In my house, summer brings with it one barbecue after another. Yet, eventually, my family grows tired of the standard fare: hamburgers, sausages, grilled chicken, and vegetables, and we face the challenge of coming up with unique barbecue dishes.
Recently, I had a chance to try out Pepsi’s new soda, Pepsi Natural, an innovative new soft drink. Made with all natural ingredients, including caramel, natural sugars, natural apple extract for color, and kola nut extract, the new drink provides a throwback to the old days of natural ingredients in soda. With two teens, it proves difficult to keep soda out of the house entirely (and I have certainly been known to rely on the drink for an afternoon caffeine jolt), so it's nice to know that this is a soda Moms can feel good about giving to their families. Knowing that soft drinks can make a great addition to barbecue, I put together a recipe with Pepsi Natural that makes a great marinade for meats.
Southern Cola Barbecue Sauce
1 cup Pepsi Natural soda
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup orange juice
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 cup ketchup
2 T dark brown sugar
2 T light molasses
1/2 t grated lemon peel
1/2 t ground ginger
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all the above ingredients in heavy saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups of sauce, about 20 minutes. Cool and transfer to bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Can be made up to 2 weeks ahead.
Marinate pork, chicken or beef to be grilled overnight in the sauce- grill to taste and baste with extra sauce.
To help inspire you this barbecue season, Mom Central and Pepsi have teamed up with a giveaway. Leave a comment below by August 14 to be entered to win a Natural Pepsi Apron, a 4-pack of the new soda, and a grilling cookbook. Good luck!
Mom Central received a sample of Pepsi Natural, an apron, a cookbook, and Hearst Ranch Grass-Fed Beef for the post courtesy of Pepsi Natural News.
Pepsi Natural sounds so cool! And that sauce looks yummy!
Posted by: Will Blog For Shoes | July 30, 2009 at 02:03 PM
I am going to have to try that - sounds great, we love to bbq too!!
Posted by: Tara H. | July 30, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Stacy, i loved the Pepsi Throwback.. Was it the same thing? I can't fund it anymore though and hope it will come around again. Now if only we could get them on glass bottles again!!
Elizabeth
Http://blog.Elizabethhoward.net
Posted by: Elizabeth howard | July 30, 2009 at 02:07 PM
This sounds awesome, will have to try it it. Always love to try new recipes, sounds delicious!
Posted by: A. Cann | July 30, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Sounds like a great dinner!
Posted by: Ellen Gerstein | July 30, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Yum! That sounds like an awesomely delicious marinade :) I bet it has a lovely depth of flavor.
Posted by: Lorraine | July 31, 2009 at 09:59 PM
Mmm sounds good!!
Posted by: Heidi | August 03, 2009 at 04:39 PM
This sounds great! Thanks!
Posted by: Jodi | August 04, 2009 at 10:52 AM
sounds like an awesome BBQ sauce and LOVE the idea of natural soda!!
Posted by: Peg Damon | August 04, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Cool. Sounds like a party in the making.
Posted by: Bridgette Tuttle | August 04, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Awesome! I would totally love this party!
Posted by: Roberta Blackwell | August 04, 2009 at 11:32 AM
I guess I have to have another invite.
Posted by: Lisa R. | August 04, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Oh I would love the cookbook and prizes this sounds great!
Posted by: Denise Branigan | August 04, 2009 at 12:18 PM
I love to cook and grill out. This sounds good to me.
Posted by: penney dollars | August 04, 2009 at 01:12 PM
We love to BBQ. THis is a great goveaway.
Posted by: Alba Guevara | August 04, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Oh this sounds wonderful! I am going to have to try this recipe!
Posted by: kim | August 04, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Is this any different than Pepsi Throwback? I LOVE that product. I'm always doing what I can to make our food choices healthier and more natural.
I've heard that BBQ made with Cola is amazing....but never tried it.
Posted by: Kristen | August 04, 2009 at 02:16 PM
I luv Pepsi!
Posted by: martinratdog | August 04, 2009 at 03:07 PM
I've never tried Pepsi Natural but would love to. That Southern Cola Barbecue Sauce sounds delic!
Posted by: Kristi R. | August 04, 2009 at 03:36 PM
The sauce sounds great and am going to try it! I'd love to win this one-thanks for the great give away and chance to win.
