Last Chance to Save 10% off EVERYTHING at Carolina Sauce!

The end is here: Of the year, the decade, and the Carolina Sauce Company coupon clearance sale!

Today is your LAST CHANCE to save 10% on all fiery hot sauces, tangy barbecue sauce, zesty condiments, spicy salsas, themed gift sets and gift boxes, delicious North Carolina products, and everything else currently in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company. Simply enter the coupon code End2009 when you order online. There's no minimum order size, and yes, the coupon applies to already-discounted sale prices, too! Here's all you need to know:

(1) Orders will ship on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Thursday, January 7th when our warehouse re-opens;

(2) Don't forget to enter the coupon code End2009 in the "coupon" field on the billing screen to get the 10% discount off the product total; and

(3) This coupon is good through midnight EST on December 31, 2009 (tonight), when it automatically expires.

That's it! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at sales"AT"carolinasauce"DOT"com, as I'll be checking email from time to time today, or send a Tweet to SaucyGlo on Twitter.

Have a safe and saucy New Year!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Year-End Coupon Sale!

Save 10% on all hot sauce, barbecue sauce, zesty condiments, themed gift sets and gift boxes, hard-to-find North Carolina products and everything else currently in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company during our year-end inventory clearance sale! Simply enter the coupon code End2009 when you order online, no minimum order size, and yes, the coupon applies to already-discounted sale prices, too! Just three things to remember:

(1) Orders will ship on a first-come, first served basis beginning on Thursday, January 7th when our warehouse re-opens;

(2) Enter the coupon code End2009 in the "coupon" field on the billing screen to get the 10% discount off the product total; and

(3) This coupon is good through midnight EST on December 31, 2009, when it automatically expires.

That's it! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at sales"AT"carolinasauce"DOT"com, as I'll be checking email from time to time while out of town, or send a Tweet to SaucyGlo on Twitter.

Best wishes to all for the New Year!
Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Co. Closed Until January 7th

The Carolina Sauce Company is closed from noon on Wednesday, December 23rd through Wednesday, January 6th, to give our hard-working employees some time off with their families, and to get ready for a new year of zesty new products and features. We will re-open for business on Thursday, January 7th. You can still place orders at the Carolina Sauce online store while we are closed, but they will be shipped after we re-open on a first-come first-served basis. If you email or call us while we're closed, please understand that we won't be able to reply until after January 6th. Thank you for your understanding, and for your business. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and best wishes for the Holidays to all!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spirited Mint Coffee

Here's a festive after-dinner or special-occasion coffee drink that's easy to make, and the recipe below for 2 servings readily doubles (or triples, etc). For a special holiday touch, garnish each coffee cup or glass with a small candy cane or peppermint stick.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee, regular or decaf
3 Tbs Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
3 Tbs Peppermint Schnapps or Creme de Menthe liqueur
Whipped cream for topping (use real whipped cream if possible)
Cocoa powder for dusting

Using 2 coffee cups or glasses, place half of each liqueur in each cup or glass (1 1/2 Tbs of Kahlua and 1 1/2 Tbs mint liqueur per glass/cup) and stir to combine. Pour half of the coffee into each glass or cup and stir, and top each with some whipped cream and a dusting of chocolate powder. Enjoy hot.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Six Last-Minute Christmas Gifts

You won't have to fight the store crowds or hunt for a rare parking space at the mall with any of these great last-minute Christmas gift ideas - just shop from the comfort of your office or home, and your gift can still arrive in time for Christmas! Here are six popular last-minute gift ideas that can fit any budget and please the pickiest person:

1. Send an e-Gift Certificate from the Carolina Sauce Company and the recipient can choose from over 300 delicious sauces, seasonings, condiments and snacks from all over the world -- and these gift certificates never expire!

2. Send bountiful Gift Baskets full of goodies for eating or pampering

3. Beautiful Florist Arranged Flowers make a stunning Holiday decoration for any home or office

4. Send mouthwatering grass-fed gourmet Beef from Montana

5. Is a seafood lover on your gift list? Send Sensational Seafood from Lobster Gram, America's #1 Lobster Delivery Company since 1987! 1,000,000+ DELIVERED!

6. For the wine lover, shop now and save on wine accessories and wine cellars

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Here's a bonus last-minute gift idea: You can still shop online at the Carolina Sauce Company store and have your gift delivered in time for Christmas if you select 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air shipping options!

Acorn Squash with Apple Filling

Acorn squash is nutritious and delicious, and with this sweet apple filling even the pickiest kid will happily eat this veggie dish! This recipe serves 4.

Ingredients
2 acorn squash
1 1/3 cup natural apple sauce (I recommend Mullen's Apple Sauce)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup raisins (you can substitute dried cranberries or dried cherries, or a combo)
1 Tbs melted butter
1/3 cup walnut or pecan pieces

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Use a sharp knife to cut squash in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Rinse the inside with water, then place cut side down on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake at 400F degrees for about half an hour. While the squash is cooking, make the filling by combining the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. Carefully remove pan from oven and turn over the squash so they are cut-side up. Spoon equal amounts of the filling into each squash half and return the pan to the oven. Bake for another 20 to 25 minutes or until the squash is soft.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Gourmet Gift Ideas

Here are some tasty gourmet gift ideas for that special someone who loves good food:

*Reward clients and coworkers with the gift of Good Taste... Lobster Gram Gift Certificates!

*Send a sampling of NC barbecue sauces from the Carolina Sauce Company, featuring Eastern vinegar sauces, Piedmont vinegar-tomato sauces and thick Western sauces. The Mild NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set is ideal for most folks, and for people who enjoy hot & spicy foods there's the Hot NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set. Each gift set has 6 full-size bottles of authentic North Carolina barbeque sauce for only $29.99!

*Need a gift for a steak lover? Get gourmet beef sent right to their door!

*Is a seafood lover on your gift list? Send Sensational Seafood from Lobster Gram, America's #1 Lobster Delivery Company since 1987! 1,000,000+ DELIVERED!

*For wholesome, old-fashioned goodness and sublimely delicious flavor, give a gift box of the award-winning marmalades & chutneys from Mrs. Picky Fanicky, only $12.99

*An elegant and affordable gift is the White Wine Dijon Mustard Gift Box from upstate New York, for only $11.99

*Not sure what to get for a hard-to-please oenophile? Don't risk getting a bottle of wine they won't like -- instead, give them something they're sure to use and love when you shop now and save on wine accessories and wine cellars

*For the person who loves to cook, you can't go wrong with the NC Gourmet Gift Set, featuring a wide assortment of sauces and seasonings including gourmet pasta sauce, olive oil vinaigrette, crab cake sauce, steak sauce and more -- a total of 8 high-quality gourmet products for only $44.00!

*Shopping for a coffee lover? Send Gevalia Premium Coffee today!

*Still not sure? Browse our extensive selection of Gift Sets and Gift Boxes of gourmet sauces and seasonings, with themed collections, flavors ranging from mild to wide, and a gift for every budget!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Zesty Jalapeno-Jack Mini Tarts

Here is a deliciously zesty and festive party appetizer that's sure to please fans of spicy foods - but don't worry, it won't burn out more sensitive palates with its medium heat. This recipe comes from the creator of Just My Taste Jalapeno Sauce & Dip, one of my favorite spicy products for recipes. Just My Taste is a jalapeno lover's dream, as it's chock-full of the fiery green chili pepper. You can get Just My Taste Jalapeno Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and it comes with several pages of FREE recipes, PLUS it's on sale! This recipe makes 24 mini-tarts, so you probably want to use two 12-tart pans (or one 24-tart pan, or make it in two batches using a single 12-tart pan).

