Recipe: Merle Ellis Good Barbeque Sauce (1980's)

MERLE ELLIS "GOOD BARBEQUE SAUCE"

1/2 cube (4 Tbsp) butter
2 onions, chopped fine
2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 stalk celery, minced
1 small green bell pepper, minced
1 (28 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 (12 oz) can tomato paste
1 Tbsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt (original recipe called for 1 Tbsp)
1 or 2 bay leaves
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup dark molasses
1 Tbsp Tabasco sauce
1 Tbsp liquid smoke
Juice of 1 lemon

Melt the butter in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, celery and bell pepper. Cook until limp and tender, but not brown.

Add all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Remove bay leaves. Then either blend in a blender or food processor or force through a sieve. Keep refrigerated.

Source: Spokane Spokesman Review newspaper; Sep 1, 1982