Lessons Learned at Year's End

After a lengthy (for me, at least) "silence", I'm happy to report that I'm once again among the eating, if not yet zestfully so. This month kept all of us at Carolina Sauce Company busier than ever, working long hours to fulfill Christmas and holiday orders, an unforeseen sudden spike in demand for Castle Sauce (an old-fashioned steak sauce that is oh so very tasty), and as many Operation Sauce Drop gift boxes for deployed troops as we could afford to buy and ship. And of course there also was all the year-end administrative work that had to be done before we could close for the holidays on the 24th. As a result, I didn't get a chance to write very much this month.

Of course, I had great plans for daily posts during my vacation beginning on the 24th, and I packed up lots of work to tackle from our trailer in the northern NC woods, along with plenty of warm clothes for running miles of previously unexplored roads out here, and a myriad other good intentions for a productive vacation..... And then the dreaded stomach virus struck. Thankfully, it waited until a couple of days after Christmas, but it knocked me out of commission for a few days and my tummy still isn't quite right.

Although this has not been the working (and running) vacation that I had planned, it actually has turned out to be exactly the type of vacation I needed -- well, I didn't need another bout of norovirus, but it taught me two valuable lessons:

First, sometimes a vacation really needs to be just that, a true break from everyday responsibilities including work, even when you love what you do. This is especially true during the holidays, which are best spent (IMHO) with loved ones and good friends, enjoying the season and each other's company. It's also true when your body says ENOUGH!! GET SOME REST!!

Second, I've learned that there is, after all, a purpose for bland, boring, un-zesty food: To help a tender tummy recover after a gut-wrenching virus wreaks havoc with one's digestive system. Yes, I've been living without hot sauce, salsa or spicy seasonings for several days now, much to my palate's dismay. The exception has been ginger, which has soothed my sour stomach as I slowly re-introduce solids back into my diet. As any fan of fiery foods and robust flavors can tell you, it's tough having to eat boring foods and I'm looking forward to being able to partake of zestier fare as soon as I can handle it!

So although my vacation hasn't been nearly as productive or active as I had hoped, it has been restful (for the most part) and restorative on many levels. And I still have a few days left out here to relax with friends and family, run a few new trails, and resume brainstorming on new ideas for the upcoming new year at Carolina Sauce, including potential new products for 2009. So stay tuned, dear readers, and best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year full of delicious good food!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: The Carolina Sauce Company is currently closed for the holidays and will re-open on Tuesday, January 6th. While we are closed, you can still place orders online at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and orders will ship out after we re-open on January 6th.

Healthy Curried Winter Fruit Salad

This zippy fruit salad can serve as a lunchtime dish or a dinnertime salad course. Using low-fat or non-fat dairy ingredients and Splenda brand sugar substitute will cut fat grams and calories but not sacrifice the taste, especially if you use a good quality curry powder from an Indian market or a higher-end grocery store like Whole Foods, and nonfat Greek style yogurt for extra creaminess without added fat. It's best to make the dressing at least an hour ahead so that the flavors have time to meld. This recipe makes six servings.

Ingredients
1 1/2 tsp curry powder
3 Tbs skim milk
1 cup low fat or nonfat yogurt (the new nonfat Greek style yogurts are extra-creamy and ideal for this recipe)
1 Tbs fresh lime or lemon juice (I prefer lime)
2 tsp Splenda brand sugar substitute (or use real sugar if you prefer)
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
2 apples (I like Jonagold or Granny Smith), cored & cut into 1-inch chunks
1 pear (I like using red pears), cored & cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup red or green (or a mix) seedless grapes
1/2 cup jicama, cut into matchstick size strips (if you can't find jicama in your store, just substitute sliced celery)
2 Tbs cashew halves or pieces (your choice of salted or unsalted)
4 cups baby spinach

Make the dressing by whisking the milk and curry powder in a small bowl, and let stand a few minutes. Then whisk in the yogurt, lime or lemon juice, Splenda or sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Cover & chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and develop.

When ready to serve, toss together the fruit, baby spinach, jicama or celery, and cashews in a salad bowl. Remove dressing from refrigerator and stir to re-mix the ingredients. Spoon some of the dressing over the salad and reserve the remainder to pass with the salad so that folks can add more as they wish at the table.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Saying Goodbye to Wahoo Willie's Carribean Ranch Dressing

Today we bid farewell to one of my favorite dressings, Wahoo Willie's Carribean Ranch Dressing. Hailing from a popular seafood restaurant called Wahoo Willie's in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, this zesty dressing blended traditional creamy ranch dressing with Caribbean seasonings and peppers to create a deliciously rich and spicy salad dressing that could also be used for cooking and dipping. Sadly for fans of his creative and tasty recipes, Wahoo Willie's owner and chef decided to sell his restaurant and return to his first love, being a fishing boat captain. We wish him well, of course, but we'll miss his culinary creations including his Mango Vinaigrette (which sold out earlier this year) and his Carribean Ranch Dressing (and I never found out what the inside joke was with the intentional misspelling in this product's name).

Although his Carribean Ranch Dressing has now completely sold out and is no longer available, we're happy to report that his most popular product, Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce is still available, and you can find it on sale now at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. Get it while you can, as once we sell out of the award-winning Jamaican Wing Sauce, it will be gone for good!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Company Holiday Schedule

***Please note the following important information for Christmas and the Holiday Season:***

The Carolina Sauce Company will be closed from Wednesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) through Monday, January 5th, to give our hard-working employees some time off with their families for the holidays, and to get ready for a new year of zesty new products and features. We will re-open for business on Tuesday, January 6th. While we are closed, you'll still be able to place orders at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, but orders will be packed and shipped after we re-open on January 6th. If you email or call us while we're closed, please understand that we won't be able to reply until after January 6th.

With respect to package delivery, the US Postal Service and UPS will deliver Ground and Air packages on Wednesday, December 24th. However, packages will not be delivered on Christmas Day, December 25th. Their regular delivery will resume on Friday, December 26th.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Tuscan Chicken Bundles

This is my adaptation of a recipe from the folks who make Nando's Peri Peri Sauces from South Africa. It takes only 30 to 45 minutes to prep and cook, and serves 4 as a main course, or you can serve the 16 pieces as heavy hors d'oeuvres. I like to serve the chicken bundles with a side of lightly sauteed spinach with garlic and a side of roasted new potatoes with onions. You can usually find fresh basil year-round in better grocery stores.

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 slices of Prosciutto
8 thin slices of fresh mozzarella cheese
8 large basil leaves
1 Tbs olive oil
1 bottle Nando's Sundried Tomato & Basil Marinade
Nando's Garlic Peri Peri Sauce, for garnishing

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Quarter each chicken breast and place 8 pieces on a plate or board, reserving the remaining 8 pieces. Layer a slice of cheese and a large bay leaf on each piece, then top with a piece of the reserved chicken. Wrap each chicken bundle with a slice of Prosciutto.

Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Carefully place the chicken bundles in the pan and sear on both sides (this will help them stay together). Place the seared bundles in a baking dish or casserole pan and pour the marinade over the bundles. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from oven and splash a couple of drops of the Garlic Peri Peri Sauce on top of each bundle before serving.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

New Operation Sauce Drop Milestone: Over 400 Gift Boxes Shipped!

Today, Operation Sauce Drop reached a new milestone: We shipped our 400th free gift box of barbecue sauce and hot sauce to US troops serving overseas! Specifically, as of today Operation Sauce Drop has sent free gift boxes of delicious sauces to 405 troops stationed at APO and FPO addresses, at absolutely no cost to them. Operation Sauce Drop is made possible by donations from regular folks, people like you who want to send a little taste of home to our deployed military personnel, to let them know they're thought of and appreciated back home. The Carolina Sauce Company matches 100% of all donations, and the program is completely nonprofit, with Carolina Sauce donating the labor and covering all incidental costs so as to ensure that all donated funds are used solely for the cost of the sauces (at cost) and the cost of shipping. The troops can select a gift box of their choice, or a loved one or friend can sign up a serviceman with an APO/FPO address and select a gift box to be sent to them. The troops truly appreciate the generosity and thoughtfulness of Operation Sauce Drop donors, as you can see from the photographs and thank-you notes they've sent.

