Labor Day BBQ Challenge

With Labor day only a week away, my brain is thinking BBQ.  Share your favorite homemade BBQ sauce recipe here.  I've posted mine below -- if you add yours in the comments section below mine, maybe we'll all discover a new family favorite.  Here's my favorite recipe (thus far):

Rix Bar-B-Que Sauce for Ribs

(Makes Approx. 1/2 gallon)

(Adjust measurements proportionately if you need to increase or decrease the quantity of sauce)

Butter or Margarine for sautéing veggies

4 cups Medium White Onion (Chopped)

1 large Green Bell Pepper (stripped and finely chopped)

1 Celery Stalk finely chopped (8" Long)

3 Tbsp Mrs. Dash Seasoning Blend or any mixed herb seasoning of your choice

3 Tbsp Dark Brown Sugar

4 Tbsp fresh Lemon juice or 12 teaspoons of Real Lemon concentrate  - 100% Lemon Juice

3 cups Tomato Sauce

1 cup of 96 Proof Bourbon

2 cups German Beer (preferably dark but not necessary)

8 oz Red Wine (Table Wine but not an expensive one as you’re just cooking with it, not drinking it)

Salt and pepper (to taste)

1 cup Louisiana Hot Sauce (add more or less to taste for heat tolerance)

1 cup Steak Sauce (A-1 works well but you can use your choice if you prefer Heinz or some other brand)

(Yield: close to ½ gallon)

Sauté onions, green pepper, and celery in butter (or margarine) in large skillet for 5 minutes (onion should be somewhat translucent).  Add red cooking wine and continue sautéing for another 3 minutes.  Add tomato sauce, hot sauce and steak sauce and simmer for roughly 15 minutes.  Stir frequently.  Add brown sugar, lemon juice and herb seasoning and simmer an additional 5 minutes.  Pepper liberally and salt to your taste.  Continue simmering for another 3 minutes or so.  Add beer and the 1 cup of bourbon.  After adding beer and bourbon, stir continuously for 2 minutes.  Turn off fire and let the sauce sit for ½ hour.  The next step is up to you… I put my sauce through a blender to puree it because I don’t like it chunky as all the pieces of onion, celery and bell pepper fall off when on the bar-b-que.  However, some people like it chunky so feel free to make that decision on your own.