Barbecue Sauce- for the season that's ALMOST over....

So, tonight I tried a TOTAL experiment!  I knew we were having ground beef-somehow...  just not sure what I was going to make with it... I could've made stuffed zuccini, but we just had that last week...  I thought about hamburgers, but I don't have any buns, didn't want to make any and I'm REALLY trying to cut back on the wheat/gluten again.  So... I had a pound of ground beef defrosting on the counter...  what to do?  I also had a bowl of over-ripe apricots that my neighbor had given me...  what to do with those?!  Wait a minute- how about an Apricot BBQ sauce?!  PERFECT!!!  So, I went online and started looking for recipes... most of them called for apricot preserves... I just wanted to use the apricots before they went bad here people!!!  So, my next thought- make up something!  So- here is the end product... a VERY easy barbecue sauce that uses REAL apricots... NOT preserved ones!!  Hope you enjoy!!

Chipotle Apricot "Barbecue" Sauce

1/2 onion, chopped
2 Tbs oil (I used a mix of coconut and olive oils)
3 cloves garlic, minced (I used a garlic press)
5-6 Apricots, chopped
1 can diced Tomatoes, drained
2 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
1Tbs brown sugar
1/4 C catsup
1/2 tsp chipotle pepper powder (more or less to taste!  Chipotle powder is pretty spicy- so use a little and make sure you taste it before adding more!)

Saute onions in oil until soft.  Add garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes.  Add tomatoes and apricots.  Stir to mix well.  Add vinegar, sugar catsup and chipotle pepper powder.  Stir well and let simmer on low until thick and saucy.  Serve over meat.

I served this over hamburger patties with grilled corn on the cob and grilled zucchini.  But, this would be EXCELLENT over chicken, seafood, pork or over meatballs (pour sauce over meatballs before baking!).  I know I will be making this sauce again- I think Aaron will demand it!

Enjoy! :)