Yes, cola. I know it sounds weird, but cola adds color and sweetness to the sauce without adding any off flavors and not nearly as sticky-sweet as recipes that use brown sugar. Besides, it’s a fun “secret ingredient” to amaze your friends with at the next barbecue. Use diet for a sugar-free sauce. (I prefer Diet Rite for this, since it is sweetened with Splenda–saccharin breaks down when heated for a long period of time, and it will not be sweet.) Also good are orange or lemon-lime sodas. The chipotle pepper adds smokiness, but you can add liquid smoke at the end if more smoke flavor is desired.

• 1 small onion, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 dried chipotle pepper, chopped
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1 12 oz can cola
• 1/2 c vinegar, white or apple cider
• 1 squirt yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• salt and black pepper to taste
• hot sauce to taste
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tsp liquid smoke (optional)

Over a medium heat, sautee onion, garlic, and pepper in olive oil in a medium saucepan until onion is soft and translucent. Add tomato paste and sautee 2-3 minutes, mixing with vegetables. Add all but the  last 3 ingredients and stir to mix. Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour, stirring periodically. It should thicken quite a bit.

Add lemon juice and hot sauce to taste. Add liquid smoke, if desired.

The mixture will be chunky. If you want a smoother sauce whir in a food processor for a few seconds until smooth.