Ingredients
1 8oz package of shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 eggs, beaten (or the equivalent in egg substitute like Egg Beaters brand)
1 jar (16oz) Just My Taste jalapeno sauce & dip
1 Tbs dried parsley

Preheat oven to 425F. Grease your mini-tart pan(s). Place a teaspoon of Just My Taste jalapeno sauce in each tart cup and cover with cheese. Fill each tart cup almost to the top with beaten egg, sprinkle tops with parsley. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned. Cool two minutes before removing tarts from pan.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

J.T. Pappy's Flamin' Gator Medium BBQ Sauce in Stock Again!

Today we received a pleasant surprise: J.T. Pappy's Flamin' Gator Medium BBQ Sauce arrived in our warehouse, after a long absence dating back to before Thanksgiving. I'm pleased to announce that you can once again order this spicy, mustard-based barbecue sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company! Made in Florida with all-natural ingredients, JT Pappy's Flamin' Gator sauce tastes great on anything you grill, including chicken, ribs, pork, burgers, shrimp and even veggies. You can also add it to ground beef when making meatloaf, hamburgers and other recipes. It's even great in deviled eggs or stirred into creamy potato salad! And at only $4.25, it's a bargain. Get it today while it's in stock -- and check out the other four tasty flavors of J.T. Pappy's Gator Sauce, also only $4.25 each!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Chicken in Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce

Here is my version of a recipe created by the makers of Olio & Spices Sauces, using their exotic and mouthwatering Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce, which is available online from the Carolina Sauce Company. This recipe is laid-back and forgiving in that the ingredient quantities are flexible, so season to taste and don't sweat the details, because the end result will always be delicious!

Ingredients
Boneless chicken thighs or breasts (or some of each)
Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Herbes de Provence, or other savory herb seasoning blend such as Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste

Place the chicken pieces in a bowl, sprinkle with herb blend on all sides, drizzle in a little olive oil and 2 Tablespoons of Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce and rub everything into the chicken pieces, coating well (yes, this is hands-on!). At this point, you can place the bowl in the fridge to marinate for a few minutes to overnight as desired. When ready to cook, place the seasoned chicken pieces in a nonstick skillet and fry on medium-high heat, cooking each side for about 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add more Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce to the skillet, cover and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked. Serve over cooked white rice, pouring the juices from the pan over the served chicken.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

All Tortuga Sauces and Gift Packs are in Stock!

Tortuga Jamaican Jerk Sauce is finally available again at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! Made in Jamaica using traditional all-natural ingredients, Tortuga Jerk Sauce has an enticing, exotic flavor that is subtly sweet, infused with aromatic herbs and spices, and with a medium heat level from Caribbean hot peppers. Use it as a marinade and basting sauce for making authentic Jamaican jerked chicken, pork, beef and seafood -- in fact, the label on the bottle has a delicious and simple recipe to help you get started! Best of all, Tortuga Jamaican Jerk Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company for only $3.35 a bottle.

Tortuga Jamaican Jerk Sauce is one of the tasty sauces featured in the new Tortuga Savory Caribbean Sauces Gift Pack. Also included are a bottle each of robust Tortuga Caribbean Steak Sauce and fiery Tortuga Caribbean Hell-Fire Sauce, and all 3 bottles are packaged in a stylish gift box that includes several recipes on the back. We also have a second Tortuga gift pack in stock, the Tortuga Sweet & Savory Caribbean Sauces Gift Pack, which makes an ideal present for folks who enjoy tropical fruit flavors and peppery heat. This gift pack includes a bottle each of savory Tortuga Spicy Seafood Grill Sauce for marinating and cooking fish and seafood, the zippy Tortuga Mango & Ginger Stir-Fry Sauce, and the fruity and fiery Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce, all packaged in an attractive gift box with several recipes on the box. This Christmas, give a taste of the islands by sending one or both of our Tortuga Caribbean Sauces Gift Boxes!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Tasty Kosher Gifts for Hanukkah

If you're looking for some delicious Kosher gifts for Hanukkah, here are some tasty suggestions available online from the Carolina Sauce Company:

*For the sophisticated palate and for anyone who prefers all-natural products, Olio & Spices Sauces from Israel make the perfect gift. There's the rich and bold Barbecue Fig Sauce for anything you grill, the versatile Red Wine Onion Sauce that's amazing on steak and other hearty fare, the exotically fruity Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce for a unique twist on traditional teriyaki, the savory and flavorful Garlic Chili Sauce that's wonderful on seafood, chicken and stir-fry dishes, and the refreshing Lemon & Mint Chili Sauce for lighter fare like fish, poultry and veggie dishes. All Olio & Spices sauces are Kosher and come with several pages of FREE recipes.

*Can't decide which Olio & Spices sauces to get? Then simply select our Kosher Gift Set featuring a bottle of each flavor (plus all the recipes), at a discounted price!

*Yes, there's such a thing as Kosher barbecue, and we have the sauces and seasonings you need to enjoy it! Try Bad Byron's Butt Rub and Bone Suckin' Rib Rub as your Kosher dry rubs, and any of the Bone Suckin' BBQ Sauces as your Kosher barbeque sauce.

*Looking for Kosher condiments for holiday entertaining and gift giving? We have Bone Suckin' Sweet Hot Mustard and Bone Suckin' Salsa in hot and mild, as well as smoky Chipotle Ketchup and spicy Jalapeno Ketchup (on sale!)

*For folks who enjoy cooking and keep Kosher, we have 4 different flavors of South Africa's Nando's Cooking and Grilling Sauces including mouthwatering flavors like Curry Coconut and Sweet Apricot, and also 4 different varieties of Nando's Marinades including the Tuscan style sundried-tomato & basil, and exotic lime & cilantro.

*If you need Kosher hot sauces for a chilehead, check out Bone Suckin' Hiccupin' Hot Habanero Sauce from North Carolina, Melinda's Hot Sauces from the Caribbean, Nando's Peri-Peri Pepper Sauces from South Africa, and the fiery-fruity Robert Rothschild Raspberry Thunder Sauce

*For steak-lovers, we have all 9 flavors of Char Crust Seasonings from the famous Al Farber's Steakhouse in Chicago

*If you need a Kosher wing sauce for someone who loves Buffalo wings, both zesty flavors of Melinda's Buffalo Wing Sauces (in hot and extra hot) are Kosher, all-natural, AND on sale, too!

*Still not sure what to get as a Hanukkah gift? Check out our entire selection of Kosher sauces and seasonings, or take the easy way out and send a Carolina Sauce Co. gift certificate!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Herbed Chicken in White Wine Sauce

Here's a simple yet elegant recipe that uses one of my favorite seasonings, Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning:

Ingredients
3 lbs chicken breasts and/or thighs
3 to 4 Tbs butter
8 oz sliced mushrooms (I like cremini but you can use white)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tsp Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning
Pinch of ground white pepper (or to taste)

Melt the butter in a large saucepan, then saute the chicken until golden. Place the chicken in a 9x13 dish. Preheat oven to 250F degrees. Add the mushrooms to the saucepan and saute until softened. Remove pan from heat and stir in the wine, herb seasoning and pepper. Pour this sauce over the chicken, cover and bake at 250F degrees for about 1 hour or until chicken is cooked through.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Holiday Shipping Tips

If you shop with the Carolina Sauce Company and want to make sure your orders arrive in time for Christmas, here are some tips:

*We make every effort to ship in-stock orders within 24 hours from the time we receive them (excluding weekends). However, please keep in mind that this may not always be possible during the next two weeks so please select your shipping method accordingly.

