I’m at a shitty point in my life where I’m just close enough to rock bottom to smell it but far enough that I still have something to lose.

One thing I still have control over is what I’m going to have for lunch. I decided on chicken legs. I’m going to smoke them with Applewood and score the legs so they can hold bbq sauce. I’m going to the store soon but don’t have a favorite sauce, and I’m looking for recommendations. What bbq sauce is best to cook onto the chicken legs?

  • Dinodicchellathicc@lemmy.mlOP
    331·
    3 years ago

    Not sure if anyone cares to know but i decided to go with stubbs bbq sauce. First i put on a dry rub of Pappys dry rub and cooked to 160 internal. Then i followed up with stubbs bbq sauce and finished at 170 degrees internal.

    I didn’t get down with the apple jim beam so i decided to do shots of Makers Mark cask bourbon. Might have a white claw and long Island iced tea later. Catch me on my plummet to rock bottom over on !cocktails.lemmyworld or occasionally! Cocktail.MidwestSocial

    Unfortunately I think I might just have to go back to therapy because even bbqing doesn’t cheer me up anymore.

    Edit: the chicken has clashing flavors only fixed by getting blind drunk. Don’t mix Pappys dry rub and stubbs bbq suace.

    • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pubEnglish
      4·
      3 years ago

      Came here to say to go with Stubb’s, but the jalapeno one. It’s SOOO good!! Dude. So good…

      Also, therapy is amazing, and you should totally return. It’s a step to you getting better. Feeling this way sucks balls, but the world isn’t as bad as it seems, and sometimes, it takes a therapist to help you see that. If doing the things you love doesn’t cheer you up, even a bit, you may benefit from a psychiatrist that can prescribe an antidepressant and work with you on your recovery. Saved my best friend’s life. Like everything, there are bad ones and good ones and great ones (psychiatrists and antidepressants), but keep fighting so you can find one that will help you. Good luck, my dude. Hang in there, and know that an internet stranger is rooting hard for you!

      • Dinodicchellathicc@lemmy.mlOP
        5·
        3 years ago

        Thanks homie. I actually quit therapy the last time because my issues were caused by me being broke, alone, and working long hours. My therapist said that my money would be better put towards my bills than therapy. That no amount of coping skills would make me not poor and alone.

        Well I got a better job, made friends, and and I’m lightyears ahead of where I used to be, but still i find myself thinking about ending it. Personally I think my past depression kinda fried my brain and I’m permanently broken and probably need meds to be halfass happy.

        I don’t have enough enough money to move into my own place, and even though that’s my goal, that’s what I’d define as success, I’m not sure that’d make me happy. I know myself and I know if i lived by myself I’d be lonely and probably overdependant on my work friends. Also I’ve been trying to date but only halfass sending likes on the apps and just a little bit of flirting with my coworkers. In fact there’s this one coworker I have that’s i am just illogically attracted to. Only problem is she’s out of my league in looks, economical standing, has degrees and she’s also older. She’s so different from me though, in almost every way. I thought i leaned right politically but jeez she really showed me what it’s like to be conservative in Asia.

        Idk i think that’s just the bourbon talking though. I think about her more than i should, that’s for sure. I’d give her everything if she asked even though I know it’d be wrong.

        Anyway I’m going to try to sign up for BetterHelp. Honestly I’ll have to lie because they reject certain people but i just can’t afford anything else rn.

        I appreciate you friend. Hope to see you around lemmy soon on a more happy post.

        • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pubEnglish
          3·
          3 years ago

          One thing I learned, is that, most of the time, someone is only out of your league if you believe they are. I don’t know you (beyond our little conversation here) or her (at all), but it sounds like you have a lot to offer. And, no, not giving her everything, but that part shows me that you’re emotionally available, or, at the very least, willing to be. Although, I don’t know if I would recommend dating or pursuing a coworker, as it can lead to some very unpleasant situations.

