Grilling chicken, steak or burgers on the old barbecue is a convenient way to keep the heat outdoors on a warm summer evening. While you're planning your grilling party, don't make the mistake of reaching for that bottled barbecue sauce. You can make a fast and flavorful homemade barbecue sauce for pennies. There won't be any surprises because you'll know what's in your homemade sauce, too. If the idea of pouring on the liquid smoke doesn't appeal to you, go for a simple sweet sauce with just a bit of a peppery bite.Our simple homemade barbecue sauce recipe hits all the flavor notes. It's made with a ketchup base. Although this may sound like an expensive approach, it's really pretty practical. Ketchup is a tomato product that's already very thick. You can also find store brands on sale at bargain prices throughout the year. Ketchup is the perfect homemade barbecue sauce base, and it's also a great base for meatloaf, sloppy Joes and other family favorites. Keep a few bottles in the cupboard and you'll always have a main ingredient for dinner that the kids will love.Once you try our simple barbecue sauce, you'll never go back.Homemade Barbecue Sauce Recipe1 cup ketchup2/3 cup brown sugar1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce1 tbsp. soy sauce1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar1 tsp. yellow mustard1 tsp. onion powder1 tsp. garlic powder1 tsp. cayenne pepper1/4 tsp. cinnamon1/4 tsp. allspiceDirectionsCombine all ingredients in a non-reactive pan and bring to a slow simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes Cool before using. Refrigerate the remainder.This recipe can be doubled or tripled. It will last up to two weeks in your refrigerator.Barbecue Tips and TricksHere are some grilling tips that will help you barbecue the perfect meal ever time:Scrape and oil your grill before every use. It will help keep meat and other ingredients from sticking.Avoid piercing meat before or during cooking. You'll lose valuable juices that way.Removing some of the fat from fatty foods like **** before cooking will help keep flare-ups to a minimum.Add barbecue sauce during the last five minutes of cooking time only. The sugar in most barbecue sauces adds a nice complexity to meat dishes, but will burn if left on the grill too long.Try prepping **** ribs ahead of time by boiling them in **** for about a half hour. A **** boil will add flavor and soften tough meat and connective tissue.For meats with very mild flavor like chicken breast, try using a rub or saltwater bath to add flavor before cooking. Then apply a gooey (and delicious) layer of sauce just before serving.