*We make every effort to keep our website up to date regarding out-of-stock and back-ordered items. If you order something that is out of stock or on back-order but isn't marked as such online, we will email or call you to let you know.

*UPS Ground is almost always the cheapest shipping method to non-PO Box addresses. Delivery times depend on the distance the package has to travel from our warehouse in Durham, NC. If you're not sure how long a package will take to arrive at its destination, please check the UPS Ground Map and enter our warehouse zip code, which is 27701.

*For in-stock orders shipping via UPS Ground to the East coast or Central US, orders placed by noon EST on Thursday December 17th should arrive in time for Christmas. For in-stock orders shipping via UPS Ground to the West coast, orders placed by noon EST on Tuesday December 15th should arrive in time for Christmas.

*If your order has to ship via the US Postal Service (e.g., shipping to AK, HI, a PO Box, or APO/FPO address), please check the USPS Holiday Shipping Schedule. Please allow at least one extra day for manual processing if your order requires USPS shipping because we have to do those quotes manually.

*On December 24th, UPS will provide regular delivery service for air and ground packages. There is NO delivery on Christmas Day, December 25th.

*The fastest way to contact us during the holiday shopping season is either by email (salesATcarolinasauceDOTcom) or through Twitter by sending a Tweet to SaucyGlo. I'll be checking email and Twitter regularly to answer any questions.

*Ordering online is the fastest way to get your order processed. Phone orders take longer (usually at least 1 extra day) because they need to be entered manually into our system, and we are often away from the phone while packing orders in the warehouse. However, if you must order by phone and get our voicemail, please leave a message and we will call you back as soon as we can.

I hope this helps, and thanks for shopping with us!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Tortuga Mango Ginger Sauce and Tortuga Sweet Heat Sauce are Back in Stock!

If you've been missing the zippy, fruity flavor of Tortuga Mango & Ginger Stir Fry Sauce, or the sweet and peppery heat of Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce, I have good news: Both of these tasty tropical sauces from the Tortuga Rum Cake Company are now back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! Made with all-natural ingredients including sweet ripe mangoes, tart tamarind, zesty ginger and just a dash of fiery scotch bonnet peppers, the Mango & Ginger Stir Fry Sauce is wonderful with all sorts of fish, seafood, chicken, veggie and rice dishes -- and not just for stir-fry dishes, either! I like to use it as a table sauce or condiment for fish and steamed vegetables, and also as a way to add some zip to Chinese takeout (it's amazing on lo mein) or leftover rice. You can also marinate shrimp in it, or serve it as a dipping sauce for kabobs and all sorts of fried finger-food. And if you're watching your salt intake or counting carbs, you can still enjoy this sauce because it has only 1 carb and 5 mg of sodium per teaspoon!

If you like a little more fire in your belly, but still appreciate exotic tropical flavors, then the Tortuga Sweet Heat Pepper Sauce is for you. The delicious surprise in this unusual hot sauce is Carambola, or star fruit, which adds a pleasantly tart tang along with natural sweet notes to the rich mustard & scotch bonnet base. This Caribbean pepper sauce is hot enough to please chiliheads, but not so fiery as to hurt your tongue or overpower your food. I enjoy Sweet Heat sauce on grilled dishes, especially seafood and poultry, and it's also good as a burger condiment, an addition to stews and ground beef recipes, and pretty much any way you'd use a fruity hot sauce. And unlike other sweet, fruity hot sauces, Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce has only 1 carb per teaspoon, so it won't blow your diet.

Both of these Tortuga sauces are currently on sale for only $3.35 a bottle, so stock up for your pantry and for giving as stocking-stuffers for Christmas!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

November's Top 10 Best-Selling Sauces & Seasonings

The following are the Top Ten best-selling sauces and seasonings across all categories at the Carolina Sauce Company online store for November. This collection of sauces makes a great holiday shopping list for anyone looking for a delicious Christmas gift for a foodie, chilehead, or zesty-foods aficionado!

1. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce is back at the top as our best-selling sauce for November, and this fiery & flavorful Jamaican table sauce is great with just about any savory dish!

2. Matouk's Calypso Sauce is a rich Caribbean hot sauce with a sweet & savory mustard base and plenty of aged pickled scotch bonnet peppers

3. Buderim Ginger Bears is a favorite among fans of zippy ginger because these gummy bear candies from Australia are made with real ginger

4. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce from Trinidad & Tobago features authentic tropical flavor with sweet papaya and spicy scotch bonnet peppers

5. Castle Sauce is our all-time best-selling sauce, and this flavorful classic steak & burger sauce from Greensboro NC has generations of fans all around the country!

6. Matouk's Flambeau Sauce is the hottest of the Matouk's family, and while it's chock-full of the most fiery scotch bonnet peppers found in the Caribbean, it also has a great rich flavor

7. Georgia Peach & Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce is a deliciously fruity and mildly spicy table sauce that captures two of the best flavors of summer in the South

8. Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is regularly on our list of best-selling products, and this authentic Jamaican jerk paste (wet rub) delivers real jerk flavor and fire

9. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce from Burgaw NC (just outside of Wilmington) is an authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's perfect for Carolina style pulled pork BBQ

10. Dave's Ultimate Insanity Hot Sauce: This ultra-hot hot sauce is not for the faint of tongue or delicate of heart, and just a toothpick-drop is enough to heat up a pot of chili!

Stay tuned to this blog for highlights from our best-seller lists for November in each product category, coming soon!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Bacon & Herb Seasoned Venison Tenderloin

I made this for dinner last night, and the results were succulent and as delicious as any beef filet mignon I've ever had. Because venison is so lean, the bacon grease keeps it moist and juicy while it broils and gives it an amazing "steak house" flavor which the herb seasoning enhances even more. If you know someone who swears they hate venison, I bet this recipe will change their mind! There's nothing to measure for this recipe - just go by feel - and I bet it would work on the grill as well as the broiler. I always have a little container of bacon grease in my fridge because we save the grease when we fry bacon. But if you don't have any in your refrigerator, simply fry up some bacon (which you can enjoy with your meal or save for later) and use the grease in the skillet for this recipe.

I started with two large pieces of venison tenderloin, from the big doe Greg shot on Saturday. I rinsed off the venison under running water and patted the meat dry. I then melted some bacon grease in a microwave safe bowl, and dipped each piece of venison in the melted grease to coat on all sides. I shook off the excess grease from each piece and then placed the meat on a piece of aluminum foil on my broiler pan (for ease of cleaning the pan later). I liberally sprinkled the venison tenderloin pieces with Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning on both sides, and then placed the broiler pan on the second-from-the-top rung of my oven, and broiled for a few minutes, turning once until done to medium-rare. ***Keep your eye on the oven while you broil, because the bacon grease can splatter and can catch on fire!!***

Broil until just a little less done than you'd like because the venison will continue to cook for a while after you remove the pan from the broiler, so be careful not to over-cook. I removed the pan from the oven while the meat was still rare and I let it sit for a minute or so, and by the time I served it the meat had finished to medium-rare.