While shipping 405 free gift boxes is indeed an impressive milestone, and one that couldn't have been reached without the contributions of many, there still is a long list of troops waiting to receive a free gift box of sauce. Gift box requests continue to outpace donataions, to the extent that there are currently 328 troops waiting for their free gift boxes. The average cost for us to purchase and ship one gift box is about $20, and gift boxes are purchased and shipped as donations come in. Because the Carolina Sauce Company matches all donations, all it takes is $10 and you can help us send a free gift box of sauce to one of our deployed servicemen on our waiting list. If you have already donated to Operation Sauce Drop in the past, please accept my heartfelt thanks and the thanks of our troops. If you haven't yet contributed or if you'd like to help again, here's the link to donate to Operation Sauce Drop. You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop and treat yourself to some zesty salsas and dry rub (100% of the purchase price of those items goes straight to Operation Sauce Drop). And if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Carolina Sauce Company. Thank you for your consideration.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spaghetti with Olive Oil, Garlic & Pepper

This very simple recipe packs a peppery punch and garlicky pungency that's sure to please anyone who enjoys zesty, spicy foods.

Ingredients
1 lb spaghetti, regular or whole wheat
6 Tbs Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (for extra heat, I substitute 1 or more cloves of Twenty Pepper Garlic)
2 cayenne peppers, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
Salt to taste

Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions (I like mine "al dente"). While the spaghetti is cooking, heat the olive oil in a skillet and saute the garlic
and pepper until soft, but don't let the garlic start to turn golden. Drain the spaghetti and then immediately pour the oil-garlic-pepper mixture over the spaghetti and mix well. Add the parsley and salt to taste, toss to combine, then serve immediately.

Mexican Spaghetti variation: Substitute 2 jalapenos or 1 serrano & 1 jalapeno pepper for the cayenne peppers; substitute fresh cilantro for the parsley.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Updated Info Page for Carolina Sauce

Check out the updated Info page at the Carolina Sauce Company, now featuring a photo of the founders (Greg and yours truly), taken earlier this year in our warehouse. The Info page is where to go if you're looking for our contact information, have questions about our shipping policies and how shipping costs are calculated at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, need to report a damaged item, would like to sign up for our free eNewsletter, or want to learn more about who we are. And if you have a question that's not answered on our Info page, please don't hesitate to call us at 919-286-1080 or email us at "salesATcarolinasauceDOTcom".

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Steamed Spinach

What appears to be a huge pile of raw spinach will quickly cook down to a much smaller amount, so don't let the initial volume of this quick, healthy and zestily delicious recipe scare you away. Serve Spicy Steamed Spinach as a side dish for meat or chicken, or as an alternative to a green salad.

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb fresh spinach, washed & trimmed
3 Tbs olive oil
1 small sweet onion OR 1 shallot, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed (for added spiciness, use 2 cloves of Twenty Pepper Garlic)
1 Tbs freshly grated gingerroot
1 Tbs sherry (for added spiciness, use Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry)
Optional: Salt to taste

Heat the oil in a large pot and saute the onion (or shallot), garlic and ginger until soft and the onion is translucent. Shake off excess water from spinach leaves, raise the heat to medium-high, add spinach to pot and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute, Add the sherry, add salt to taste, cover the pot and steam for a few minutes until the spinach is tender (this happens quickly, usually less than 5 minutes). Stir and serve. Note: Some folks like to add a splash or two of a vinegar pepper sauce to their greens. I recommend Scorned Woman Hot Sauce or Durn Good Hot Sauce or Mile High Hot Sauce for this purpose.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store

Bubba's Spicy Seafood Stew

I've fallen in love with Bubba's Special Sauce as an ingredient in recipes that call for canned tomatoes. I just substitute Bubba's for some or all of the canned tomatoes, and the final product is transformed from everyday ho-hum to zestily delicious with a peppery kick. That's one of the modifications I made to the original old seafood stew recipe I had in my file (the original called for plain canned tomatoes, and I substituted some Bubba's for half of the canned tomatoes and one of my favorite hot sauces for the red pepper flakes). This seafood stew is especially good if made with fresh fish and clams, but you can also use frozen fish fillets and canned clams if that's all you have. Serve with crusty Italian or French bread (or garlic bread!) and a tossed green salad for a hearty supper.

Ingredients
1 lb fresh or frozen (thawed) catfish fillets
8 large fresh clams in shells, or 10 oz canned whole baby clams
1 Tbs olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup chopped onion
1 jar Bubba's Special Sauce
1 can (14 to 16 oz) cut tomatoes
1 1/2 cups tomato juice
1 cup bottled clam juice (plus 1/2 cup more if using fresh clams)
1 tsp finely shredded lemon peel (make sure you avoid any of the white pith when peeling the lemon)
1/2 tsp crushed dried basil OR 1 Tbs chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup fresh snipped parsley
1/4 to 1/2 tsp Blues Habanero Reserve Hot Sauce (or substitute 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes)
4 oz. medium pasta shells, uncooked

If using clams in shells, wash them thoroughly and then place in a large bowl or pot, cover with 8 cups of cold water and 3 Tbs salt. Let stand for 15 minutes, rinse, and repeat the soak/rinse process two more times. This will wash away any sediment or grit and plump up the clams.

If using canned clams, drain them and reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid, and set aside.

Prepare the fish by removing any skin from the catfish fillets. Cut fish into 1 inch chunks and set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a large pot, then add onion & garlic and saute until onion is soft but not browned. Stir in the Bubba's Special Sauce, canned tomatoes (undrained), tomato juice, clam juice, lemon peel, basil, parsley and hot sauce (or red pepper flakes). If using fresh clams, add the additional 1/2 cup of bottled clam juice. If using canned clams, add the reserved 1/2 cup of liquid from the can. Stir everything in the pot to combine, bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for half an hour. Stir in the fish chunks, clams and pasta shells. Bring back to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the pasta shells are "al dente." Makes 4 hearty servings.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Acid Rain Hot Sauce is Back In Stock!

Newsflash: Acid Rain is back, after a protracted absence. No, not the environmental problem -- we're talking about Acid Rain Hot Sauce, an elusive and deliciously fiery hot pepper sauce from Canada that is dearly loved by chiliheads and fiery foods fanatics all over the world. Made with a unique blend of many different chile peppers, including piquin, ring of fire, peri-peri, tepin, habanero and jalapeno peppers, Acid Rain Hot Sauce delivers layers of heat with palate-pleasing complexity. But there's a lot more to love in addition to the heat, because this sauce has plenty of zesty flavors too, including garlic, ginger and citrus. If you've never tried Acid Rain, now's the time to treat yourself to a bottle (or more) from the Carolina Sauce Company online store, to spice up your holiday dining. And if you're a longtime fan, now's the time to stock up before we run out again!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Zesty Oyster Bisque

Now's the time to enjoy fresh oysters, and what better way to do so than in this rich soup that's sure to warm you on a cold evening. This is my variation of an oyster bisque recipe from the Tabasco sauce people, and it makes 6 to 8 servings. Enjoy with freshly baked bread or rolls for a real treat!

