Behind The Butter

all about the sauce

Yesterday, a bottle of Bessinger’s Spicy Barbecue sauce opened in my favorite Orla Keily purse.

You might be wondering what in the world a bottle of barbecue sauce was doing in my purse to begin with, so let me share with you the whole story.

I had planned to make my mom’s saucy pulled pork yesterday, along with homemade cornbread and mac & cheese. Adam had bought me a five-pack of Bessinger’s sauce when we were in Charleston over New Years because he knew it was my very, very favorite sauce on the entire planet and something we can’t get back home. It’s a spicy vinegar-based sauce, much superior to anything found west of the Mississippi no matter how “down home” the barbecue joint seems to be. Please don’t even get me started on California barbecue restaurants. That’s a whole other post in itself.

Anyway, I ran home to retrieve my prized possession yesterday so I could use it for the pulled pork I was about to make. I stuck the bottle in my purse and headed to Whole Foods to buy some pork butt. And when I paid for said butt, I realized that the bottle had opened and completely doused everything inside with smoky vinegar goodness.

Of course I couldn’t let on that anything was wrong at the cash register, and held my tears and frustration until I came home to my injured boyfriend.

“Jenna? What in the world is wrong?!” Adam asked with concern as he lay propped up in bed.

“The…the…barbecue sauce opened in my puuuuuuuuurse,” I wailed, holding out my doused bag before his eyes.

I explained how I had taken the top off to taste it at my house but then screwed it back on very tightly before placing it in my bag.

“We can get you a new purse! Don’t cry..please don’t cry!” Adam said.

“It’s not about the purse. Now we can’t use the sauce!” I sniffed.

My priorities have always been in check.

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  • Rochel @ barefootandcooking
    February 21, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    Despite the snafu, you sound really happy – like you are exactly where you want to be in life. Adam’s lucky to have a woman who knows her bbq.

  • krista
    February 21, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    πŸ™ that happened to me once with a bottle.. but it broke instead of opened. i hope you have another bottle back at home– if not, is there somewhere you can get it online?

  • Evan Thomas
    February 21, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    The last lines are the best. I’m cracking up.

  • Mama Pea
    February 21, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    I have tears in my eyes, not from laughing so hard, but sheer empathy. I’d be licking my purse if I were you.

  • Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin
    February 21, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Ughhh what a nightmare! Last month I had little packets of honey that I took from a hotel (I was staying there, don’t worry!) and go figure, two of them opened in my purse and got all over EVERYTHING. I had to throw the purse – and lots of the items in there – away! Sad story.

  • megan @ blackberries for jam
    February 21, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    I hope at least some of the sauce remained in the bottle to salvage for your meal!

  • liane
    February 21, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    Does the 5 second rule apply in this situation? I’d be tempted to salvage any of the sauce from the bag…

  • Jessica @ Healthy Dairyland
    February 21, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    Oh no! I bet that was awful to clean up! πŸ™

  • Mary
    February 21, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    Oh no that is so horrible! I am from Charleston & LOVE Bessinger’s BBQ as well. I don’t even eat meat but I still love getting a grilled cheese & rice covered in sauce. yumm.. Hopefully that wasn’t your last bottle!

  • Cheilsea
    February 21, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    Oh my goodness, you are too funny. That’s so unfortunate about the bbq sauce though (and your bag). I know how you feel; when it comes to Maple Syrup I have to have Vermont Maple Syrup. Growing up there and having my dad win a world competition for his medium amber syrup, nothing else compares! Being out here in Cali really puts a damper on things at times. Thank gosh he brings me some every time he comes to visit.

  • Jackie
    February 21, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    I would have cried too. Once I dropped a whole 6-pack bag of wine I had just bought. And all of them but one broke. My boyfriend came out and cleaned it up for me, because I just couldn’t look at it again.

  • Christie {Nourishing Eats}
    February 21, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Hahahah, thanks for that chuckle. I would have been sad about the sauce, too. I live in VA and they don’t have a clue how to make BBQ here.