While driving to work this morning, it dawned on me that the venison tenderloin would probably also be delicious if made this way: Rinse & pat dry the meat as above, then sprinkle both sides liberally with Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning, and then wrap with two or three slices of uncooked bacon. Place on the broiler pan or on your grill grate, bacon-seam side down, and broil or grill over indirect heat until the bacon is cooked and the meat is medium-rare (or your preferred doneness, keeping in mind that the venison will continue to cook for a bit after removed from the oven or grill). I'll see if we can try this bacon-wrapped method the next time we have some venison tenderloin.

Do you have a favorite recipe for venison tenderloin? Feel free to share it here in a comment!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Cyber Monday Sale!

Looking to save money on delicious BBQ sauce, mouthwatering steak sauce, zesty salsa & condiments, flavorful rubs & seasonings, and fiery hot sauce? Take advantage of our special Cyber Monday Sale prices on November 30th! Simply look for the red sale prices at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, or look for the words "On Sale", when you click on a blue product category tab (found on the left when you're on any page at the 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. We also have delicious themed gift sets and gift boxes to fit any budget and and please any palate, from mild to wild. But don't delay, as these special sale prices are good only on Cyber Monday and while supplies last!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Final Day of Carolina Sauce Coupon Sale!

Save 10% off hot sauce, BBQ sauce, zesty condiments, delectable sweets and other gourmet treats when you shop today at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! Simply order $40 or more in products and use coupon code Blog1209 to get 10% off your product total, including already-discounted sale items. You'll see the place to enter the coupon code when you get to the online billing screen. Don't delay - This special coupon expires today at midnight!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

All Susie's Hot Sauces In Stock!

If you're a fan of Susie's Hot Sauces from Antigua, you'll be glad to know that all 5 flavors of Susie's Hot Sauce are finally back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company! Made using traditional West Indian recipes and authentic island ingredients, Susie's Hot Sauces are hard to find here in the US and are eagerly sought by folks who had the pleasure of tasting them while visiting Antigua or taking a Caribbean cruise. Because Susie makes her tasty sauces in small batches using only the freshest all-natural tropical ingredients, shortages happen from time to time -- especially with her fruit-packed Susie's Pineapple Pleasure and Susie's Papaya Delight. But just in time for the holidays, we now have fresh inventory of both of those sweet & spicy hot sauces, as well as the mustardy-fiery Susie's Original Hot Sauce, the exotically flavorful & spicy Susie's Calypso Sauce, and the tart-tangy & peppery Susie's Tamarind Tango. Don't delay and order now while we have them, because once we run out, there's no telling when we'll be able to get more!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Saucy Black Friday (& Saturday & Sunday) Coupon Sale!

Get 10% off everything, even sale items, at the Carolina Sauce Company online store today, tomorrow and Sunday! Simply order $40 or more in products, and enter the coupon code "BLOG1209" (without the quotation marks), and we'll give you 10% off the product total through Sunday, November 29th. Enter the coupon in the "coupon code" section of the billing page when you order online. To help you get started, check out our latest Carolina Sauce Company Newsletter where you'll find brand-new gift boxes, zesty new products, and delicious gift ideas for your favorite foodie or chilehead!

FYI, the Carolina Sauce Company warehouse will re-open and resume shipping orders on Monday November 30th. Orders will ship out on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't delay and get your order in today, and take advantage of our Black Friday sale!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Hot Maple Syrup

Call me crazy, but sometimes I like to add a little bit of fire to my breakfast. If you're like me, and you love maple syrup, here's a great recipe to help you spice up your pancakes, waffles, French toast, hot cereal, etc. Just make sure you use REAL maple syrup and not "pancake syrup" that's merely maple-flavored.

Ingredients
1 cup real maple syrup (NOT maple-flavored pancake syrup)
1/3 cup butter
1/4 tsp (or to taste) red pepper flakes

Place ingredients in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, heat to melt the butter, stirring occasionally. Once butter is melted and everything is combined, remove from heat and serve over pancakes, etc.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you're looking for a gourmet grilling sauce that features real maple syrup and has a good fiery kick, I highly recommend Bear-Man Sap-Happy Golden Bear Maple Sauce from upstate New York!

Carolina Sauce Thanksgiving Schedule

The Carolina Sauce Company is closing at 12 noon EST on Wednesday, November 25th, and will remain closed through Sunday, November 29th, for the Thanksgiving holiday. You can still place orders online while we are closed, and orders received while we are closed will begin shipping when we re-open on Monday, November 30th, on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also leave us email and voicemail while we are closed, and we will reply as soon as we can once we re-open on Monday. Best wishes to all for a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Wood Options for Smoking a Turkey

If you're planning on smoking a turkey for Thanksgiving, the wood you choose can make a difference in the flavor of your bird. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting the type of wood to use in your smoker when smoking a turkey:

*Fruit woods like Apple, Cherry, Pear: I personally really like the subtly sweet, fruity flavor that wood from a fruit tree will impart to poultry. The delicate fruit flavor can be hard to discern if smoking beef or pork, but with turkey or chicken these milder woods will impart a lovely flavor without overpowering the milder meat.

*Mesquite: Although mesquite has become wildly popular, I'm not crazy about it for smoking turkey or other poultry because the smoke flavor can be overpowering and impart harsh, bitter notes. Leave the mesquite for the grill rather than the smoker, and it's better for red meat.

*Pecan: Pecan is lovely in the smoker, and works well with poultry including turkey. It imparts warm, rich flavors that are complex and rich but complementary rather than overbearing. It's especially nice with turkey when you're also serving stuffing, sweet potatoes, and other autumn foods that may include nut flavors.

*Maple: This is another good choice for poultry because of its sweet, mild flavor notes, plus the fact that maple flavor is an autumn flavor that complements other foods on the menu like sweet potatoes and desserts

*Oak, Hickory: Although you can use these traditional smoking woods when you smoke turkey, I find that their more assertive, robust smokiness can be a bit much for poultry.

If you're smoking a turkey for Thanksgiving, feel free to leave a comment to let us know how it goes, what wood you use, and anything else you'd like to share!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Three Festive Thanksgiving Beverages

Here are 3 tasty beverages to serve on Thanksgiving and during the holiday season. You can double these recipes as needed to make more servings.

Hot Spiced Cranberry Cider
Ingredients
1 16oz can jellied cranberry sauce
2 cups apple cider (unfiltered is best)
1/2 cup orange juice (I like it with pulp but you can use pulp-free)
1 stick of cinnamon
4 whole cloves

Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan and heat on the stove (you can also make this in a microwave-safe bowl). Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Hot Mulled Apple Cider
Ingredients
2 quarts apple cider
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp whole allspice
1 whole nutmeg
3 one-inch sticks of cinnamon
8 whole cloves

Place the whole spices in a small piece of cheesecloth and tie together to make a small bag. Combine the cider, sugar and salt in a saucepan and add the spice bag. Cover and bring to a simmer on the stove, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the spice bag and serve in mugs. Makes 10-12 servings.

Fizzy Cranberry Punch
Ingredients
2 cups cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup orange juice (no pulp is best)
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 Tbs sugar
2 cups sparkling water, chilled

Combine the first 5 ingredients and chill until ready to serve. When ready to serve, transfer to punch bowl and add the sparkling water, gently stirring to combine. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Turkey Breast with Spicy Cranberry Chutney

Only feeding 2 for Thanksgiving but want to enjoy turkey and cranberry? No worries, here's a zesty recipe for 2, and you can double it if you need to feed 4!

