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We are big barbecue lovers. Ribs, pulled pork and brisket make for an amazing meal, but the sauce has to be right. Sometimes I crave tangy, vinegar-based Eastern Carolina barbecue sauce. But lately, I've wanted something sweet with a little bit of smoke on the side.

Kansas City style barbecue sauce is known for its balanced, sweet-smoky-spicy flavor. It can be hard to achieve since the sweetness can easily overpower the other flavors. However, I've been tweaking the recipe and I think I've finally got it. Practice makes perfect!

The sauce is thick and somewhat dark brown. It's powerful and ornery with lots of attitude. I love this sauce on pulled pork and all kinds of other barbecue. I have been spending a lot of time learning about all the different regional styles of barbecue; it's fascinating and it's not just about the sauce.

There are rubs, the way meat is cut and how it's smoked. I hope I get to visit all the different barbecue regions one day and figure out which one I like best. For now, I will stick with this sauce and see where it takes me.

Homemade Kansas City Style Barbecue Sauce

Makes 4 cups

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 medium onion, chopped

2 medium cloves garlic, minced

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