Liquid smoke is a strong liquid food flavoring used to flavor sauces or other foods. The Colgin manufacturing company, explains how liquid smoke is made "Colgin Liquid Smoke is not a chemical or synthetic flavor - but genuine wood smoke "liquefied." The wood is placed in large retorts where intense heat is applied, causing the wood to smoulder (not burn). The smoke passes into condensers where sudden chilling liquefies the smoke. The Liquid Smoke is filtered and passes into large oak aging tanks for mellowness ".
You can find liquid smoke in Mesquite or Hickory flavors.
This is a great ingredient to add to a BBQ sauce. You can bake chicken or ribs in the oven, then baste them with your own BBQ which you made with the addition of a few drops of liquid smoke. Alternately you can use a purchased BBQ and add smoke to taste for a great flavor when you can't BBQ outdoors.
You can also add the smoke to a marinade then grill, bake or roast the meat indoors or out. Even try adding it to your bean dip for a nice smoky flavor.
Buy liquid smoke at most grocery stores or its available online at Colgin.com or Amazon.com: Liquid Smoke.
If you don't have liquid smoke and would like an alternative per 2 drops needed: 1 smoked ham hock(adds fat and ham flavor as well OR> 1 teaspoon liquid from chipotle in adobo sauce (adds heat and flavor OR> 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle powder OR> Alternately you can simply leave the flavoring out.