          Another thing I’ve learned, happiness and success are not actually linked to one another. I know several well-off to bumtasticlly rich people who, I think, everyone would categorize as super successful, and they are some of the most unhappy people. I also know rich people who are happy, and poor people who are happy, and poor people who are unhappy. My point is that money and success won’t make you happy.

          Money makes life easier sometimes, but good friends (emphasis on the good), I think, add more happiness than a ton of money.

          I think the BetterHelp thing is a wonderful place to start, even if you have to bend the truth a bit to get in. You deserve happiness.

          Believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to be happy–that’s one of the hardest things to do after a stint (no matter how long or short) of depression. Tell yourself every single day that you deserve to be happy and you are going to be happy today. Literally, write it on a stickynote on the mirror “I deserve to be happy, and I will be happy today” and read it out loud (even as a whisper) every morning. Maybe add a phone reminder to remind you of this fact throughout the day.

          • Dinodicchellathicc@lemmy.mlOP
            3·
            3 years ago

            I feel like I just don’t know how to impress her. Part of me says I shouldn’t have to try so hard that I’m not acting like myself, and the other part of me says that I need to be an exceptional person to stand out among the other men she might meet.

            I think you’re right about money not equaling happiness. I never wanted to be a millionaire, i just want enough to entertain my hobbies occasionally.

            As far as it being a bad idea to date a coworker- i know it’s not great but I don’t think she’s going to work at my job for much longer. Still I’m aware the consequences of dating a coworker is immediate site reassignment and likely a pay cut. Love isn’t free though.

            • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pubEnglish
              1·
              3 years ago

              Yeah, that’s a hard one. On one hand, we always want to be who we think she wants us to be when we’re first dating, but on the other hand, this isn’t sustainable. Eventually, our true selves come out, leading to statements like “you’re not the man I started dating” or whatnot and it could lead to a breakup. I’m of the belief that if someone doesn’t like me for me, then she doesn’t deserve to have me. That said, however, there’s nothing wrong with having (safe and respectful) fun as we wait for the one.

              If the job is temporary and finding another job is relatively easy, the risk is minimal. If the job isn’t temporary, but it’s not the career you want, the risk is higher but not high. If the job is in the field you want to career in, the risk is high. Of course, if the consequences of dating a coworker is basically termination, they (your employers) don’t need to know. I think it’s unethical to date your subordinate or your supervisor/manager, but I don’t see anything ethically wrong with dating a coworker.

              Honestly, dude. We gotta make this life count and, sometimes, that means taking calculated risks (like dating a coworker), and sometimes it means playing it safe (like not risking reassignment). You can conduct a risk analysis (be brutally honest with yourself), and decide if it’s worth pursuing. I fell in love with my best friend (stupid move, I know). I sat on it as long as I could. Eventually, I was starting to see the world in unsaturated colors. I did a risk analysis on asking her out with the potential of losing my best friend. I was determined that I wouldn’t allow this to completely destroy our friendship, and finally built the courage to do ask her out. She said no. And it was super awkward for a week or so. But I kept being her friend. She changed her mind to “I’ll think about it”. Shoot, I’ll take that! A week or so later we gave it a shot. She fell in love a week after that, and we’ve been together since. These things can happen, but they’re the exception. The thing is, even if we don’t realize we’re doing this, we’re all looking for our One, but are all super cautious of one another, trying our best to guard our hearts. This causes rifts to grow between us, and we go from potential friends to “just coworkers”. Seriously, I see this going both ways and they’re both equally plausible, so I truly don’t know which to recommend :( All I can say is to run the risk analysis and determine whether this is a risk you’re willing to take, and I can also say that whichever you do decide, know that I support it and have got your back as best as an internet stranger can.

      • Dinodicchellathicc@lemmy.mlOP
        2·
        3 years ago

        I scored the legs down to the bone hoping to get some crispy corners and a place to hold some sauce. It had mixed results. I was 6 drinks in by the time the chicken was ready so I wasn’t able to really appreciate my own culinary genius.