Ingredients
8 oz turkey breast, sliced into 4 slices, OR 4 2oz turkey breast slices
1 Tbs olive oil OR butter OR bacon grease, for cooking the turkey
1/2 cup fresh or thawed cranberries
1/2 cup chopped, peeled apple (any variety except Red Delicious)
1/4 cup orange juice
2 Tbs dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1 Tbs brown sugar
1 tsp Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce
1 tsp crystallized ginger, coarsely chopped

Make the chutney by stirring together in a small heavy saucepan all ingredients EXCEPT the turkey and butter, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes until thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

While the chutney is cooking, melt the butter or bacon grease (or heat the olive oil) in a skillet. Rinse and pat dry the turkey breast slices. Cook the turkey slices in the hot fat until no longer pink and the turkey is tender, about 5 minutes total, turning once.

Place 2 slices of cooked turkey on each plate and spoon some of the warm chutney over the slices. Place the remaining chutney in a bowl to pass at the table.

Note: No time to make your own chutney? Simply use your microwave to warm some North Carolina Chutney or Apple Chutney in a microwaveable dish, stirring in some crushed red pepper flakes if you want to add fiery heat, and serve as above!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Operation Sauce Drop is Open Again!

Operation Sauce Drop is once again accepting requests for free gift boxes of sauce for our brave military personnel serving at APO and FPO addresses! Thanks to the contributions of over 150 donors (including two very generous "angels" in California and NC) and the Carolina Sauce Company, Operation Sauce Drop has sent free BBQ sauce and hot sauce gift boxes to 830 US troops serving abroad. We have now caught up with all the requests on our waiting list and have re-opened our Military Sign-Up page where troops with an APO or FPO address can sign up to receive a free sauce gift box of their choice. Gift boxes are shipped at NO COST to them, and requests are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis provided there are funds in the Operation Sauce Drop account.

Operation Sauce Drop is funded through donations as well as through the sale of products in the Shop to Support Operation Sauce Drop program. Additionally, the Carolina Sauce Company donates all of the labor and shipping materials, and pays for all the incidental costs associated with Operation Sauce Drop, thereby ensuring that 100% of all donated funds and "Shop to Support" funds are used ONLY to pay for the gift boxes and shipping. The average cost to purchase and ship a free gift box to a deployed serviceperson is about $20. The troops greatly appreciate receiving a free taste of home to spice up their meals, as you can see from their thank you notes to donors and photos. This holiday season, please donate to Operation Sauce Drop to send free gift boxes of hot sauce & BBQ sauce to our troops. And if you enjoy barbecue sauce and other zesty products, please treat yourself while supporting our troops by shopping to support Operation Sauce Drop.

Finally, if you're a member of our Armed Forces at an APO or FPO address, we invite you to sign up for a free gift box of sauce, and we thank you for serving our country!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Susie's Papaya Delight Hot Sauce is Back!

At long last, and just in time for the holidays, Susie's Papaya Delight Hot Sauce is finally available again and in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! This much-missed fruity hot sauce from Antigua is a favorite of folks who enjoy Caribbean cuisine and tropical flavors. The primary ingredient is sun-ripened papaya, which gives this mouthwatering hot sauce its authentic island taste. Sugarcane syrup is added to naturally sweeten the sauce, and a touch of Caribbean hot peppers adds just the right amount of heat. Susie's Papaya Delight is ideal for fish and seafood dishes as well as chicken and other poultry, and its sweet fruit flavor is also a wonderful counterpoint to grilled food including pork and other meat. Virtually impossible to find outside of the Caribbean -- and often difficult to keep in stock due to its being made in small batches -- now is the time to order Susie's Papaya Delight Hot Sauce before we run out again!

And for fans of other flavors of Susie's Hot Sauce, I have more good news: the hot & spicy mustard-based Susie's Original Hot Sauce is currently in stock, as is the tangy-sweet and mildly spicy Susie's Tamarind Tango (limited quantities available of this one). We expect to have both the lusciously sweet Susie's Pineapple Pleasure and the savory-hot Susie's Calypso Hot Sauce in stock before the end of November. Go ahead and pre-order now to reserve your hot sauce, as supplies will be limited and orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Susie's Original Hot Sauce is a no carb hot sauce, while Susie's Tamarind Tango, Susie's Pineapple Pleasure and Susie's Papaya Delight are all very low sodium hot sauces.

Spicy Maple Pork Chops

You can make this mouthwatering recipe on the grill or under the broiler. If you marinate the pork chops overnight in the sauce, they're even tastier, but you can also simply baste and cook if you don't have time to marinate. If you do marinate, make sure to do so in the refrigerator, discard the used marinade when you remove the pork chops, and baste with fresh sauce from the bottle while cooking. The ingredient quantities are flexible and depend on how many folks you're feeding. I usually plan on 1 pork chop per person.

Ingredients
Thin, center-cut pork chops, 1 or 2 per person
Bear-Man Sap-Happy Golden Bear Maple Sauce

If desired, marinate the pork chops overnight in a resealable plastic bag, pouring in enough Sap Happy Golden Bear Maple Sauce to cover the pork chops. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight, and discard used marinade before cooking the pork chops.

Preheat grill to medium-high, OR preheat broiler. Place pork chops on grill OR on broiler pan and baste with Sap-Happy Golden Bear Maple Sauce, flip and baste other side. Place under broiler OR grill over direct heat with lid closed for 5 to 7 minutes per side, basting each side with more sauce, and cook until well-done (use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 160F degrees).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: Earlybird Christmas & Holiday Sale!

Holiday Coupon Savings & Earlybird Christmas Sale!

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or you're looking for fresh new flavors for your Thanksgiving feast, we have something for every taste at great low prices. And now through November 29th, you'll get 10% off EVERYTHING, including already-discounted sale items, when you shop at the Carolina Sauce Company! Simply order at least $40 in products and use coupon code BLOG1209, and we'll give you 10% off the product total through November 29th. 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, check out our new Gift Boxes & Gift Sets and other zesty new products listed below. But don't delay - the Earlybird Coupon BLOG1209 expires on Sunday, Nov. 29th!

Still can't decide on what to get a foodie or chilehead? Send them an electronic Gift Certificate, with no expiration date!

New Gift Boxes & Other New Products
Our final new products for 2009 have arrived, and many are on sale for the holidays! We've also added a bunch of new gift boxes ranging from mild to wild, ready to be gift-wrapped and given to that special someone. Here's what's new:

New Sweet Stuff
*Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Zesty Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade is a decadently rich, thick, chunky and sweet old-fashioned peach marmalade with a citrusy twist that's hand-made in rural North Carolina -- and it's on sale!

New Hot Sauces
*Conquering Lion Hot Sauces are back in stock! All-natural, mostly organic and hand-made in West Virginia, these rich & robust hot sauces are made with hickory-smoked tomatoes, habaneros and cayennes for hearty smoky flavor and peppery fire. Available in original Hickory-Smoked Habanero, subtly sweet & seriously spicy Mango Habanero, and super-hot XXX Habanero. All 3 flavors are on sale!
*Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce: A uniquely delicious tropical hot sauce from Barbados featuring sweet-tart Carambola (star fruit) and fiery scotch bonnet peppers -- and it's on sale!
*Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce from Jamaica blends bananas, mangoes and raisins with hot peppers and exotic spices to add authentic island flavor to savory dishes -- and it's only $3.95!

