Barbecue Sauce

Heat butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in lemon juice, pepper, paprika, mustard, hot sauce, and salt, bring to simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and vinegar and continue to simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes longer.

KENTUCKY SMOKED BARBECUE SAUCE
Increase lemon juice to 1⁄4 cup (2 lemons) and paprika to 2 teaspoons. Add 1⁄2 teaspoon liquid smoke and 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar with lemon juice.

LOUISIANA SWEET BARBECUE SAUCE
Increase vinegar to 6 tablespoons. Add 1⁄4 cup molasses, 2 tablespoons sweet sherry, and 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar with tomato sauce.

SPICY RIO GRANDE BARBECUE SAUCE
For an even hotter sauce, add 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Increase garlic to 4 cloves, lemon juice to 1⁄4 cup (2 lemons), and hot sauce to 1 teaspoon. Add one 7-ounce can diced mild green chiles with lemon juice.