  • Brenna [fabuleuxdestin]
    February 21, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    that stinks Jenna! the same thing happened to me this weekend with my favorite toothpaste!?? all over my travel bag?? but i can get a new one – hopefully it wasn’t your last!

  • Natalie @ Will Jog For Food
    February 21, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    That Bessinger BBQ sauce must be really worth it! I actually used the last of one of my favorite sauces today too… Little Richards from N.C. It’s a vinegary sauce that I love so much, i even use it for salad dressing sometimes. It’s cooking away in my crock pot as we speak. I’m gonna miss it.

  • cathyb.@brightbakes
    February 21, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    I feel your pain!
    kinda like the carefully concocted homemade citrus spritzer on ice that I set on my nightstand last evening…all ready to curl in with a good book when my arm flew out and hit it. Juice running down the wall, juice down the nightstand, juice on the carpet=big mess…but worst of all………no juice for me!
    Thankfully my kindle was spared!!!

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee)
    February 21, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    I am cracking up over here! I don’t think I’ve had that happen before, and I can’t say that I wouldn’t have had the same reaction!

  • Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl
    February 21, 2011 at 1:54 pm

    I love your priorities! I always feel the same way when I end up with ruined purses in the middle of summer due to my chocoholic tendencies

  • kirsten
    February 21, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    haha you are too funny πŸ™‚

  • Stephanie Rose
    February 21, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    oh no! I always do that… twist the cap thinking its tight ,and then when I toss the bottle at my sister, I find out the hard way…

  • bobbi
    February 21, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    Jenna this is too funny…this happend to me about a month ago!! And it was Corkey BBQ Sauce…I feel your pain πŸ™ Loved that you were more worried about the sauce. Love that your man was there to hold you..

  • Erin
    February 21, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    I actually once spilled a homemade Asian dressing in my purse and all over my wallet. Soy sauce galore. It wasn’t as hard to lose as a bottle of precious sauce, though, but I do understand how such things happen.
    My best friend gave me two wallets so I’d stop smelling like soy sauce all the time. Ha.

  • Kath
    February 21, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    Oh noooo. That breaks my heart! You have so many little accidents Jenna!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet
    February 21, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    I would totally cry!

  • Lola
    February 21, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    Awwww I would totally cry!!! This has happened to me only with water bottles and it sucks!!
    XOXO
    Lola
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7qaZhcCueU help me please!

  • Michelle P.
    February 21, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    So sad!!!

  • Jenn
    February 21, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    Funny for you to post this. I just made your mom’s famous bbq recipe yesterday. I was griping about the chicken (I used some bone in breasts and legs from the freezer that needed to be used up) and picking it off and ALL the work it too. Afterward….SO WORTH IT!! Had Annie’s mac-n-cheese with it! Thanks again for all the recipes and sharing with us! Have a great week, Jenna.
    Jenn from Fort Wayne, IN

  • Maissa
    February 21, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    Ahahaha, you are wonderful.

    I am sorry about your sauce!

  • Ally
    February 21, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    hahahhaha. This made me laugh so much! This is why I will always love your blog!

    You make it sound so normal that you had to taste a little first. hehe. You’ve had it since New Years, was it just the anticipation that you’d be having it soon that made you unable to wait any longer to taste it? Or do you secretly taste it on the sly regularly? I’m not judging in anyway mind you, I’m quite fond of condiments myself.
    I was totally laughing out loud reading the last part. You really should be a writer – I mean beyond cook books even, I love when you post dialog.

  • Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
    February 21, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    haha, awe – poor thing! I so know what you mean, your priorities are perfect πŸ™‚
    Heidi xo

  • Baking 'n' Books
    February 21, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    Oh man…brutal on two fronts.

    I feel your pain (on a completely different level of course – no sauce or bag).

    But when I’m cooking dinner late in the microwave and heat up sauce or eggs or something in the microwave and then it EXPLODES all over the microwave…that’s not cool. I’m never sure if I’m more dissapointed that I now have to clean the microwave (SUCH a chore) or that I wasted the food…the waste kills me every time.