New Gift Boxes
*Pepper Jelly Gift Boxes: Hand-made on a family farm in the North Carolina mountains, our tasty and beautiful pepper jellies come in brilliant Green and Red, and both colors are available in Mild and Hot. Select any 2 jars to be packed in a handsome white gift box with the Carolina Sauce logo. Our pepper jelly gift boxes are on sale, too!
*Ass Kickin' Mustard Gift Box comes with two jars of fiery-hot Ass Kickin' mustard
*Bubba's Hot Sauce Gift Box holds 2 jars of the tomato-rich, spicy-hot Bubba's Special Sauce from Alabama
*Crab Cake Sauce Gift Box comes with 2 jars of Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce from North Carolina
*Marmalade & Chutney Gift Boxes feature your choice of 2 jars of Mrs. Picky Fanicky's award-winning marmalades (available in Apple Pie and Zesty Peach Cocktail) and NC chutney (made with mountain apples and ripe peaches), and they come with delightful recipe ideas on a pretty notecard, too!
*Peach & Vidalia Onion Salsa Gift Box comes with 2 jars of sublimely summery and richly flavorful Peach & Vidalia Onion Salsa
*Red's Sweet Salsa Gift Box includes 2 jars of the thick & chunky sweet tomato salsa from North Carolina
*Scorned Woman Mustard Gift Box holds 2 jars of this fiery best-selling mustard
*Scorned Woman Salsa Gift Box comes with 2 jars of this thick and smooth, medium-hot tomato salsa
*Thomas Gourmet Chutney Gift Boxes: You select 2 jars of all-natural chutney (choose from Apple, Mango, Peach and Green Tomato) and we'll pack them in our beautiful white gift box with the Carolina Sauce logo
*White Wine Dijon Mustard Gift Box comes with 2 jars of this exquisite gourmet dipping mustard from Burning Asphalt in upstate NY
*Tortuga Caribbean Sauces Gift Packs feature 3 bottles of tropical Tortuga sauces from Jamaica, Barbados and other Caribbean islands. The Savory Sauces Gift Box comes with Tortuga Caribbean Hell-Fire Sauce, Jamaican Jerk Sauce, and Caribbean Steak Sauce. The Sweet & Savory Gift Box comes with Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce, Spicy Seafood Grill Sauce, and Mango & Ginger Stir-Fry Sauce. Each box is only $9.99 and comes with recipes, too!

Operation Sauce Drop Ships Free Sauce to Over 800 Troops!
Operation Sauce Drop is our non-profit program that sends free gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed abroad. To date, we've shipped over 800 free gift boxes to our deployed military, and once we're finished with our waiting list we'll resume accepting new gift box requests from our troops. The cost to purchase and ship each free gift box is around $20. The troops really appreciate the free sauce, as you can see from the thank-you notes to donors and photos they've sent in. Want to send a soldier a taste of home this Christmas, and bring a smile to his or her face? Then please donate to Operation Sauce Drop. You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, where some or all of the purchase price of the products goes straight into Operation Sauce Drop (you get the products you order, and the money you pay is used to send free sauce to the troops).

Lobster, Steak, Gourmet Coffee, Wine Accessories, Fresh Flowers & Gourmet Gift Baskets



Treat yourself or a special someone to lobster so fresh and sweet, it could only have come from Lobster Gram! In the mood for mouthwatering gourmet steaks? We have those, too, from La Cense Beef. You can also try the world-renowned Gevalia coffees and get your FREE Coffeemaker today! Need a gift for a wine enthusiast, or in the market for wine accessories for yourself? Shop now and save on wine acessories and wine cellars . For a special gourmet gift, select from bountiful gourmet gift baskets loaded with fabulous foods, delightful snacks and candy confections, specialty teas, and more. Need to send flowers? Order fresh flower bouquets direct from the grower, and send florist-arranged flowers of the highest quality, all at a reasonable price. Next-day and even same-day delivery options available! Personalize your floral gift with your own digital photo and card by selecting a "PhotoBlooms" gift. Simply click on the boxes above to browse our offerings and select that special gift that says "I love you," "I'm sorry," "Thanks so much," "Congratulations," or anything else you want to express.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Easy Sweet Potatoes with Apple Sauce

Here's a simple recipe the whole family will love. You can make it in the oven or the microwave. Serves 2 to 4 (depending on how hungry you are), and you can double it if you need to feed more!

Ingredients
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch chunks
1 cup apple sauce - I recommend Mullen's Apple Sauce
1/2 cup raisins (golden or regular) OR dried cranberries, or a combination
1 Tbs brandy OR dark rum (you can substitute brandy flavoring or rum flavoring)

Cook the sweet potato slices until just tender: You can steam, microwave or boil them as you prefer. Transfer the sweet potato slices to a 1-quart casserole (make sure it's microwave-safe if you plan on cooking in the microwave). Stir together the apple sauce, raisins and/or cranberries, and brandy or rum, then spoon over the sweet potatoes. For the microwave: Cover with a vented piece of plastic wrap and cook in the microwave at high until the sweet potatoes are fully cooked, about 4 or 5 minutes. For the oven: Bake at 350F degrees for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are fully cooked.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Lots of New Gift Boxes!

Just in time for Christmas and holiday gift-giving, the Carolina Sauce Company has added lots of new gift boxes featuring some of our best and most delicious products. From sweet NC marmalades to exotic chutneys, zesty mustards to fiery salsas, gourmet crab cake sauce and old-fashioned pepper jelly, we have a gift box for everyone who enjoys good food and eating well. Each Carolina Sauce Company gift box holds 2 full-size jars in a handsome white gift box decorated with the Carolina Sauce logo, and we can gift-wrap them for you for a small fee. Here's a list of the new gift boxes with a link to each product page for your convenience:

*Pepper Jelly Gift Boxes: You select from Mild and Hot, Red and Green pepper jellies made in the North Carolina Mountains. Our pepper jelly gift boxes are currently on sale, too!

*Ass Kickin' Mustard Gift Box

*Bubba's Hot Sauce Gift Box

*Crab Cake Sauce Gift Box

*Marmalade & Chutney Gift Boxes featuring Mrs. Picky Fanicky's award-winning marmalades and NC chutney, you choose which flavors you want, and you can "mix & match" too.

*Peach & Vidalia Onion Salsa Gift Box

*Red's Sweet Salsa Gift Box

*Scorned Woman Mustard Gift Box

*Scorned Woman Salsa Gift Box

*Thomas Gourmet Chutney Gift Boxes: You select which chutney flavor or flavors you'd like, and you can choose from Apple, Mango, Peach and Green Tomato

*White Wine Dijon Mustard Gift Box

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Zesty Garlic Greens & Beans with Bacon

Here's a robust, spicy way to enjoy your winter greens. Use the microwave to partially cook the greens, saving on total cooking time. This recipe serves 4.