Posted by: Terri | August 04, 2009 at 04:18 PM
I have made a note to get all the ingredients to make this - otherwise I'll forget. This sounds great. Thanks for sharing the receipe.
Posted by: Vicky | August 04, 2009 at 04:33 PM
I would love to try the new natural pepsi! This recipie sounds pretty easy and sounds yummy
Posted by: Diane | August 04, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Great Recipe and Giveaway! Thank You-
Posted by: Stephanie | August 04, 2009 at 04:45 PM
I really want to try this Pepsi product. I'm very interested in seeing what it taste like.
Posted by: Melissa @Mel4Him | August 04, 2009 at 06:12 PM
Good luck, everyone. It's a great prize.
Posted by: Janet | August 04, 2009 at 10:18 PM
That sounds really tasty!
Posted by: Erin | August 04, 2009 at 11:19 PM
My husband would enjoy your recipe and these prizes. He really enjoys
cooking and entertaining! Thanks very much.....Cindi
Posted by: Cindi | August 04, 2009 at 11:32 PM
I'd love to give Pepsi's natural soda a try!
Posted by: Ursula | August 05, 2009 at 01:11 AM
Sounds Yummo! I need to try this recipe! Thanks!
Posted by: Nicole@BugaboosCreations | August 05, 2009 at 01:46 AM
Interesting recipe and sounds great! Will have to try it for one of my BBQ's. Thanks!
Posted by: Samantha | August 05, 2009 at 03:05 AM
Well the recipe sounds great. I just might have to give this one a try. but to also win a Natural Pepsi Apron, a 4-pack of the new soda, and a grilling cookbook, it can't get any better than this. I would love to try and review the new soda, and the grilling cookbook would be great to help my older son that has taken up with the family grill and called it his own. Pawls off he says.
Posted by: paramediclady | August 05, 2009 at 03:20 AM
The Southern Cola Barbecue Sauce sounds good!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Posted by: Janet F | August 05, 2009 at 06:40 AM
I'm going to use your recipe tomorrow! Hopefully the rain will stop by then.
Posted by: Eva | August 05, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Can't wait to try Pepsi Natural. Sounds interesting. Also, the bbq sauce recipe sounds very tasty. Good luck everyone!!!
Posted by: Tomi | August 05, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Ooh nice! I'm slowly building a cookbook collection! That would be a nice addition, not only that but I'm really interested in natural products so I would love to see how something like this compares :-)
Posted by: Crystal P | August 05, 2009 at 12:39 PM
mmmm.. yummy! Sounds great! The whole family would love this! Thank you!
Posted by: Crissy Rodich | August 05, 2009 at 01:01 PM
I love Pepsi, I'll have to give the BBQ sauce a try.
Posted by: Jessica | August 05, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Yum, can't wait to try the new recipe!
Posted by: ALH1203 | August 05, 2009 at 01:07 PM
My husband is addicted to Pepsi so I'd love to switch him to this kind.
Posted by: Sara Smith | August 05, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Great recipe thanks
Posted by: trin | August 05, 2009 at 01:17 PM
Sounds good. Can't wait to see if I win.
Posted by: Joy M | August 05, 2009 at 01:22 PM
Sounds yummy! THanks
Posted by: Christine Jensen | August 05, 2009 at 01:22 PM
Pepsi is the soft drink of choice in our house and it would be interesting to try this. I think I'm going to try that recipe too.I'm always looking for new recipes in our house.
Posted by: Jenna S | August 05, 2009 at 01:24 PM
Great recipe and summer and Pepsi just go together!Would love to win!
Posted by: Susan West | August 05, 2009 at 01:28 PM
That recipe looks awesome! I love a good homemade BBQ sauce.
Posted by: Emily Marshall | August 05, 2009 at 01:30 PM
Wow, the natural soda sounds great!! I try to stay away from high fructose corn syrup as much as I can and this is a great way to get our soda fix w/out the HFCS.
Posted by: Saph @ Walk With Me | August 05, 2009 at 01:36 PM
Sounds great, Pepsi is more versatile than I had thought
Posted by: Nancy | August 05, 2009 at 01:42 PM
This sounds like a really good book to have for both men and women
Posted by: JamericanSpice | August 05, 2009 at 01:43 PM
That sounds awesome!!! I'm a big Pepsi fan!
Posted by: Theresa Moeggenberg | August 05, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Would love to win this. This would be so much fun for the family
Posted by: Jo | August 05, 2009 at 01:56 PM