  • kate
    February 21, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    I love your priorities.

  • Michelle
    February 21, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Hahaha, you are one dedicated cook. Cute story. πŸ™‚
    http://gold-heartedgirl.tumblr.com/

  • Katie @ Healthy Heddleston
    February 21, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    Aww you two are so cute!! I hope he’s feeling better and I hope you get some replacement sauce!

  • Johanna B
    February 21, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    I understand how you feel about the sauce. I would feel that way if I lost some of my New Orleans delicacies which I hoard because I don’t get home too often these days. At least I can mail order some of the things.

  • Natalia - a side of simple
    February 21, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    You’re a girl after my own heart. At least Adam is a good sport, though. I’m thinking he’s a keeper. But that’s just my opinion… πŸ˜‰

  • Mellissa
    February 21, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    I would be crying about both! My favorite Gucci purse had a bottle of red wine spilled on it at a BBQ. It was my favorite wine, such waste and my favorite purse. I cried the whole way home, my ex couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me!

  • Alexis
    February 21, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    this post….is why this is my favorite blog ever. Girl, you crack me up. Sorry about the incident & hope you were able to recover some of that sauce.

  • Errign
    February 21, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Sorry about the sauce…

    What size/style is that bag, do you remember?

  • Karen
    February 21, 2011 at 3:29 pm

    So sad about the Orla-purse/sauce mess, Jenna! Yet, you never seize to amuse and endear with your klutzy tendencies – and more so, your hysterical retelling of these little dramas.

    On another note, your in-love happiness just radiates…so, so happy that you found such a sweet mate in Adam. (And, I hope he’s doing well!)

  • arlene
    February 21, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    You are a ‘saucy’ minx, Jenna – I didn’t see that punchline coming…! Great bag… and even better boyfriend; sorry for your ‘deprived’ tastebuds… πŸ˜‰

  • arlene
    February 21, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    You are a ‘saucy’ minx, Jenna – I didn’t see that punchline coming…! Great bag… and even better boyfriend; sorry for your ‘deprived’ tastebuds… Hope all four recover (bag/sauce/Jenna/Adam) πŸ˜‰

  • Molly
    February 21, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    Are. You. Kidding. Me? That’s a day ruiner!! Maybe a week ruiner (definitely a purse ruiner for sure).

  • Emily @ Savory and Savage
    February 21, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    lol, I do that kind of stuff all the time.

    Your poor purse!!!

  • Kelli H
    February 21, 2011 at 4:42 pm

    I always see shows on the food network about great bbq places and I’m so jealous. I’ve lived in CA my whole life and have never been impressed with BBQ places around here (Sonoma county).

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
    February 21, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    Oh Jenna, I am soooo sorry!!!

    For both the purse AND the wasting of your most treasured sauce!

    I don’t know which I’d be more upset about…well, I won’t lie, if a bottle of sauce opened in my purse which is a pink Chanel bag, I’d be more upset about that!

    But I also have hand-carried condiments home from travels around the world b/c certain sauces are so precious that they are worthy of being carried home…so i can relate to that, for sure!

    So sorry!!!!!!

  • Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan)
    February 21, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    AW πŸ™ I hate that for you! You had to go all the way to Charleston just to find it too. BOO, I hope you find a sauce equally as delicious to put on your pork butt (<–te he, I'm so mature) πŸ™‚
    If I had that sauce, I would send it to you!

  • Ann
    February 21, 2011 at 5:11 pm

    Oh Jenna, you crack me up as always! I haven’t experienced a disaster quite that bad, but I did learn the hard way which of my tupperwares are not balsamic vinegar-tight. I’m sure the Stubbs or whatever you substituted was delicious, if not the same.

  • Rae
    February 21, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    awwww you poor thing!! I totally understand!! Is it horrible if I laughed though because I knew where you were going with it when the boy apologized for your bag?? lol

  • Cara
    February 21, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    I am so surprised that has never happened to me, but it is just waiting too! I would totally be crying about both, food and purses my two loves.