  • gmatkins@sh.itjust.works
    15·
    3 years ago

    I always end up going back to Sweet Baby Ray’s. Every once in awhile I’ll try something fancier but I always end up going back.

    • muthian@lemmy.world
      3·
      3 years ago

      SBR seems to be a very good all around sauce universally available. A lot of the others mentioned seems to be a specialty or regional sauce.

  • meteotsunami@lemmy.world
    111·
    3 years ago

    Seems like you could use a kick start for something different. Let me suggest Alabama White Sauce. Tangy, a little heat, and some lip sweat.

    Alabama White BBQ Sauce: 1 cup mayonnaise

    1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

    1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

    1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

    1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

    Salt

  • madcow@lemmy.ml
    6·
    3 years ago

    I’m wheezing at the amount of existential dread in your question about BBQ sauces. Sorry man, life may be shitty right now but at least you’ve got a good sense of humor.

  • reverendsteveii@beehaw.org
    4·
    3 years ago

    It’s less about what sauce you pick and more about making sure to finish them on the grill on high heat so that sauce caramelizes and chars. That’s where the flavor lives.

  • pugfantus@lemmy.world
    3·
    3 years ago

    Stubb’s is always my go-to for chicken. It’s usually a crowd pleaser when I bring it to cookouts

    • Dinodicchellathicc@lemmy.mlOP
      2·
      3 years ago

      Trust me friend, it’s in my nature to to fuck up. I’ll be at the bottom soon enough. And once I hit rock bottom I’ll take the cowards way.

      Seems like nothing I do is right. Like everything I do is detrimental.

      For example I like to speed. I love to hear the roar of my engine on an open road. But also getting a speeding ticket sucks ass. I have a few and they stress me out so bad i struggle to sleep so I’m dog tired at work. I work graveyard so my boss expects me to fall asleep so he can write me up and fite me for cause so he can hire one of his friends and not have to pay me unemployment bc then he’d get in trouble with his boss.

      I also like to cook but I live with my parents and they don’t like my cooking. Kills my self esteem because I don’t actually know if i cook well. I bbq once a week but do other things sporadically. From chicken parm to Chilaquiles. Today i spend $50 on chicken alone, somewhere around 15 lbs and they all went out to lunch today. Breaks my heart truly.

      What really sucks is that i finally have some money in my pocket and I finally have some friends in my life, but i don’t feel any different. It’s like having the carpet pulled out from under your feet. I thought things would be different. I guess the only difference i was destined to make was about bbq sauce. Lol what a joke

      • sturlabragason@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 years ago

        Honestly, I feel for you. I’m not gonna get into specifics here but there’s better ways. I’ve been known to be somewhat self destructive to put it mildly. I’m probably not gonna be able to tell you something that would make a difference for you, even if we were best friends. You’re not alone man and probably don’t fuck up as much as you think.

        Too bad about the chicken, fuck em. Family can be poison, fuck em.

        Use that money to make your life better.

        Something something insert life changing fantastic advice here.

        • Dinodicchellathicc@lemmy.mlOP
          2·
          3 years ago

          Dont get we wrong i love my family, but I think we’d all be happier if I lived a couple hours away from them. Close enough to visit on holidays but far enough that they’re outta sight and outta mind

  • Clbull@lemmy.world
    2·
    3 years ago

    Reggae Reggae Sauce. Really good barbecue jerk chicken sauce.

    It’s amazing how Levi Roots got rejected on Dragon’s Den and then launched the sauce brand himself to big success.

  • thatsnothowyoudoit@lemmy.ca
    1·
    3 years ago

    If you like sweet BBQ sauces, Blues Hog original is wonderful.

    My family thinks I have a secret rib recipe and it’s just a thin coat of Blues Hog original near the end of the cook.

    I only found the sauce because a local BBQ place was selling it and I thought I’d try something new.