LONGHORN BARBEQUE SAUCE RECIPE & Tips on cooking on an open flame.Texas Style, BIG ON Flavor

Here is an old fashioned recipe that you can adapt to suit your own tastes..either very hot or mild..easy to make and most ingredients are available world wide.
TIPS ON BBQ:
When COOKING over open flame,  allow the meat to color and  cook, then apply this sauce for the last 20-30 mins of cooking on a lower flame, do not allow the flames to touch the sauce or everything will be burnt flavored.
Many people make the mistake of marinating the meat in sauce before cooking, this makes the skin/outer surface of meats, soft; as the citrus will actually break down the structure of meat.
Marinate with a dry rub first, then cook on the grill applying the sauce for the last 20 mins only.
Also do not salt any meat before cooking as this draws out moisture and dries the meat..salt afterwards for juicier meats and chickens etc.
Avoid blackening any meats on a grill as this is unhealthy.
 

This makes about 4 cups and is not over sweet

1/2 cup butter (1/4 pound)
1 cup cider or wine vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 cup  low sugar* tomato ketchup/or 3tbsp tomato puree/paste
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp dry mustard or 2 tbsp prepared mustard
1-3 tbsp chili powder
1tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 cup minced onion
4 cloves garlic smashed and minced

* low sugar tomato ketchup as most contain corn syrup...sugar can burn on BBQ's so try and avoid or replace with tomato puree/paste

Place everything In a heavy bottomed , and gradually bring to boil, then reduce to medium simmer
Cook for 15 mins tightly covered.
Remove bay leaves.
Allow to cool, if too thick add a little water.
This can be blended to make a smoother sauce.

Variations:

Add any spice or herb of choice.
Hot sauce/chipotle peppers to taste when the sauce is cooked.
May add hard liquor, bourbon, whisky & etc. add this when cooking the sauce so the alcohol burns off.
Replace lemon juice with orange or grapefruit, also may add some grated rind of citrus fruit.

AVOID USING LIQUID SMOKE.

AVOID USING SOY SAUCE..this can make the sauce too salty and this will dry out any meat.