2009! I have tried all 3 recipes on different meats and through different cooking process this the summer and would recommend all of them. I included one with a lengthy list of ingredients because it was just so good, I am serious! And another that calls for oven baking. I don’t use my oven much during the summer but wanted to share this great recipe  to be used year round.

Salsa BBQ Sauce

Salsa BBQ Sauce

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of salsa (we used medium but any flavor will work)
  • 1/4 cup of ketchup
  • 2 tbsp of brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp mustard

Directions: Mix together with a fork in a bowl. This is usually enough for about 4 chicken breasts.

  • My Review: This is the first recipe I found and the easiest. I stock all 4 ingredients at all times (staples) and so this one was a no brainer for me. Of course with my big family we triple each of the ingredients. This one has to be our favorite because it is so simple and of course cheap! This is now the only BBQ grilling recipe my husband uses for making hamburgers on the grill. The salsa gives burgers a nice little kick!

The Perfect Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 50 oz. Heinze ketchup (honestly any brand will do)

    BBQ Sauce

    BBQ Sauce

  • 16 oz. tomato sauce
  • 2 large lemons, sliced
  • 2 large onions, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. dry mustard
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 31/2 oz. liquid smoke
  • 1 cup oil
  • 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp pepper
  • 1 quart 7-up

Directions: combine all ingredients into a pot, mix well and gently boil for 11/2 to 2 hours.

  • My Review: The flavor of this BBQ Sauce Recipe was amazing. If time is on your side then I would recommend this one to anyone. But time and money is a factor for me. I had to specifically purchase many of the list ingredients and although I loved the flavor of this sauce on grilled chicken, I didn’t  get to use this one much because I didn’t have the time.

BBQ Sauce Recipes

BBQ Sauce Recipes

Slow Cooking BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 1 tsp. dry prepared mustard
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup vinegar

Directions: combine ingredients in bowl and mix well. Slow cook over meat of choice for at least 2 hours.

  • My review: This will be my favorite winter BBQ sauce for spareribs. I recommend using this recipe when baking meat in the oven as it won’t hold as well in a crock pot. I cooked my ribs for about an hour on 300 degrees, I then mixed the BBQ sauce, poured it over the ribs and continued slow cooking for 2 more hours. The ribs were tender and delicious. Again a great recipe because of the simple ingredients I already had on hand.
September 4th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, BBQ Grilling Recipes, Dream Dinners Made Cheap, easy ground beef meals, quick dinner recipes | 31 comments

Make Ahead Shrimp Salad Sandwich Recipe

This is a simple make ahead recipe for shrimp salad sandwiches. You can prepare the shrimp salad ahead of time to freeze for sandwiches, roll-ups or as a shrimp dip with crackers.

After attending a family function the other night, I was given 5 leftover 40 count shrimp rings. Great I thought, I love shrimp and so does my husband.

Well after enjoying a shrimp snack I thought to myself, what am I going to do with all this shrimp? I new I could freeze some, but being the cheap meals planner that I am I wanted to get creative with some make ahead meals as well.

I found some great shrimp recipes online but if you follow my blog you know my meals are simple, very simple. I am not chef  in the making by any means. I usually look for 5 ingredients or less when trying out a recipe, that’s all my budget and patience can handle.

I did however find a shrimp salad sandwich recipe that was simple, you just kinda throw it all into a blender and spread it on bread. I liked the though of preparing this ahead of time, using the leftover shrimp and having lunch throughout the week.

Another bonus – I was assigned to bring an appetizer to a pot luck the next day and guess what – I made cold shrimp salad roll-ups!! They were perfect, different and enjoyed by all.

Shrimp Salad Sandwich

Shrimp Salad Sandwich

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound cooked shrimp, peeled and de-veined
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
  • 3 stalks celery, minced
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 dash onion salt
  • Salt and pepper
  • Seasoning salt
  • Celery salt
  • 8 slices your choice bread, toasted
  • Lettuce and tomato slices, optional

Directions:

  1. Place shrimp in a food processor and pulse until finely minced. Transfer shrimp to a bowl and add eggs, celery, and mayonnaise; mix well. Add seasonings, to taste, and stir to combine. Spread onto bread of your choice, top with optional lettuce and tomato slices. Serve with some fresh melon for complete healthy meal.

Shrimp Salad Roll-up’s: replace bread with whole wheat or white tortillas and cut into 1 inch slices for a creative appetizer or snack.

August 22nd, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Category: cheap lunch ideas, freezer meals recipes, quick dinner recipes | One comment

A Pancake Recipe For A Cheap Meal

Creating cheap meals can be difficult and for my family boring. Having a good variety of menus to choose from is what this site is all about.

Some cheap meal recipes lack in the WOW factor so you have to get creative with meal planning and offer choices.

My family loves pancakes. The pancake is a traditional American breakfast. But as a busy mom raising 5 kids I don’t always have the time to make a nice warm breakfast in the morning. My kids usually get cold cereal with milk.

So I create pancake dinners. I have a pancake recipe for just about everything from fresh fruit pancakes to my favorite copy-cat I-hop pancake recipe.

It’s an inexpensive dinner option and my kids love it. I add in some bacon or sausage, maybe some hash browns and we have a complete cheap meal for the family.

This is a great new meal idea giving your meal planning the variety it needs. The bags and boxes of pancake mix are convenient but if your really looking to save a buck or two then check this out.

Here is a great site to help you find a recipe for pancakes your family will love.

Pancake Recipe Box

Looking for the perfect Pancake Recipe?

The Pancake Recipe Box has all the best Pancakes Recipes just for you!

June 8th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, cheap breakfast ideas, quick dinner recipes | 5 comments
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