Printable Recipe

1 cup root beer
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 T. dark brown sugar
1 T. molasses
1 t. liquid smoke
1/2 t. grated lemon peel
1/3 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
1 T. honey
some soy sauce

Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, stir occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer and sauce is reduced to about 1 1/2 cups--about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Transfer to bowl, cover and refrigerate. Can be made 2 weeks ahead of time.

Printable Recipe

1 4-6 lb ham
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup maple flavored syrup
1 T. mustard

Mix it together and spoon it over your ham, the last 1/2 hour of cooking.

Printable Recipe

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T basil
1 can stewed tomatoes
2 small cans tomato paste

Brown beef and sausage together. Drain. Add garlic and basil. Stir. Add tomatoes and tomato paste. Mix together and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

This is the same sauce that is the base for my Best Ever Lasagna. I like to make the sauce alone, triple the recipe and then freeze it in 2-3 cup batches. It's easy to thaw for spaghetti or Penne Pasta Casserole.

Printable Recipe
Makes about 2 cups of sauce

2 T. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
1 can (14 oz size or home canned pint) diced tomatoes
1 small can tomato paste
1 small can tomato sauce
1 t. oregano to taste
1-2 t. basil to taste
1/2 t. salt

Saute the onion and garlic in oil, about 2-3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Simmer about 30 minutes. Use in place of any meatless spaghetti sauce. This was fine for a 9 x 9 pan of shells. I'd double it for a 9 x 13 pan.

Holly's Note:
I happened to be out of pasta sauce and went looking for a homemade version that was similar. I modified a couple of recipes I found and came up with this version. It was pretty good. Is it cheaper than the $1 bottles of GV brand? I don't know. It was certainly easy to make and I had everything on hand and didn't have to run to the store. I will certainly use it in a pinch again.

I normally use the GV (Volde-Mart brand) Onion and Garlic pasta sauce with my Stuffed Shells recipes. If it's on sale, Ragu's Tomato, Onion and Garlic sauce is about equal in taste.

Printable Recipe
Serves 4

4 pork chops (I use bone-in)
1 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. pepper
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 t. hickory-flavored liquid smoke

In a bowl, combine the garlic powder, pepper, ketchup, brown sugar and liquid smoke. Pour some sauce into the bottom of your crock pot. Place the pork chops in the crock pot and cover with the remaining sauce.

Cover and cook on low for about 5 hours or until meat is tender. Serve with baked potatoes.

Holly's Note:
I went searching for a BBQ pork chop recipe and found several variations of this recipe. I didn't brown the chops in oil first, nor did I add extra salt. The chops were fall-off-the-bone tender. The sauce is really good and not too strong. It would be very easy to spice it up to your own tastes though. The liquid smoke is essential, do not omit it! I think this would be a good, versatile BBQ sauce for beef or chicken too. The sauce is awesome on baked potatoes.

Printable Recipe


3 c. sugar
1 cube butter
3 squares unsweetened chocolate
1 can evaporated milk

Melt all in sauce pan over low heat. Do not stir. Do not boil. After it gathers, mix with mixer. Eat it with a spoon until someone catches you and reminds you to save some for everyone else.