Western North Carolina Vinegar Barbecue Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 cups cider vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/3 cups ketchup
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce, to taste (Texas Pete is good or Tabasco)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (optional)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons mustard powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Preparation

Place the vinegar, sugar, ketchup, butter, hot pepper sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, mustard powder, salt, and pepper into a saucepan.
Bring to a simmer over high heat, and then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer about 30 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.
Remove from stove and pour into a heatproof bowl. Cover, and refrigerate the sauce for 2 days.
Strain the sauce through a sieve to remove the red pepper flakes.
Store the sauce in the refrigerator.
Bring to room temperature before serving.
To serve, slow cook your meat (in whichever method you prefer). When done pull the meat with a fork (it should be so well cooked, it just falls off). Add sauce and toss to coat completely. Enjoy!