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.
I have been looking for Natural Pepsi since first hearing about it a few months ago. The recipe for BBQ sauce looks delicious!
Posted by: Elizabeth Adams | August 05, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Yum. That sounds wonderful!
Posted by: Barbra Mutchler | August 05, 2009 at 01:58 PM
I have not tried the Pepsi Natural yet,it does sound great though and I do not drink a whole lot of pop beacuse of the atificial ingredients in it so this is a product for me.The BBq sauce recipe sounds great
Posted by: Wendy Atkin | August 05, 2009 at 02:05 PM
I will try Pepsi Natural for sure. My daughter is always asking for soda and I am always saying No. but this could be a great treat.
Posted by: Andrea Norris | August 05, 2009 at 02:10 PM
neato.
Posted by: Julia Smith | August 05, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Very nice giveaway! Hope to win it! TY Momcentral
Posted by: rashi | August 05, 2009 at 02:17 PM
Pepsi Natural sounds great! I loved Pepsi Throwback, real sugar tastes so much better than HFCS!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: Bambi M | August 05, 2009 at 02:22 PM
This sounds great! I really want to try this Pepsi and I haven't seen it around yet!
Posted by: Jennifer S. | August 05, 2009 at 02:23 PM
Interesting. I hadn't heard of this new soda. Sounds good!
Posted by: DebbieKL | August 05, 2009 at 02:25 PM
cant wait to try this!!! we are having a bbq this weekend so this will be our sauce, my daughter is on her way as im typing this to the store to get the ingredients so i can get started. thanks
Posted by: sonya | August 05, 2009 at 02:33 PM
We have used cola products as a glaze for ham in my family before, so this sounds like a winner of a recipe!
Posted by: DeAnn Rossetti | August 05, 2009 at 02:36 PM
I would love to win the apron and other cool things. Thanks.
Posted by: gahome2mom | August 05, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Does sound good, I would love to win this.
Posted by: Julie Zagha | August 05, 2009 at 02:45 PM
My husband loves barbeque so we'll have to try this out soon!
Posted by: Michelle | August 05, 2009 at 02:48 PM
WOW!
Posted by: JJ | August 05, 2009 at 03:03 PM
I am excited that Pepsi is bringing back the glass bottle. Those bottles, little or big, remind me of my childhood. It would be great to try the natural Pepsi.
Posted by: Kristina | August 05, 2009 at 03:10 PM
Die hard Pepsi product fan here. I would love to try this out!
Posted by: TC | August 05, 2009 at 03:14 PM
I read about BBQ with soda some other place too but forgot the site.
Posted by: Madhavi Mukkavilli | August 05, 2009 at 03:20 PM
wow! how great that sounds. Yum
Posted by: marybeth | August 05, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Yummy!! Always looking for a good marinade.
Posted by: Irene | August 05, 2009 at 03:43 PM
I'm interested. The recipe sounds great btw
Posted by: Angel S. | August 05, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Sounds good--and different! I like trying new things when I can. We get bored of the same old stuff!
Thanks!
Posted by: Heather | August 05, 2009 at 04:06 PM
wow....that sounds great!!!
Posted by: maria sinclair | August 05, 2009 at 04:17 PM
I would love to try the new pepsi natural
Posted by: Linda K | August 05, 2009 at 04:22 PM
I would love to try Pepsi Natural too. Thanks for the recipe and giveaway!
Posted by: crystal allen | August 05, 2009 at 04:31 PM
This sounds delicious - gotta try it!
Posted by: Nancy | August 05, 2009 at 04:41 PM
cdziuba@aol.com Fun prize, hope I win!
Posted by: cdziuba | August 05, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Sounds like an awesome, new product!! We would love to try it!
Posted by: Marlena U. | August 05, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Sounds great! Dr. Pepper came out with a cane sugar one for a short time in the bottles and we loved it. We purchase for occasionally use other brands that make natural sodas but it is not the Pepsi flavor. This sounds great!
Posted by: Lesley P | August 05, 2009 at 05:14 PM
ii have a collection of Pepsi since my dad worked for them for ovewr 30 years this would me great to add
Posted by: melodycranford | August 05, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Sweet! I have a recipe made with rootbeer but not from Pepsi! Nice giveaway, thanks!
Posted by: Rhonda | August 05, 2009 at 05:26 PM
i would LOVE to try this new soda!
Posted by: sharon goodpasture | August 05, 2009 at 05:30 PM
sounds like fun
Posted by: Shelly | August 05, 2009 at 05:32 PM
sounds yummyo
Posted by: toni jensen | August 05, 2009 at 05:34 PM
This sounds great! Please enter me in the giveaway!
Posted by: Susan Heim | August 05, 2009 at 05:46 PM
I'd love to try Pepsi Natural. I havent seen in it the stores yet. The Southern Cola Barbecue Sauce recipe looks delicious! Thanks for the review and giveaway!
Posted by: Jackie | August 05, 2009 at 05:46 PM
What a fun recipe! I can't wait to try it out. Thanks.
Posted by: Melissa | August 05, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Gotta love a good cookbook!
Posted by: Jennifer | August 05, 2009 at 06:10 PM
What a great way to try the new pepsi. Awesome prize package.
Posted by: Connie Thomas | August 05, 2009 at 06:21 PM
Awesome awsom giveaway!! Love anything pepsi so this is sure to be a hit!
Posted by: Lacie C. | August 05, 2009 at 06:22 PM
I would love to try it and we love to grill!!!
Posted by: karen | August 05, 2009 at 06:24 PM
This looks so awesome! I would love the chance to win it!
Thanks :)
Posted by: Leslie M | August 05, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Can't wait to try the sauce - sounds delicious!
Posted by: kjsbristol | August 05, 2009 at 06:52 PM
What a terrific product! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Posted by: Melissa | August 05, 2009 at 07:00 PM
How cool is this? I just got a new grill and would love to try out the recipes in the book. Thanks for posting one on this giveaway :)
Posted by: MotherGrizzly | August 05, 2009 at 08:43 PM
I am not a Pepsi fan but I am willing to try this new product. It might convert me. lol
Posted by: Theresa C | August 05, 2009 at 09:13 PM
I never thought to use cola for a barbeque. It actually sounds pretty good.
Posted by: Angela H. | August 05, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Yum! We are always grilling at our house. This would be a great addition to our cookbook collection. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Posted by: Melanie | August 05, 2009 at 11:01 PM
this looks yummy- want to try one of those cola cakes they have but want any easy version
Posted by: sandy | August 05, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I love the fact it's all natural, a few years back I start going organic and it's nice to see that there are more and more natural things being put on the market.
Posted by: Robyn | August 06, 2009 at 01:16 AM