Ingredients
1 pint shucked raw oysters, drained and reserve 1 cup of the oyster "liquor" or liquid
1 cup half & half (you can splurge and use heavy cream)
3 cups whole milk (you can use low-fat, but it won't be as tasty)
1 slice from a sweet onion
2 stalks of celery, washed & trimmed
1 bay leaf
1 sprig of fresh parsley
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
1 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp Hog's Breath Key West Red Hot Sauce (more for a spicier soup)
A dash of Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry (you can substitute regular cooking sherry but it will be less spicy)
Optional Garnish: Chopped fresh chives

Using a very sharp knife, chop the oysters and place in a saucepan with the oyster liquor. Gently heat just to the boiling point, then remove saucepan from heat and pour contents into a bowl and set aside. Add the milk, half & half, onion, celery, bay leaf and parsley to the saucepan and heat to scalding. Strain the milk into a separate bowl and set aside; discard the veggies & herbs. Melt the butter in the saucepan, then stir in the hot sauce, pepper sherry, salt & flour and cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Slowly stir in the scalded milk and cook while stirring over medium-low heat, until thickened. Stir in the oysters and cooked oyster liquor and cook while stirring until soup is heated through. Serve with a garnish of chopped chives, and an extra dash of hot sauce if desired.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Grilling Indoors

Even though winter hasn't yet officially arrived, we've already had quite a few below-freezing nights here in the heart of Carolina. And no doubt it's already quite chilly up north and in the midwest. But you don't need to let the cold weather deprive you of enjoying grilled food. If you don't mind grilling in the cold and dark, you can do what Greg does and don a heavy coat, turn on the deck lights and continue grilling even in the dead of winter (just be careful not to light your coat on fire!). Or if you're less willing to brave the cold, you can grill indoors, provided you have the right type of grill and you take some precautions. Admittedly, you won't get that delicious charcoal-grilled flavors when cooking indoors (unless you have a fireplace that can safely fit your charcoal grill), but you can use a charcoal seasoning like Calhoun's Charcoal Grill Seasoning when using an indoor grill.

So what kind of grill is safe to use indoors? The ideal and safest way to grill indoors is to use a permanently-installed natural gas or electric grill. But if you don't have such a setup, you may be wondering if you can bring your outdoor grill into the house. The answer depends on what type of grill you have. NEVER, ever use a a propane grill indoors, or you risk carbon monoxide poisoning (yes, you can die and/or kill your pets). Also, NEVER use a charcoal grill indoors unless you have a large fireplace and can fit the grill towards the back, leaving the damper or flue open to vent the smoke and gases produced during grilling. You'll also have to leave the coals in the fireplace until they burn out (or cover the grill to put out the coals). NEVER try to move the hot coals out of the fireplace or you could end up starting a fire with falling ashes. Bottom line: Check the manufacturer's instructions for your grill to determine whether you can safely use it indoors, and be very careful.

Assuming you've cleared the first hurdle and have a grill that can safely be used inside your home, then the next step is to choose the right foods. Select foods that will require only a short cooking time, like fish and seafood, boneless skinless chicken breasts, etc. The reason is that you want to reduce the amount of smoke that will be produced. You can cheat on this by partially cooking the food in your microwave oven, and then finish cooking it on your indoor grill. This works especially well with vegetables.

Finally, the most important pointer for indoor grilling is ensuring adequate ventilation. Regardless of which indoor grilling method you choose, make sure your means of ventilation are strong enough to exhaust fumes outdoors. Depending on your setup, you may need to open your kitchen window(s) a crack and maybe even use a fan to help blow fumes out. Remember, if in doubt, leave the grilling outdoors.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Calhoun's Charcoal Grill Seasoning is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Quick & Easy Peppered Steaks

The spices used in the Knox's Cracked Pepper Dry Rub are based on Brazilian churrasco, and enhance the succulent flavors of even inexpensive cuts of meat. Flame the steaks right before you serve them, for best flavor and dramatic effect. The recipe is for two, but you can easily multiply it to serve as many as you need.

Ingredients
2 beef cube steaks
Knox's Cracked Pepper Dry Rub
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs brandy

Generously sprinkle both sides of the beef cube steaks with the cracked pepper dry rub, and firmly press the spices in with your hands to coat well. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat, and very quickly brown the steaks on each side (about 1 minute each side). Add the brandy to the skillet and carefully set on fire with a long-stemmed lighter to flame the steaks. Once the flames die down, remove the steaks to a warm serving platter and pour the pan juices over them. Serve with a tossed salad or simple green vegetables like sauteed spinach or broccoli, and with a side of rice pilaf or a baked potato.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you prefer to enjoy your steak with steak sauce, I strongly recommend Castle Sauce, from Greensboro NC.

Updated Lists of Best-Selling BBQ Sauce, Hot Sauce, & Other Products

The Carolina Sauce Company's top best-selling products in each specific product category for November have been updated, for your viewing & shopping pleasure. Here's a highlight or two for each specific product category:

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: Serious chiliheads were shopping in earnest in November, because two of the hottest hot sauces available came in at number 7 (Dave's Ultimate Insanity Sauce) and number 9 (Dave's Insanity Sauce) on our list of top ten best-selling hot sauces

*Best-Selling BBQ Sauces: A classic favorite for almost 100 years, the spicy, vinegar-based Scott's Barbecue Sauce finished in the #10 spot last month, and it's currently on sale!

*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings: One of our newest arrivals, Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce from Israel, broke in at a very impressive #9

*Best-Selling Dry Rubs & Seasonings: One of my personal favorites, Pig Pen's Original Seasoning from Salisbury, NC topped this list as the #1 best-selling dry rub

*Best-Selling Gift Sets: Two great Christmas gift ideas, the Peanut Lover's Gift Set and the Lawyer's Gift Set, finished in 8th and 9th place respectively

*Best-Selling North Carolina Products: If you're looking for an authentic eastern NC barbecue sauce, then you need Well's Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce from the tiny town of Burgaw just outside Wilmington, NC -- and it's currently on sale!

*Best-Selling Wing Sauces: Although not technically a wing sauce, we've included Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce (the 5th place finisher) on this list because it is the perfect dipping sauce for enjoying Buffalo wings and other styles of hot wings -- plus it's made by the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY, the birthplace of the original Buffalo style chicken wings!

*Best-Selling Jerk & Curry Products: The ever-popular, festively fiery Walkerswood Jonkanoo Pepper Sauce finished in 2nd place, and is currently in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company online store

*Best-Selling Snacks: If you're looking for a Christmas gift for a firefighter, I recommend Firehouse Nuts: Smoked Habanero Seasoned Peanuts, which ranked 9th among November's best-selling snacks

*Best-Selling Mustards: Another great holiday gift idea, the Mustard Lover's Gift Set featuring 5 different zestily delicious mustards, finished in 5th place

*Best-Selling Salsa & Relish: The top-selling product in this category is Pepper Dog Salsa Verde, an all-natural, medium-hot tomatillo salsa made in North Carolina -- and 100% of the product price when you purchase this salsa goes to Operation Sauce Drop, the Carolina Sauce Company's nonprofit program that sends free hot sauce & BBQ sauce to deployed troops!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Operation Sauce Drop in the News!

Operation Sauce Drop is a nonprofit program run by the Carolina Sauce Company that sends free gift boxes of BBQ sauce and hot sauce to our troops serving overseas. A very nice article about Operation Sauce Drop appeared online yesterday, with some background about the program and also an update on the need for donations, especially this time of year. To date, over 340 gift boxes have been sent to our troops, and another 20 or more will be shipped out on Monday (we've spent much of today assembling & packing the gift boxes, printing shipping labels, and preparing the customs forms). Our troops greatly appreciate a taste of home, as you can see from the photos and thank you notes to donors. Although donations continue to trickle in, the number of troops signing up for gift boxes far outpaces the rate of donations, and our waiting list has well over 300 troops on it. How can you help? Here are two simple ways:

1. First, the obvious way is to make a donation to Operation Sauce Drop through PayPal or with a credit card. Heck, you can even mail us a check so long as you indicate on the Memo line that it's for Operation Sauce Drop. The average cost for us to purchase and ship a gift box is $20. Because the Carolina Sauce Company matches all donations, a gift of only $10 will help us send a free gift box to a soldier serving abroad. Can't afford $10? We'll gladly take whatever you can afford, and match it.

2. Second, you can help Operation Sauce Drop without spending a single penny by going to the article about Operation Sauce Drop and clicking on the "share this" button at the end of the article, and then Digg or Stumble it or put on your Facebook page, etc. etc. In other words, help spread the word about the program and the need for donations. The more popular this article gets, the more potential donors will see it. Just in the last day, this article has already helped us raise $180 (which means 18 more free gift boxes with the Carolina Sauce Company match). Please help us raise more money to keep whittling away at our waiting list and letting our troops know we're thinking of them back home.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Cackalacky On Sale & In Stock!

Newsflash: Just in time for the holidays, Cackalacky Spice Sauce is on sale and back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! This North Carolina original takes its peculiar name from a colorful nickname for its home state. But there's nothing funny about the fabulous flavor of this pleasantly piquant spice sauce! Made from the finest all-natural ingredients including crushed tomatoes, North Carolina sweet potatoes, spicy peppers, real honey and a splash of wine, this isn't your boring, run-of-the-mill, vinegary hot sauce. No sirree, Cackalacky is thick and full-bodied like a steak sauce, with a rich and robust flavor that's complex, subtly sweet and perkily spicy without being hot. The result is a delicious condiment that will please both chiliheads and gourmands alike, and will complement virtually all of your favorite foods, from burgers and sandwiches to steaks, grilled chicken, and baked beans. If you haven't tasted Cackalacky yet, now's the time to order a bottle (or more!) while it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company. You can find it listed under North Carolina Products, as well as in the Hot Sauce section.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Durn Good Spicy Noodle Bake

I came up with this recipe when I was craving some rich and creamy, hearty comfort food with a bit of a peppery kick to warm me on a blustery late-autumn evening. This recipe serves 6.

Ingredients
1 5-oz package thin egg noodles
4 Tbs butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 tsp garlic salt
3 to 6 dashes of Durn Good Hot Sauce
Shredded Parmesan cheese for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the noodles according to package directions, drain, then toss with butter until well-coated. Gently stir in the rest of the ingredients except for the Parmesan cheese and combine thoroughly but with care. Pour into a casserole dish, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until the topping is melted and starts to turn golden.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

November's Best-Selling Sauces & Products

The following is the list of the Top Ten Best-Selling Sauces and other zesty products at the Carolina Sauce Company online store for the month of November 2008:

1. Castle Sauce, a classic steak sauce made in Greensboro, North Carolina

2. Buderim Ginger Bears, a zippy, not-too-sweet gummy bear confection from Australia that's made with real ginger

3. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce, an all-purpose hot sauce from Jamaica that's almost always on our top ten best-selling hot sauces list

4. Carolina Swamp Sauce, a unique BBQ sauce and marinade from NC that's *not* a vinegar-based barbecue sauce!

5. Matouk's Calypso Hot Sauce, a thick, rich hot sauce from Trinidad & Tobago that's made with scotch bonnet peppers

6. Capsicana Zing Sauce, an aptly named, not-too-hot all-purpose spice sauce from North Carolina that's good on just about everything, and comes with recipes!

7. Georgia Peach & Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce, mildly spicy but full of delicious flavor, capturing the essence of a warm, sunny day

8. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce, a traditional vinegar-based eastern NC barbecue sauce with a serious following

9. El Yucateco XXXtra Hot Kutbil-ik Mayan Hot Sauce, made with fiery-hot Mexican hot peppers according to ancient traditions

10. Jim's Own Homestyle BBQ Sauce, a delicious Piedmont-style NC BBQ sauce (vinegar & tomatoes) that's a little bit sweet, a little bit tangy, with just the right amount of spice -- and it comes with recipes!

Stay tuned for more best-sellers as we update the product-category best-seller lists in the very near future, and highlight some of the stars here!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Cyber Monday Sale (& Cyber Tuesday Too)!

The Carolina Sauce Company is holding a huge Cyber Monday Sale on December 1st, and the savings will continue through Cyber Tuesday (December 2nd)! We have hot sauces, cooking & grilling sauces, condiments and spice blends for every taste and palate, all at bargain prices -- but on December 1st and 2nd, you can save even more money by taking advantage of the following specials:

***Order at least $40 in products from the Carolina Sauce Company online store on Monday, December 1st or Tuesday December 2nd, and we'll give you 10% off the product total when you use the coupon code "Cyber2008" (without the apostrophes). Simply enter the coupon online in the "coupon code" section of the billing page.***

Now's the time to order those special gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, and we have lots of themed Gift Sets including:

*Our Lawyer's Gift Set for your favorite legal professional

*Our fiery NC Hot & Spicy Gift Set for fans of spicy foods

*Our elegant NC Gourmet Deluxe Gift Set for your favorite foodie

*Our two NC BBQ Sauce Gift Sets in mild or hot, for a taste of authentic North Carolina barbecue.

*For folks with dietary restrictions we offer Low Carb & No Carb products, plus Low Sodium & No Sodium Products, and a growing selection of Kosher Products, too!

We also have a huge selection of BBQ Sauces from all over the US, Hot Sauce from all over the world, and a comprehensive selection of North Carolina Products, from mild to wild. Still can't decide? Then send an electronic Gift Certificate, with no expiration date!

***Save even more with "On Sale" products!*** Lots of sauces & condiments are currently on sale, including Blair's Sudden Death Hot Sauce with the famous skull keychain, and many flavors of the Dave's Gourmet and Dave's Insanity Sauces; several different varieties of wing sauces and flavorful marinades; loads of barbecue sauce on sale from North Carolina and around the US, and special savings on Dry Rubs and Seasonings. Simply look for the red sale prices, or the words "On Sale" when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. You can also search the Carolina Sauce Company store for the words "on sale" and that will show you a list of all the products currently on sale. But don't delay, as these special sale prices are good only while supplies last. And yes, you can get 10% off your order including special "on sale" items, so you save even more! Just remember to use the coupon code Cyber2008 on Monday Dec. 1st (also known as Cyber Monday) and Tuesday Dec. 2nd (Cyber Tuesday) to receive 10% off your order of $40 or more.

***Want to save money in 2009, too?*** Then simply donate $5 or more to Operation Sauce Drop, our nonprofit effort to send free sauce to our troops, and we'll send you a coupon good for 10% off your next order (no minimum purchase required), good through the end of 2009! Just make sure you mention this Cyber Monday Special in the comment section of your donation so that we know to email the special coupon to you. The troops will really appreciate your support, as you can see from the Operation Sauce Drop feedback & photos we've received.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Southwestern Turkey Bake

Here's another easy & tasty way to use some leftover Thanksgiving turkey. This recipe makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cooked white rice
1 small can green chilies (your choice of mild or hot), drained & chopped
3 cups cubed cooked turkey
1 12-oz can of Mexican-style corn (corn kernels with diced peppers)
1 cup Pepper Dog Salsa, your choice of Mild, Medium, Hot or Salsa Verde
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Optional: Sour cream as garnish

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 12 x 7 1/2 x 2 baking dish. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the chopped green chilies to use as a garnish. In a large bowl mix together the remaining chilies, cooked rice, turkey, corn, and salsa. If the mixture seems too dry, add a bit more salsa. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish and sprinkle top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until hot and the cheese has melted, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and spoon some sour cream down the center if desired. Sprinkle with reserved chopped chilies, and serve with a tossed green salad on the side (to complement the flavors in this recipe, I like to garnish my salad with avocado slices and dress it with a homemade olive oil & lime juice vinaigrette).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Baked Turkey Hash with Castle Sauce

I came up with this recipe today to use up some of our leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups coarsely ground leftover turkey (I used our food processor, "pulsing" the blades to get a coarse grind)
1 medium potato, cooked & cut into cubes (leave the skin on for richer flavor)
1 1/2 tsp Castle Sauce
1/4 cup chopped onion (I used a Texas Sweet onion)
1/4 tsp rubbed sage
1 Tbs dried parsley (or 1/4 cup finely minced fresh parsley)
1 6-oz can evaporated skim milk
1/4 cup coarsley crushed Ritz crackers (you can substitute saltines - if so, increase the butter to 1 Tbs)
1/2 Tbs melted butter or margarine (increase to 1 Tbs if using saltine crackers)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a one-quart casserole dish. In a large bowl stir together all ingredients EXCEPT for the crackers and melted butter, then spoon into the casserole dish. In a small bowl toss together the crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle the cracker-butter mixture over the casserole, then bake the casserole at 350 degrees until heated through, about half an hour. Serve with a tossed green salad. Makes 4 servings.

**Note: If you enjoy hot & spicy foods, you can spice up this turkey hash by adding a few dashes of a high-quality straightforward hot sauce like Blue's Habanero Reserve Hot Sauce or Busha Browne's Pukka Hot Pepper Sauce when mixing up the ingredients. Or, you can serve the cooked hash with a spoonful of Bubba's Special Sauce on top.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Black Friday Sale & Specials!

Avoid the mall crowds and save money when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company this Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving! We have sauces, condiments and spice blends for every taste and palate, all at bargain prices, and here's how you can take advantage of our Post-Thanksgiving Sale:

***Order at least $40 in products from Carolina Sauce now through Sunday, November 30th, and we'll give you 10% off the product total when you use the coupon code "Blog1108" (without the apostrophes). Simply enter the coupon online in the "coupon code" section of the billing page.***

To help you get started, we recommend our themed Gift Sets such as our Hunter's Gift Set, our fiery NC Hot & Spicy Gift Set, our elegant NC Gourmet Deluxe Gift Set, or one of our NC BBQ Sauce Gift Sets in mild or hot. For folks with dietary restrictions we offer Low Carb & No Carb products, plus Low Sodium & No Sodium Products, and a growing selection of Kosher Products, too! We also have a huge selection of BBQ Sauces from all over the US, Hot Sauce from all over the world, and a comprehensive selection of North Carolina Products, from mild to wild. Still can't decide? Then send an electronic Gift Certificate, with no expiration date!

Save even more with "On Sale" products! Lots of sauces & condiments are currently on sale, including Blair's Sudden Death Hot Sauce with the famous skull keychain, and many flavors of the Dave's Gourmet and Dave's Insanity Sauces; several different varieties of wing sauces and flavorful marinades; loads of barbecue sauce on sale from North Carolina and around the US, and special savings on Dry Rubs and Seasonings -- plus a new lower price on the world-famous Corky's Memphis BBQ Dry Rub! Simply look for the red sale prices, or the words "On Sale" when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. You can also search the Carolina Sauce Company store for the words "on sale" and that will show you a list of all the products currently on sale. But don't delay, as these special sale prices are good only while supplies last. And yes, you can get 10% off your order including special "on sale" items, so you save even more! Just remember to use the coupon code Blog1108 between now and November 30th to receive 10% off your order of $40 or more.

Want to save money in 2009, too? Then simply donate $5 or more to Operation Sauce Drop, our nonprofit effort to send free sauce to our troops, and we'll send you a coupon good for 10% off your next order (no minimum purchase required), good through the end of 2009! Just make sure you mention this Black Friday Special in the comment section of your donation so that we know to email the special coupon to you. The troops will really appreciate your support, as you can see from the Operation Sauce Drop feedback & photos we've received.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Reminder: Carolina Sauce Thanksgiving Schedule

Just a quick reminder that the Carolina Sauce Company is closing at 4 pm EST today (Wednesday November 26, 2008) and will be closed through Sunday, November 30th, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. You'll still be able to place online orders at the Carolina Sauce Company store, but orders will be filled once we reopen on Monday, December 1st. You can also leave us voicemail at 919-286-1080 or email us at salesATcarolinasauceDOTcom, and we'll reply once we reopen on Monday, December 1st.

Best wishes to all for a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce: Supply Problems

Newsflash: Our suppliers are having a hard time keeping Marie Sharp's Hot Sauces in stock lately, despite their best efforts to get more from the manufacturer in Belize. Apparently the company is having some difficulties that are causing shortages in most of the Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce flavors, much to the dismay of chiliheads. Here at the Carolina Sauce Company, we're doing our best to keep this popular Caribbean hot sauce in stock. If you have any questions about your Marie Sharp's order, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks for your patience and understanding, and let's keep our fingers crossed for Marie Sharp's to get everything straightened out really soon, especially with Christmas right around the corner!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Blue Tick Dressing

Newsflash: Rumor has it that the Carolina Swamp Stuff product line, including the delicious Blue Tick Dressing, was sold earlier this year to Harry and David. We haven't been able to independently confirm this rumor, and unfortunately we are currently unable to get any more Blue Tick Dressing as our distributor is completely out and no one at Harry & David seems to know what's going on. We are cautiously optimistic that this current state of uncertainty is merely temporary, while Harry & David (or whoever now owns the Blue Tick Dressing brand) sorts out the business side of things before resuming production of this popular North Carolina product. Rest assured that if and when we are able to get more of this tasty dressing and marinade for the Carolina Sauce Company online store, we will restock right away. In the meantime, we've started a waiting list of folks who want to be notified when we have more Blue Tick Dressing. If you'd like to be added to our Blue Tick waiting list, please email us at "salesATcarolinasauceDOTcom".

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Thanksgiving Corn Relish

This is an old family favorite that Greg and I enjoy on Thanksgiving, but it's so easy to make that you don't need to wait for a holiday to enjoy it. The recipe makes 1 cup of relish, and you can simply multiply it if you need more. The original recipe called for tabasco sauce, but I think it tastes better with any variety of Texas Pete Hot Sauce or Durn Good Hot Sauce. Plan ahead and make this corn relish several days before you plan on serving it, because the flavors get better if you can let it sit in the refrigerator for a few days.

Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp mustard seed
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 tsp Texas Pete Hot Sauce, OR Durn Good Hot Sauce, OR Tabasco sauce
1 12oz can of whole kernel corn
2 Tbs chopped green pepper
1 Tbs chopped pimiento
1 Tbs minced onion

In a small saucepan, heat the sugar, salt, celery seed, mustard seed, vinegar and hot sauce to boiling. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients. Cool and refrigerate, preferably in a glass container, at least overnight and ideally for a few days before serving.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Thanksgiving Schedule

The Carolina Sauce Company will be closing at 4 pm EST on Wednesday, November 26th, and will remain closed for the Thanksgiving holiday through Sunday, November 30th. You'll still be able to order online during this time, and orders will resume shipping on Monday, December 1st (UPS will not pick up orders on Friday the 28th, although they may still deliver packages already in transit). If you need to contact us while we are closed, please feel free to leave a message at (919) 286-1080, or contact us via email (sales"AT"carolinasauce"DOT"com), and we will reply after we re-open on Monday, December 1st. I'll post a reminder about this schedule next week, either on Wednesday or Thursday. In the meantime, enjoy the season and have fun planning for your Thanksgiving feast - and don't forget to search this blog for tasty recipes, including timeless classics and revved-up twists on traditional Thanksgiving dishes!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spiced Hot Crabmeat Appetizer

This is a peppery update on a low-country cheesy crabmeat dip. Serve it with a variety of crackers as one of your pre-Thanksgiving meal hors d'oeuvres or as a holiday party appetizer. You can prepare it ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to bake it, and remember to serve it hot.

Ingredients
1 cup milk
4 Tbs butter
4 Tbs flour
4 Tbs Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry (for a less spicy dish, substitute dry sherry for 1 or 2 Tbs of the pepper sherry)
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt to taste
1 lb lump crabmeat, picked over

Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook until it starts to turn golden. Stir in the milk and continue to cook until the sauce thickens. Add the pepper sherry, half of the cheese, the crabmeat and salt to taste, and combine thoroughly. Pour into a buttered shallow glass casserole dish, and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. If baking immediately after assembling the dish, then bake for 10 to 20 minutes until heated through and the cheese topping is melted. If baking after refrigerating, the baking time will be longer. Serve hot with crackers or crostini.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Simple Spicy Creamy Spinach or Broccoli Casserole

I came up with this recipe earlier this week when I was craving comfort food with a peppery kick to help clear up my stuffy sinuses. My inspiration was one of Greg's mom's Thanksgiving side dishes, but I made it spicier and simpler since I was feeling under the weather. I used frozen spinach, but the original recipe calls for frozen broccoli which works just as well. You choose how hot you want it by selecting the heat level of the DEFCON Sauce (I used several drops of the ultra-hot DEFCON 1 Extreme Heat Wing Sauce), and by how much of the sauce to add. The DEFCON sauces are ideal for creamed vegetable recipes because of their rich cream base and straightforward cayenne pepper flavor and heat. As usual with my "spur of the moment" creations, the measurements are merely suggestions - just go with what looks right and tastes right, and have fun!

Ingredients
1 bag or 2 small boxes of frozen spinach or frozen chopped broccoli
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I use the reduced fat version)
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Several dashes (to taste) of your choice of DEFCON Wing Sauce (DEFCON 1 is the hottest and 3 is the mildest)
Opt: 1 cup pearl onions, drained

Place frozen spinach or broccoli in a microwave-safe casserole dish and cook in microwave according to package directions BUT stop cooking BEFORE it's thoroughly cooked. Remove from microwave and carefully drain most of the liquid from the undercooked spinach or broccoli. Stir in the remaining ingredients and microwave for a few minutes (about 2 or 3) until bubbly. Let cool a bit before digging in, so you don't burn your mouth!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Sa-Mokin' BBQ Glazed Chicken

This mouthwatering recipe comes to us from Patrick, the creator of the award-winning Sa-Mokin Competition Recipe Barbeque Sauce, which is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company. Make it for your next tailgating party and you'll wow the crowd!

Ingredients
Chicken pieces
Sa-Mokin Competition Recipe Barbeque Sauce
Seasoned Salt (Patrick uses Lowery's brand)
Lemon Pepper (Patrick uses Tone’s brand)
Vegetable oil spray (Patrick uses Pam brand)

Prep the Chicken: Clean, trim and dry the chicken pieces. Spray both sides the chicken pieces with a good coat of vegetable oil spray. Lightly sprinkle both sides of the chicken with Seasoned Salt, then add a medium coat of lemon pepper to both sides.

Prep the Grill: The folks at Sa-Mokin normally cook the chicken on a Weber Kettle Grill using the half moon charcoal baskets on each side of the charcoal grate. If you don’t have charcoal baskets for your grill, then make a pile of charcoal briquets that have been started in a charcoal chimney on both sides of the charcoal grate. Add a nice size chunk of your favorite smoke wood to each pile of briquets. Patrick suggests hickory, cherry or apple woods for best results.

Cooking the Chicken: When the grill is up to temperature, about 325-350 degrees, place the chicken along the edge of both piles of charcoal, skin side up, so the chicken is close but not directly over the charcoal. Put the lid on or close the grill. After about 15 minutes, turn the chicken and place directly over the very edge of the charcoal with the skin side down. Watch closely until the skin is golden brown (this is usually about 10–15 minutes). Brush the top of the chicken (while skin side is still down) with a good coat of Sa-Mokin Competition Recipe Barbeque Sauce. Turn the chicken back over so that it is not directly over the charcoal again and cook for about another 15 minutes. Now brush the skin side of the chicken pieces with a good coat of Sa-Mokin Competition Recipe Barbeque Sauce and finish cooking until done. On dark meat pieces the internal temperature should be about 175-180 degrees and on white meat the internal temperature should be about 155-160 degrees. Remove the chicken from the grill and let rest, loosely covered with aluminum foil for about 5-10 minutes to let the juices stop running, then En-Joy!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: Holiday Specials & Christmas Sale!

Give the gift of good taste this holiday season, and save money when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or are looking for an easy way to add flavor or fire to your Thanksgiving feast, we have something for every taste and palate, all at bargain prices. Order at least $40 in products from Carolina Sauce between now and November 30th, and we'll give you 10% off the product total when you use the coupon code "Blog1108" (without the apostrophes). Simply enter the coupon online in the "coupon code" section of the billing page, or mention the coupon when ordering by phone. To help you get started, we recommend our themed Gift Sets such as our Hunter's Gift Set or NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set in mild or hot. For folks with dietary restrictions we offer Low Carb & No Carb products, plus Low Sodium & No Sodium Products, and a growing selection of Kosher Products, too! We also have a huge selection of BBQ Sauces from all over the US, Hot Sauce from all over the world, and a comprehensive selection of North Carolina Products, from mild to wild. Still can't decide? Then send an electronic Gift Certificate, with no expiration date!

Save even more with "On Sale" products! Lots of sauces & condiments are currently on sale, including Blair's Death Hot Sauces with the famous skull keychain and many flavors of the Dave's Gourmet and Dave's Insanity Sauces; several different varieties of wing sauces and flavorful marinades, and special savings on Dry Rubs and Seasonings -- plus a new lower price on the world-famous Corky's Memphis BBQ Dry Rub! Simply look for the red sale prices, or the words "On Sale" when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. You can also search the Carolina Sauce Company store for the words "on sale" and that will show you a list of all the products currently on sale. But don't delay, as these special sale prices are good only while supplies last. And yes, you can get 10% off your order including special "on sale" items, so you save even more! Just remember to use the coupon code Blog1108 between now and November 30th to receive 10% off your order of $40 or more.

Want to save money in 2009, too? Then simply donate $5 or more to Operation Sauce Drop, our nonprofit effort to send free sauce to our troops, and we'll send you a coupon good for 10% off your next order (no minimum purchase required), good through the end of 2009! Just make sure you mention this Christmas Newsletter in the comment section of your donation so that we know to email the special coupon to you. The troops will really appreciate your support, as you can see from the Operation Sauce Drop feedback & photos we've received.

Delicious New Products!
Our last batch of zesty new products for 2008 has finally arrived, hailing from places as varied as NC, Alabama, Oklahoma, the Caribbean, and even Israel. Here are all the new products we've added since our last newsletter:

Hot Sauces
*Bubba's Special Sauce: Spoonably thick & rich like a salsa, this medium hot sauce from Alabama is chock-full of ripe tomatoes and fiery chili peppers without any vinegar harshness, and is perfect for recipes as well as for the table.
*Trinidad Extra Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce: Made in the traditional Caribbean style with a special blend of herbs and spices unique to Trinidad & Tobago, this fiery hot sauce will add a deliciously exotic, fiery kick to any dish! And it's on sale, too!
*Olio & Spices Garlic Chili Sauce: Inspired by Thai cuisine but with a Mediterranean twist, this thick, rich, mildly spicy gourmet sauce from Israel is sweet and garlicky, all-natural, and Kosher OU
*Olio & Spices Lemon Mint Chili Sauce: Another gem of a sauce from Israel, this jam-like sauce is citrusy and sweet with a touch of mint, and is delicious with salmon, chicken, tempura, cheese & crackers, and more. All-natural and Kosher OU, too.

BBQ Sauce & Marinades
*Sa-Mokin Championship Award-Winning BBQ Sauce: This is the competition recipe that has won big in Oklahoma, and now you can enjoy its bold and hearty flavor at home. Sa-Mokin features a tomato base with smoky spiciness from chipotles, zesty tang from worcestershire & vinegar, and sweet notes from maple and molasses -- and it's ON SALE!
*Olio & Spices BBQ Fig Sauce: Sweet mediterranean red figs are blended with hickory smoked barbecue sauce for a delicious sauce that pairs beautifully with all sorts of meats, poultry and more. Made in Israel from all natural ingredients, it's also Kosher Parev OU.
*Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce: Classic Asian teriyaki meets Middle Eastern pomegranate in this gourmet marinade and cooking sauce. The sweet and tangy fruit is the perfect complement to soy-based teriyaki. Made in Israel, all-natural and Kosher OU.

Condiments
*Castle Sauce: This classic steak sauce is a favorite of old and young alike, and is great on steaks, burgers, fries, onion rings and more. If you were a fan of the old Boar & Castle Sauce, then you will love the new Castle Sauce from Thomas Gourmet Foods!
*Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce: From the birthplace of the original Buffalo wings, this Bleu Cheese Sauce is what you need for dipping hot wings, celery & carrot sticks!
*Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce: From a little hot dog stand in Wilmington, NC, this spicy mustard sauce will dress up your hot dogs, brats & other sausages, sandwiches, and anything else that needs some zip -- and it's on sale!

Send Free Sauce to Our Deployed Troops
Operation Sauce Drop is our non-profit program that sends free gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed abroad. We've shipped over 300 free gift boxes to date, but there are over 300 troops on our list waiting to receive a free box of sauce. It costs about $20 for us to purchase and ship each gift box. Want to send a soldier a taste of home this holiday season? Then please support Operation Sauce Drop by making a donation, and the Carolina Sauce Company will MATCH your donation so your money will go twice as far. You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, where 100% of the purchase price of the listed products goes straight into Operation Sauce Drop (you get the products you order, and the money helps send free sauce to the troops). If you have any doubts about whether a box of sauce can make a difference, simply read the thank-you notes the troops and their families have sent to our donors. Still need another reason to donate? How about this: Donate at least $5, and mention this Christmas Newsletter in the comment section of your donation, and we'll send you a coupon for 10% off your next order, good through the end of 2009, no minimum purchase required! Let a soldier know they're remembered back home during the upcoming holidays by supporting Operation Sauce Drop.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Peppery Relief from Cold Symptoms

Well, unfortunately I'm a bit under the weather with a nasty head cold. But I'm not letting it stop me, and, in fact, I'm getting some much-needed sinus congestion relief by spiking my food with peppery spices. A while back I posted a recipe for ginger tea, which is particularly soothing when one is suffering from a cold. Here are some more zesty ideas on how to get some relief:

*Nothing beats a mug or bowl of chicken soup when one's feeling sick, especially if the soup is homemade. No time to make chicken soup from scratch? Even if all you have is a can of plain chicken broth, you can still make it tastier and even better for relieving cold symptoms by splashing several squirts of hot sauce or dashes of a peppery spice blend, preferably one with little or no salt, like Louisiana Bayou Blend Seasoning. In addition to the pepper, I add the freshly sqeezed juice of half a lemon or lime, and a tablespoon or so of minced fresh garlic. Stir everything and heat until piping hot, stirring occasionally. Sip, and feel those clogged nasal passages open right up as the hot soup warms your aching body. MMmmmm good!

*Masala Chai, a peppery-spicy tea from India, is also very good for tackling congestion. You can find it in specialty or ethnic stores in tea bags, or you can get the Masala Chai spices and add a pinch or two to the boiling water for your regular black tea. Stir in some honey and milk to taste, and enjoy. If that sounds too exotic for you, try the ginger tea recipe, or some hot lemonade sweetened with honey to help soothe a sore throat.

*Collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens and even good ol' spinach are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and the oldtimers will tell you about the restorative power of "pot liquor", the green liquid that's left when you cook up a mess of greens. I like to add a vinegar pepper sauce to my greens, and Blues Carolina Pepper Sauce does the job quite nicely. And yes, I drink the leftover spicy pot liquor or mop it up with some cornbread if I'm lucky enough to have some.

Don't forget to drink plenty of water, get lots of rest and Vitamin C (preferrably as oranges or grapefruits rather than tablets), and soon you'll be back to health.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Free Recipes with Olio & Spices Sauces

Newsflash: Free recipes now come with each flavor of Olio & Spices Sauces from Israel! All 5 delicious varieties turn everyday meals into gourmet dining experiences, without having to slave for hours in the kitchen. Versatile, all-natural and Kosher Parev OU, Olio & Spices Sauces are the creation of an inspired chef for his family restaurant in the Israeli countryside, and you can taste the love and care that went into making each product. And now you can try some of the recipes that have made the Olio & Spices product line an international culinary sensation! Whenever you order one or more bottles of any Olio & Spices product from the Carolina Sauce Company online store, we'll send you 6 pages of free recipes (with photos!) and cooking tips, including:

*Chili Caramelized Salmon, made with Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce

*Cheese & Figs Appetizer, made with Barbecue Fig Sauce

*Chicken Stew Celebration, made with Lemon & Mint Chili Sauce

*Beef Tenderloin Roasted in Red Wine Onion Sauce

...and more!

"Respect your taste" and gratify your desire for wholesome, delicious and easy to prepare meals by adding Olio & Spices sauces to your pantry. You can order each flavor individually from the Carolina Sauce Company, or save some money and order all 5 flavors at one time!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Thanksgiving Ideas

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, so now is the time to start planning and preparing for the big meal, making sure that you'll have all the ingredients you need. If you're preparing a Thanksgiving feast for folks who enjoy spicy food, you don't need to bore them with bland traditional recipes year after year -- nor do you need to abandon those old favorite recipes. Here are some simple ways you can add some fire and spice to a traditional Thanksgiving meal:

*Provide a bottle of Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce along with your traditional cranberry sauce, for folks to splash on to their turkey, or stir into the regular cranberry sauce for an added peppery kick

*For your appetizer tray, prepare some Zing Dip: Whip 4 oz. of cream cheese or sour cream until smooth, then add a small very finely chopped onion, 3 Tbs mayonnaise, 2 Tbs Capsicana Zing Gourmet Sauce, and some finely chopped ham or crabmeat (you can omit the ham or crab if you prefer). Stir until all is thoroughly combined, and serve with crackers, raw vegetables or chips.

*If you're serving baked ham, use Yam Good Sauce or Bear-Man Sap-Happy Golden Bear Maple Sauce for basting and glazing.

*If you serve a pre-meal relish or pickle tray, include some Twenty Pepper Garlic as well as some Capone Family Secret Giardiniera along with your milder pickles and olives. Both the 20 Pepper Garlic and the Giardiniera are delicious when paired with cheese, crackers and dry sausages.

*Add Durn Good Original Seasoning Blend to your green bean casserole or stuffing recipe in place of some or all of the salt, for a peppery pick-me-up! Or if cooking for a crowd where not everyone wants to eat heat, simply provide the Durn Good Seasoning on the table along with your ordinary salt & pepper. And for chiliheads on sodium restricted diets, I recommend Louisiana Bayou Blend, an all-purpose pepper seasoning with no sodium and no salt.

*If you're planning a rustic Thanksgiving meal featuring venison, you need Greg's Happy Sauce as your marinade & cooking sauce for the tenderest, most succulent venison you've ever tasted. Greg's Happy Sauce comes with recipes and cooking tips, and was especially developed for venison. And it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Simple Sweet & Sour Shrimp Stir-Fry

I came up with this sweet and tangy stir-fry a couple of weekends ago when I had a craving for sweet and sour shrimp, but didn't want to get it from a restaurant where the shrimp would be battered and fried. My version is healthier, and I think it's tastier, too! I confess that I didn't measure any of the ingredients but instead "eyeballed" the proportions, keeping in mind that I was cooking for two hungry adults. Feel free to adjust the proportions to your tastes and needs.

Ingredients
2 to 3 bell peppers (I used 1 red, 1 yellow and 1 orange, but any combo or green bell peppers would work)
1 to 2 medium/large onions, cut into wedges (I used 2 medium sweet onions)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
Optional: 1 to 2 hot peppers, minced (I used 2 fresh cayenne peppers)
Fresh or frozen (thawed) shrimp, peeled & deveined
Peanut or vegetable oil for stir-frying
Cashew halves (I used salted, you can use unsalted)
Tony's Birdland Sweet & Sour Wing Sauce

Heat the oil to medium-high in a wok or large frying pan. Add the onions and stir-fry until translucent. Add peppers and garlic, stir-fry until peppers soften. Add shrimp and stir-fry until they start turning pink. Pour in enough Tony's Birdland Sweet & Sour Sauce to coat everything, toss in the cashews, and continue to stir-fry until the shrimp is done (be careful not to overcook!), adding more Sweet & Sour Sauce if desired (I like it pretty saucy so that the rice will soak up some of the sauce). Serve immediately over steamed rice, or over Asian noodles, or just "as is" for a low carb meal.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: All three flavors of Tony's Birdland wing sauces are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Tips for Filling Out the Operation Sauce Drop Form

In the past few days, we have had a HUGE number of troops sign up to receive a free gift box of sauce through Operation Sauce Drop, the nonprofit program run by the Carolina Sauce Company to send free gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed at APO and FPO addresses. Some folks have been stumped while trying to use the online order form, so here are some tips that will help when entering a military shipping address:

* In the "city" field, please type APO or FPO as appropriate for your address.

* In the "state" field, please type AE or AP as appropriate for your address.

* In the "country" field, please select "United States".

* The rest of your military address goes in the first two address lines ("Street Address 1" and "Street Address 2"). You can leave "Street Address 2" blank if the rest of your address fits in the first Street Address line.

* Please enter a phone number either for yourself or for someone who can answer questions if we have problems trying to ship the gift box (or you can enter "N/A" if there is no phone number).

* Please leave the Shipping Method on the default "UPS Ground" selection -- we already know that your package will have to be shipped via USPS Priority Mail, and there will be no charge for shipping. If you change the shipping method, the order form may try to charge you for shipping. Shipping *is* free for gift boxes going to APO/FPO addresses, so please leave the shipping method alone to avoid any problems.

* Please enter your email address so that we can send you confirmation of shipping status, and we will otherwise ONLY contact you if there is a problem with your order. You will NOT be added to any mailing lists unless you specifically request to be added, and your email will NOT be shared or sold or disclosed to anyone, ever.

* If you do NOT have an APO or FPO shipping address, please do NOT sign up for an Operation Sauce Drop gift box. The purpose of Operation Sauce Drop is to send a taste of home to overseas troops. Your order *will* be canceled without processing/charging if your shipping address is NOT an APO or FPO address. And no, the Operation Sauce Drop gift boxes are not for sale.

*** If you are a civilian signing up a member of our Armed Forces for a free gift box: Operation Sauce Drop is made possible by the donations of ordinary people like you, and the Carolina Sauce Company matches 100% of all donations received. The average cost for us to purchase and ship a free gift box for a serviceperson is about $20. We currently have a waiting list of over 200 troops signed up to receive a free gift box, and we can't purchase and ship gift boxes for them without more donations (we're out of funds). If you are a civilian who is signing up a serviceman or woman, please consider making a donation to Operation Sauce Drop to help us send out the gift box -- we cannot do it without your help. You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, where 100% of the product price goes directly to Operation Sauce Drop.

* If after reading these tips you still encounter any problems trying to sign up for a Gift Box, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone (919-286-1080) or email (sales"AT"carolinasauce"DOT"com), and one of our representatives will be happy to help you.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Thank You to our Veterans

Today is Veteran's Day, a day when we honor the brave men and women who have served our country and given so much of themselves to keep us safe and free back home, and to fight the forces of genocide and tyranny. I've had the pleasure of speaking with several vets today who have called the Carolina Sauce Company to sign up a son or daughter, friend, or an "adopted" fellow serviceman or woman serving overseas, to receive a free gift box of sauce through Operation Sauce Drop. One amazing woman told me that she is a veteran and her daughter (currently serving in a medical capacity in Germany, helping our wounded warriors) is the 5th generation in their family to serve in our military. I expressed my gratitude for their service and sacrifices, something I do whenever I have the honor of speaking with a veteran or active-duty member of our armed forces. I've also been touched by the generosity of those vets who have made donations to Operation Sauce Drop so that a deployed soldier who will spend the upcoming holidays far from home and in harm's way could receive a little taste of home.

As I've worked today filling orders for civilan customers and preparing Operation Sauce Drop gift boxes for our deployed troops, I've kept thinking about how lucky we are to live in such a great country as the USA. Yes, it's not perfect, and these are trying times for many, but we are blessed with a form of government that allows us to express our disagreements and dissents without fear of political persecution, to worship as we wish (or to choose not to worship at all), and to participate as full citizens regardless of our sex, skin color, national origin, religious persuasion and the like. Regardless of our political views during these troubled times, we should never forget the sacrifices that the brave men and women in our armed forces have made, and continue to make, to keep us free and safe. So if you see a uniformed member of our military today (or any day, really), or if you know a veteran, please take the time to thank them for serving our country, and please consider supporting our troops with letters, care packages, or some other way to let them know that they are not forgotten back home.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Thank you, dear readers, for indulging me today on this "less saucy" topic. Having a family member on active duty in the Army has made me much more aware of what military service truly entails, both for the individual serviceperson and for their family and friends. I sincerely believe that our troops deserve our support, regardless of politics.

Lots of Hot Sauce on Sale, BBQ Sauce on Sale, and More!

Save some money while finding the perfect gourmet Christmas gift or fiery holiday gift when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! Lots of sauces, condiments and other zesty products are on sale, including barbecue sauce like the award-winning Sa-Mokin Championship Recipe BBQ Sauce from Oklahoma, hot sauce like the fiery-hot Blair's Death Hot Sauces with the famous skull keychain and many flavors of the Dave's Gourmet and Dave's Insanity Sauces; several different varieties of wing sauces and flavorful marinades, and special savings on Dry Rubs and Seasonings -- plus a new lower price on the world-famous Corky's Memphis BBQ Dry Rub!

So how do you find which items are on sale? Simply look for the red sale prices, or the words "On Sale" when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. You can also search the Carolina Sauce Company store for the words "on sale" and that will show you a list of all the products currently on sale. But don't delay, as these special sale prices are good only while supplies last!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Operation Sauce Drop Update: Help!!

First, the good news: Operation Sauce Drop our nonprofit program that sends free gift boxes of sauce to active military with an APO or FPO address, will ship out another 30 (thirty!) free gift boxes tomorrow (Monday Nov. 10), thanks in great part to the generosity of two "angel" donors who each have donated hundreds of dollars to Operation Sauce Drop since its inception. This will bring our total to 283 free gift boxes of hot sauce & BBQ sauce shipped to our brave troops serving abroad. Operation Sauce Drop is made possible by the generous support of our donors, who are ordinary people just like you and me. We don't receive any government money or corporate support; rather, our donors simply give what they can when they can, even if just $5 or $10 -- and the Carolina Sauce Company matches all donations, so your dollar goes twice as far!

Now the bad news: Over the last few days we have had a flurry -- no, an AVALANCHE -- of troops signing up for free gift boxes. In fact, just today alone we've had over 50 (yes, FIFTY) troops signed up for a free gift box. This is great, BUT.... we have had ZERO (as in, $0) donations come in during this time. Here at the Carolina Sauce Company, we would love to be able to purchase and ship all of these gift boxes ourselves without asking for any donations, but the reality is that we are a family owned and operated small business and it's all we can do to match the donations we get. In fact, we also pay for all the incidental expenses associated with Operation Sauce Drop, including credit card/internet fees, and we donate the labor, shipping supplies, etc., ensuring that 100% of donations go towards the cost (at our cost, NOT retail) of the sauces and shipping.

The average cost for us to purchase and ship an Operation Sauce Drop gift box is $20, which means that your $10 donation (which we will match) will enable us to ship one more free gift box to a member of our military who is serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan, or some other faraway location. Won't you please consider making a donation, even if only $5? You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop by purchasing delicious salsas donated by Pepper Dog Salsa, so that 100% of the purchase price goes directly to Operation Sauce Drop.

Please help us brighten the holidays for our military personnel stationed far from home, and possibly in harm's way. If you can donate to Operation Sauce Drop in any amount, you will help us send a taste of home to our troops and let them know that folks back home are thinking of them (and the Carolina Sauce Company will match your donation, so your dollars will go twice as far). If you don't believe that your donation can make a difference, just take a look at the Operation Sauce Drop feedback we've received.

Please help us brighten a serviceman's or servicewoman's day by donating whatever you can to Operation Sauce Drop.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart -- and our military thanks you, too!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you want to learn more about Operation Sauce Drop, simply visit the older posts on this topic on this blog, including my introductory post which explains my inspiration for Operation Sauce Drop.