  • Jess-The SemiAbnormal Gal
    February 21, 2011 at 5:24 pm

    Jenna, oh Jenna….you are killing me. I think a whole jar of BBQ does trump the time my leftover eggs Benedict spilled in my purse. I too was distraught more so over the lost of food than the mess. Admittedly my camera case has never been the same color since that day.

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
    February 21, 2011 at 5:35 pm

    I’m so sorry about your loss. I might even send you a cookie cake to lighten your spirits.

  • Kristin @ FoodFash
    February 21, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    Ohhh that’s the worst! I lived in Dallas for a year and felt the same way about “foreign” BBQ. BBQ beans are small and sweet not large and ranchy! Perhaps you can have some emergency sauce mailed your way?

  • Parita@myinnershakti
    February 21, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    Sorry about your…sauce! This is how we all know you are a true chef… sauce>purse πŸ™‚

  • Monique
    February 21, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    hahahhahah I’m so sorry to laugh at your pain! But I initially thought how cuuuuute that purse is. I guess, I take it back now, since the sauce was exponentially more important πŸ™‚ Hope you get a new one soon!!

  • Mom
    February 21, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    Oh Honey ~ I am sorry. Your FAVorite bag… But I know how much the sauce meant to you!!!! Trust me, there is more where that came from. Just take care of yourself and Adam right now, and the rest will take care of itself. Love You!

  • Kel
    February 21, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    awww I’m sorry! your last line is funny. What is in the heft zip lock?

    • jenna
      February 21, 2011 at 6:00 pm

      yogi trail mix bars! fact.

  • Pam (Holistic Health Coach)
    February 21, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    Aww so sorry about the sauce and your purse. I made pulled pork in the crock pot today too! I enjoyed the pork naked, however, I just like it simple sometimes ya know.

  • Alyssa
    February 21, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    That is seriously the worst thing ever. I’ve always been able to salvage my purse, but yes, the sauce or whatever spilled is always a loss πŸ™

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape
    February 21, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    Hahaha, oh wow this made me laugh. I would be upset too if I lost the bbq sauce!!

  • Jen @ keepitsimplefoods
    February 21, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    That is tragic.

  • Raewyn
    February 21, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    I laughed so hard…Adam is so sweet!! Love that he wanted your tears to stop…lol, would you hate me forever if I said y’all remind me of an old married couple (in the best possible way)? πŸ™‚

  • HilaryJo
    February 21, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    HAHAHA oh no!!! One time a good friend of mine somehow spilled her salad dressing (greek, with chunks of feta in it) all over my backpack in the middle of a class…we almost died laughing, and I smelled so bad the rest of the day!! She was bummed cuz she lost her salad dressing, and nervous she was going to lose her friend, but I just laughed so hard…wiping up oil, dressing, and chunks of feta off my stuff….

  • Brooke @ Bittersweetb
    February 21, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    I feel like I do this all the time with chocolate. Since I don’t really have really nice bags, I definitely am more upset about the chocolate lost.

  • Kaitlin
    February 21, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    Jenna! I have been reading your blog forever and ever, and have never commented, but you literally have me rolling on the ground laughing in the library right now!

    I love your stories, please keep ’em coming!

    And a new bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce finds its way to you very, very soon!

  • Coco
    February 21, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    OH MY GOODNESS. This is so sad, and hilarious, and…perfect.

  • kate@ahealthypassion
    February 21, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    ohh no thats so sad πŸ™ im sorry about your sauce.

  • Runeatrepeat
    February 21, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Love.this.title.

  • Gabrielle @ Some Like it Sweet
    February 21, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    Totally agree with the last line.
    Condiments before accessories. Always.

  • Sonia
    February 22, 2011 at 12:35 am

    You can order their sauce on their website. Idk if they have the particular one you prefer though.

  • notyet100
    February 22, 2011 at 1:23 am

    πŸ˜‰

  • Katrina (gluten free gidget)
    February 22, 2011 at 3:51 am

    HAHAHAHAHA! I completely understand! I feel that way about Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce! That stuff is crack!

  • Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy
    February 22, 2011 at 4:21 am

    Being from Texas – I understand your dismay! Still a very funny story! I love that you figured out it was open in your purse at the store but held it together. I can only imagine that your purse was starting to smell like BBQ? πŸ™‚

  • Lindsay @ The Reluctant Runner
    February 22, 2011 at 4:41 am

    Oh no! I understand. The kind of BBQ sauce I grew up with and love is only available where I grew up, and I am nervously eyeing the bottle now because it’s getting low and I’m not going back for a visit for two months!

  • Ashley @ YogaVet
    February 22, 2011 at 4:52 am

    Oooh I feel your pain. Once, I tried to smuggle excellent homemade salsa (spicy vinegar based…. oooh so good!) out of Nicaragua after a missions trip. The jar broke while I was in line at the airport. So not only was all my stuff swimming in spicy vinegar (cell phone dead? check), but the airport security guys came over and confiscated everyone else’s… so there was no more salsa, at all. I was much sadder over the loss of the salsa vs. my cell phone. Priorities! πŸ™‚

  • Central Restaurant Products
    February 22, 2011 at 6:00 am

    I read the whole blog thinking what a shame it was to lose the sauce…only to find out you felt the same. Purses are replaceable, but a good sauce is hard to find!

  • Jenny
    February 22, 2011 at 6:13 am

    This happens to me all the time, I understand your grief..except mine is usually a coffee spill. Good thing I love coffee because everything in my life has a faded scent of it:)

  • Dawn
    February 22, 2011 at 6:15 am

    “You might be wondering what in the world a bottle of barbecue sauce was doing in my purse to begin with”

    Nope, not really – I’ve been reading for a while. πŸ™‚ Too bad about the cleanup and the sauce loss though. Bleh.

  • Susan
    February 22, 2011 at 7:54 am

    I’m just glad your Kindle wasn’t in there!

  • Lauren @ Hungry Child in the City
    February 22, 2011 at 8:27 am

    I am so sorry about your bag! It’s so cool looking! Although, it looks almost worth it because those pulled pork sandwiches look DELICIOUS too! I have been trying to cook more and my bf loves all things pulled pork, I have to make him some!

  • Rebeca
    February 22, 2011 at 9:26 am

    This happened with me and my favorite peanut sauce. I have to drive to Austin to get it.

    It was a sad day.

  • Laura @ prettylittlewords
    February 22, 2011 at 10:14 am

    Ohhh you poor thing, I have cried at moments like that too πŸ™

    Sometimes you just gotta let the tears flow. It sounds like Adam was really sweet about it though…Fingers crossed to you getting a new purse!

  • Leslie
    February 22, 2011 at 11:28 am

    And this sums up exactly why I adore you and your blog. You not only understand what proper barbecue sauce is and are willing to do whatever it takes to import it, but you clearly have your priorities straight. Though DANG, I love that Orla bag! Hope you’re able to salvage it!

  • Emily
    February 22, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    I am so sorry about your purse. I love my Orla bag. I cannot imagine having BBQ sauce spilled in it. I am so impressed that you were able to go back into the store. Amazing!

  • Danielle @ InDeesKitchen
    February 25, 2011 at 11:17 am

    Aww, Jenna! Sad story but a cute purse! Were you able to save it??

  • Raisa Berriz
    February 26, 2011 at 10:05 am

    There is no need to cry over spilled Bessingers. You can order the spicy by the case or the regular in half gallon containers right here—> http://www.bessingersbbq.com/eateverywhere/shop.html

  • Ffion @ Chocolate and Raspberries
    March 7, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    I’v had a water bottle open in my handbag a few times, which is NOT COOL, especially when you have things such as ipods and phones in there! At least water is less precious than sauce!

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  • Katie
    July 25, 2012 at 7:22 am

    Oh this happened to me once, but with a beer bottle I was smuggling to a party in college. I was not a happy camper.

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