Summer Picnics - Shredded BBQ Sandwiches

I grew up on a farm in Northeast Ohio. We had cows, pigs, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, and horses. We had a big garden and grew our own vegetables. We had a saying regarding our corn crop…it had to be ‘knee high by the Fourth of July’ and if it was, we knew it was going to be good. I have many wonderful memories of my childhood but one thing I remember very fondly was our many many family barbeques outside. Our house was right next door to my maternal grandparent’s house and on the other side of them was my aunt and uncle’s house. So every Sunday we would get together for lunch at grandma’s after church and then in the summers, we would get together for a picnic in the evening. One dish to always grace our picnic table was Shredded BBQ Sandwiches. You can make these sandwiches with any type of meat you would like.

Shredded BBQ Sandwiches

1.5 lbs meat shredded
2 c. water
2 medium onions diced
1 T. butter
1 T. garlic powder
2 T. vinegar
2 T. worcestershire sauce
16 oz. ketchup
1 T. red chili flakes
salt to taste
1 T. paprika

Cook the meat in the oven or in a crock pot with water until tender. Add whatever spices you would like to the meat before cooking it (I add garlic powder and chili flakes). Once meat is tender, shred it. Meanwhile, melt butter in a pot and sauté onions. Add remaining ingredients and cook for about 5 minutes. Add sauce to the shredded meat and mix well. Taste and play around with the seasoning. Eat plain or between two pieces of bread.