Michigan BBQ

Football is back. Nine months without football Saturday is too much for me. College football is one of my favorite things. It ranks up there with cooking for me and yes i do mean it. Watching Michigan football makes my heart pound so hard you could get my pulse just by looking at my neck. Yesterday was a glorious entry into the 2009 season with the Michigan Wolverines dominating the game in a way us fan(atics) have missed so dearly, and with running quarterbacks too! Anyway yes i know this is a food blog, not a football blog, so lets get to it. To honor this years first Football Saturday I decided homemade BBQ sauce was the feat to be conquered. I am a huge Bobby Flay fan and since he is a master I thought his approach ought to be my first attempt. Forgeting how spicy he likes to make things and how I never seem to have those staple ingredients like molasses and honey in my puny pantry, this is my own version of a twice-cooked sweet and spicy bbq sauce.

2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 red onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 c. ketchup
4 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp agave syrup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1-2 tsp tomato chutney (optional - had this trader joe's kind that i used)
2-3 tbsp light or dark brown sugar
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp paprika
1-2 tbsp chili powder
1-2 tbsp chipotle powder (for these you can use whatever spicy powders you have on had)

In a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat (you will keep it at this temp the whole time). Add the onion and garlic, saute for ~3 mins. Add the tomatoes and simmer for ~15 mins. In the meantime combine all the rest of the ingredients into a bowl and then add to the saucepan, simmer for another 20~30 mins. Puree this mixture with a hand(y) emulsifier or a blender, but be careful, it's hot.

At this point if you are going to cook some chicken I would glaze the chicken in this sauce, after I had seared the meat, and put into a preheated 350 degrees oven for however long the meat requires.

If not for immediate use, make sure you are using an oven-safe pan and bake sauce in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 mins. Allow to cool and transfer to an empty jar, like an old salad dressing container that has been thoroughly cleaned.

Originally I didn't re-cook the sauce in the oven, however I did bake some drumsticks, glazed in this sauce and the difference in flavor is amazing! The sauce caramelizes, deepening the flavor, and mellows out the spiciness a bit; it was truly a wonderful surprise. I hope you enjoy!

and of course

Go Blue!