It doesn't take much for me to crave good barbecue. See, I type the WORD and I want some. I guess that's part of the deal when you're born and raised in Owensboro, Kentucky.

RAISED ON GOOD OWENSBORO BARBECUE

And I was RAISED on barbecue. When Dad would call and say he was going to run by and get some for dinner, well that was it. Dinner became the highlight of the day and neither me, my mom, nor my sister could wait until he'd walk through the door.

I'm happy to say my love for the stuff has never waned. And with that in mind, you'd think I'd prepare it for myself more often. Well, that would be a hard NO. I'm nowhere near skilled enough to prepare it the way, say, Moonlite BBQ prepares it. The best I can do is pour sauce over something, and that hardly counts, in my opinion.

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MOONLITE BLACK DIP

But it WOULD count a whole lot more if I were to use the old Moonlite black dip, a recipe for which recently popped up in a private Facebook group--of which I am a member--called "History of Owensboro, KY."

And maybe it STILL wouldn't be the same, just pouring the Moonlite black dip over some random meat I've prepared, but it sure would be a whole lot closer than something out of a bottle I'd buy at the store. And we all know that wouldn't come close.

I did a search for "Moonlite black dip" and I found a story on NPR--Moonlite is well-known across the nation, you know--about how to prepare it AND Moonlite burgoo.

KENTUCKY BLACK DIP

I also found something called "Kentucky black dip," but learned that while it sounds like it COULD be another name for Moonlite's dip, it's different enough in multiple areas that it would have a different flavor. It's the first sauce this Southern Living chef makes here:

Also, above the recipe on the NPR site (which was posted in 2004, in the interest of full disclosure), it says that it is no longer in use. After speaking with Patrick Bosley at Moonlite, I gathered that the recipe posted on the History of Owensboro Facebook group page is closer to what the iconic restaurant uses today.

So if you're down for a little Moonlite-style home-cookin', here's how you make Moonlite black dip:

How to Make Moonlite Black Dip

To make Moonlite black dip, mix all the ingredients below in a large pot and bring to a rolling boil. Skim the surface, if necessary. Cook the mixture over medium heat for 20 minutes then let it cool. It can be used as a baste or as a dip. It makes about three quarts.

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