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs fresh greens (spinach, kale, chard, collards, turnip greens or mustard greens), washed, trimmed & cut into strips about an inch wide
1/4 cup water
3 strips bacon
3 garlic cloves, peeled & chopped
1 15oz can cannellini (white beans) OR black-eyed peas, drained & rinsed
1/3 cup oil-packed sundried tomatoes, julienned
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed OR 1 Tbs fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
Salt to taste
Several dashes of hot sauce, such as Blues Carolina Pepper Sauce or Louisiana Swamp Scum Hot Sauce or your favorite vinegar hot sauce

Place the greens and 1/4 cup water in a 2-quart microwaveable casserole dish and cover with lid or vented plastic wrap (i.e., pull back 1 corner of the plastic wrap to create a vent). Microwave on high for about 3 to 5 minutes or until greens start to soften (time will vary depending on the type of greens). Drain well & set aside.

In a large skillet cook the bacon until crisp; remove bacon onto a plate covered with paper towels to soak excess grease and allow to cool to the touch, then crumble the bacon into coarse pieces and set aside. Reserve enough of the bacon grease in the hot skillet for sauteeing, add the garlic and sautee until light golden (be careful not to brown the garlic or it will become bitter). Add the greens and sautee for a couple of minutes while stirring. Add the beans, sundried tomatoes, chicken broth, rosemary, red pepper and salt, stir to combine. Cover and cook on medium-high heat for several minutes, stirring occasionally, until greens are tender. Uncover, add crumbled bacon and stir well to combine. Serve with a few dashes of hot sauce to taste.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce is No More

Today we bid farewell to an award-winning, unique hot wing sauce, Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce. Born in the now-defunct Wahoo Willie's seafood restaurant in Wrightsville Beach, NC, this unusual wing sauce combined traditional buttery-tangy Buffalo wing sauce with fiery, exotically spiced Jamaican jerk sauce for an intensely flavorful and yet smooth and versatile wing sauce. In addition to being a bold and exciting alternative to everyday Buffalo wing sauce, Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce was also quite good as a cooking sauce for chicken, pork, beef and even venison, for oven-roasting, grilling, broiling and in the crock pot. This delicious wing sauce was also featured in our popular Hot Wings Gift Set. When we learned that the manufacturer was closing his restaurant and no longer going to make this sauce, we bought the last of his stock -- and sadly, we are now sold out, which means that Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce is gone for good. We will definitely miss it, as will many fans in NC and around the country.

Although we don't have any other Jamaican-inspired hot wing sauce here at the Carolina Sauce Company, we have updated our Hot Wings Gift Set to replace Wahoo Willie's with another tasty, unique and versatile wing sauce (which also happens to be from a restaurant): Tony's Birdland Hot Wing Sauce. This is a tangy-sweet & spicy-hot wing sauce from the renowned Tony's Birdland restaurant in Rochester, NY, and it's for much more than chicken wings: Use it on Chinese food and stir fry dishes instead of sweet & sour sauce or duck sauce, or as a glaze for grilled chicken, ribs or shrimp, just to suggest a few non-wing uses. Tony's Birdland Wing Sauce is also quite good as a dipping sauce for popcorn shrimp, chicken nuggets, fish sticks and jalapeno poppers. Order a bottle now while it's on sale, or better yet order our Hot Wings Gift Set to try a variety of different wing sauces (including Tony's Birdland) and Bleu Cheese dipping sauce, all at a discounted price.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Thank You to Our Veterans!

Today is Veterans Day, and I'd like to extend a heart-felt THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH to all our veterans who have served our country. Your service and sacrifices are deeply appreciated, and never forgotten. Thank you for all you have done to keep our country safe and free. Heroes like you are an inspiration to those of us back home. So thank you for your service!

Veterans Day dates back to 1919, when President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, the date on which an armistice was signed to end the fighting in World War I. The official end to the war came later, on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, but because the fighting had ceased on November 11th that date became generally accepted as the end to the war. Here is an excellent source for information on the history of Veterans Day in the US. And if you know anyone who has served in our military, or happen to meet a veteran today, please take a moment to thank them for serving. You just might make their day!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Sweet & Spicy Sweet Potato Casserole

Tired of that old, boring sweet potato casserole with marshmallows? Ready for a grown-up sweet potato casserole with a peppery kick and a delicious crunchy nut topping? Then this is the Thanksgiving recipe for you! This recipe serves 6, and it freezes well, too.

Ingredients
3 cups cooked, peeled & mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbs lightly salted butter
1/2 cup evaporated skim (fat-free) milk
1 tsp pepper sherry, such as Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry
2 beaten eggs, OR the equivalent in egg substitute such as Egg Beaters brand

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Mix together all of the above and pour into a greased casserole dish. Prepare the the topping, below:

Topping Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Tbs lightly salted butter, softened
1/2 cup oats
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix together the topping ingredients until crumbly, and sprinkle evenly over the unbaked sweet potato casserole. Bake at 350F degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Tortuga Caribbean Sauces Gift Packs

Give a taste of the Caribbean this holiday season, with Tortuga Caribbean Sauces Gift Packs from the Carolina Sauce Company! If you enjoy hot sauce and you've taken a Caribbean cruise or visited the islands, you're probably familiar with the delicious hot sauces and spicy condiments from the Tortuga Rum Company. These authentic tropical sauces from Jamaica, Barbados and other Caribbean islands are virtually impossible to find here in the US, so we're thrilled to be able to offer them at the Carolina Sauce online store. In addition to carrying the individual sauces, we now have two different gift packs of Tortuga sauces, each with three flavorful sauces ranging from zesty to spicy-hot.

The Sweet & Savory Caribbean Gift Box is perfect for folks who like to cook and who enjoy naturally sweet tropical fruit flavors and fiery Caribbean peppers. This gift box has 1 bottle each of Tortuga Spicy Seafood Grill Sauce for marinating, cooking and grilling fish and seafood; Tortuga Mango & Ginger Stir-Fry Sauce for cooking poultry, seafood and veggies (and it's great for dressing up Chinese takeout!); and Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce, a feisty all-purpose spicy-sweet condiment for all sorts of savory dishes. For folks who like things more on the savory-hot side, we have the Tortuga Savory Caribbean Sauces Gift Box, featuring a bottle each of Tortuga Caribbean Steak Sauce, a traditional steak sauce with a dash of island flavor that's great for marinating, grilling, broiling and seasoning steak and other meats; Tortuga Jamaican Jerk Sauce for making authentic Jamaican jerk chicken, beef, pork, fish and veggies; and Tortuga Caribbean Hell-Fire Sauce, a blazing scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce for adding Caribbean heat to all sorts of dishes. Each Gift Pack comes with tasty Caribbean recipes that are easy to make at home, and at only $9.99 each, these gift packs make affordable and thoughtful gourmet gifts for Christmas and other special occasions.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Cranberry-Apple Casserole

This easy recipe showcases the flavors of Fall, and is a great Thanksgiving recipe if you enjoy zesty foods.

Ingredients
3 cups chopped, unpeeled apples (almost any variety works, and a combination of Granny Smith, Rome & McIntosh works well - don't use Red Delicious)
2 cups whole fresh cranberries (you can use frozen whole cranberries but defrost first)
1 1/2 cups sugar
Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce
1 1/2 cups regular (not instant) oatmeal
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Mix together the apples, cranberries, regular sugar and several dashes of Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce in a casserole dish, and set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl until well-mixed, then spread this topping over the apple-cranberry mixture. Bake at 350F degrees for about 1 hour or until the topping is golden brown.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Best-Selling Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Snacks & Condiments for October

The Top Ten Best Seller Lists for each product category at the Carolina Sauce Company have been updated for October 2009, and we had some surprise finishes, as usual. I've highlighted some notable best-sellers below, and also provided quick links for each category list:

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: One of our "Sauce for a Cause" products, African Rhino Peri Peri Hot Sauce, finished in 7th place last month. A portion of the proceeds from each sale goes to help preserve the African Rhino. Also finishing strong is the ever-popular Capsicana Zing Gourmet Sauce, a versatile sweet & spicy table sauce that comes with free recipes and which took 9th place on our best-seller list.

