BROWNVILLE — For Cheryl A. Evans, the United Methodist Church brings back happy childhood memories twice a year during its semiannual sale of barbecue sauce.

The taste of the sweet sloppy-joe-like sauce reminds her of her youth with every spoonful.

“They used to sell it at the Jefferson County Fair in the ’50s; that was my childhood,” she said. “It’s always fun to come back and see the church. This is a taste of my childhood.”

She and her husband, Lance M., stopped by the sale Saturday at the church, 333 Brown Blvd., to purchase 3 quarts of sauce. The quarts are $7 each.

The couple said their favorite way to eat the sauce is to have it heated up and poured over bread, with coleslaw. A half-quart is one serving for the two for lunch or dinner, so they like to freeze the bulk of the homemade sauce and use it sparingly until June, when the church’s United Methodist Women group makes the sauce again and sells it during the community’s General Brown Days.

Lois I. Herman, group treasurer, said sauce also goes well over French fries.

A core group of volunteers began making the sauce Thursday by washing and cooking celery and onions. By Friday, ground beef, lemon juice, tomato puree, mustard, ketchup and brown sugar were added to make about 130 quarts of finished sauce.

Mrs. Herman said the sale has supported the women’s group’s efforts to help not only the church itself, but those in need throughout the world.

Blanche A. Livingston, group president, said that with a small profit of about $600, the group will help purchase blankets and health kits. A small amount also is set aside to help the church, she said.

“We just try to be active and do missions that help the community,” Mrs. Livingston said. “We just do this because we enjoy doing it and the community likes the sauce.”

About 75 quarts were sold on Friday, the first day of the sale. Although the sale unofficially ended Saturday, Mrs. Livingston said people may call her at 639-6807 to see whether any sauce is left and to set up a place to meet her to purchase some.

Mrs. Herman said the group also supports the United Methodist Church’s Northern Flow District, which covers Franklin, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, northern Oswego and northern Lewis counties.

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