*Best-Selling BBQ Sauces: The award-winning tomato-based Outta The Park BBQ Sauce was the second-best-selling barbecue sauce for October (and it's on sale!), and our very own Hot Eastern NC BBQ Sauce was 6th (and your purchase of our Eastern NC BBC Sauce helps to support Operation Sauce Drop, our non-profit program that sends free sauce to deployed troops!)

*Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce: A recent newcomer, the subtly sweet & peppery Samson's Town & Country Sauce from North Carolina (only $3.99!) moved up to #2 on this best-seller list, while the bold and exotic Tortuga Caribbean Steak Sauce (it's on sale for only $3.35!) finished third

*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings: Another new product, Nando's Hot Peri Peri Marinade from South Africa, finished a very impressive third last month, and the fruity-spicy Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce remained on the best-seller list, this time in 10th place -- and it's on sale!

*Best-Selling Dry Rubs & Seasonings: The hard-to-find Nando's Lemon & Herb Peri Peri Grind from South Africa was our 3rd best-selling seasoning last month, and the sweet & spicy, subtly citrusy Southern Twang Dry Rub from North Carolina finished close behind in 4th place -- and it comes with free recipes!

*Best-Selling Gift Sets: Two frighteningly hot gift sets proved popular most likely because of Halloween, with our dangerously fiery Ultra-Hot Hot Sauce Gift Set being the top selling gift set and the aptly named Scary Sauces Gift Set (just take a look at the sauces in this gift set!) finished 4th in October

*Best-Selling North Carolina Products: The #1 best-selling NC product last month was Castle Sauce from Greensboro, a beloved mustard-tomato steak sauce that's also terrific on burgers, onion rings & more -- and our very own mild Eastern NC BBQ Sauce came in 9th - and we donate $1 to Operation Sauce Drop for every jar sold!

*Best-Selling Wing Sauces: One of our newest wing sauces, Melinda's All-Natural Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce, debuted at #5, and Rochester NY's sweet-tangy Tony's Birdland Mild Wing Sauce finished in 8th place -- and both are on sale!

*Best-Selling Jerk & Curry Products: Two varieties of the versatile & flavor-packed Pluto's Caribbean Bliss Seasonings, the Mild and the Salt-Free Seasoning, took 6th & 9th place honors respectively

*Best-Selling Snacks & Sweets: Our crunchy, spicy Hot Dill Pickle Chips finished an impressive 4th last month (and a portion of each sale goes to support Operation Sauce Drop), and the addictively delicious Lilly's Gourmet Maple Butter took 7th place (and it's on sale!)

*Best-Selling Mustards & Ketchups: The smoky, spicy-hot and all-natural Melinda's Chipotle Ketchup came in 6th in October (and it's on sale!), and North Carolina's own Durn Good Hot 'n Spicy Mustard completed the list at 10th

*Best-Selling Salsa & Relish: Another North Carolina treat, the fiery & flavorful Just My Taste Jalapeno Dip, had a strong finish and took 4th place (and it comes with lots of recipes, AND it's on sale!), while our own mild but zesty Sweet Pepper Relish came in 7th (and a portion of the proceeds goes to support Operation Sauce Drop)

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce

After a long absence, Walkerswood Zesty Caribbean One Stop Savory Sauce is finally back in stock, and available online from the Carolina Sauce Company! Similar to the still-unavailable Walkerswood Hot & Spicy Jamaican Jerk Sauce but with a richer, fruitier flavor, Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce is an all-purpose tropical table sauce that blends naturally sweet bananas, mangoes and raisins with tart tamarind, fiery Caribbean hot peppers, and island herbs and spices. The delicious result is a palate-pleasing, moderately spicy sweet-tangy sauce that complements poultry and seafood, cheese and egg dishes, and all sorts of grilled food. You can also add some Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce to soups, stews and casseroles if you want to add a touch of exotic, sunny flavor. Notoriously hard to find outside of Jamaica, we're thrilled to be able to offer this flavorful condiment just in time for holiday cooking and Christmas gift shopping. We don't know how long we'll be able to get it, and whether it might disappear from the market again, so now is the time to order some Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce while it's available!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade

If you love sweet peaches, you must try Mrs. Picky Fanicky's latest creation, Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade. Sublimely sweet, intensely peachy, delightfully chunky, and with a subtle citrusy twist, this peach marmalade is unlike -- and far more delicious than -- any you'll buy from a grocery store. Made the old-fashioned way with tree-ripened juicy peaches, Mrs. Picky Fanicky adds a little sweet pineapple, orange juice and cherries for depth of flavor and richness. Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade is irresistible straight from the jar, but it's also fantastic with hot biscuits, pancakes, waffles, toast, croissants, stirred into hot oatmeal, poured over ice cream, served with cream cheese and crackers, and even as a fruity-sweet condiment for pork, chicken, turkey, broiled fish, and other savory dishes. Kids love it with chicken nuggets and fish sticks, too! Spoon it over pound cake or yellow cake frosted with cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting for a beautiful as well as tasty dessert. Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade is made with natural ingredients, has no sodium or artificial preservatives, and comes with recipe ideas on a pretty card. And it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Operation Sauce Drop Ships 800th Gift Box!

Earlier this week, Operation Sauce Drop shipped its 800th free gift box of hot sauce and BBQ sauce to US troops serving overseas, thanks to a generous repeat donor who recently made a $1,000 donation (which the Carolina Sauce Company has matched), and the generosity of over 150 other donors, some of whom are also repeat donors.

Since its inception over 2 years ago, Operation Sauce Drop has sent 814 free gift boxes of sauce to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Far East, Europe and other APO/FPO locations. The Carolina Sauce Company operates this nonprofit program, donating the time and labor needed to fulfill gift box requests, paying for all incidental expenses associated with the program, and donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of several Carolina Sauce brand products through the "Shop to Support Operation Sauce Drop" program. The troops and their families greatly appreciate receiving a little "taste of home," as is evident from their thank-you notes and photos such as this one and many more posted on the Operation Sauce Drop Feedback & Photos page.

Because gift box requests greatly outpaced incoming donations last winter and into the spring, a lengthy waiting list developed earlier this year. But thanks to the continued support of donors both large and small, the Carolina Sauce Company is working its way through this waiting list and will soon finish fulfilling the pending gift box requests. Once the last pending request has been fulfilled, we will resume accepting requests for free gift boxes of sauce for our deployed military.

The average cost to purchase and ship a free gift box of sauce to a serviceperson serving overseas is about $20. You can donate to Operation Sauce Drop in any amount, and 100% of your donation will be used ONLY to purchase and ship a gift box (as mentioned above, Carolina Sauce covers all incidental expenses and overhead, so your entire donation goes towards the cost of the gift box and shipping). You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop by purchasing select sauces and other zesty products, and either a portion or the entire purchase price is donated directly to Operation Sauce Drop.

It would be great if we could fulfill new gift box requests from the troops in time for the holidays, so please consider a donation in any amount, or shop to support Operation Sauce Drop. The troops will thank you for your generosity!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria