Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce

If you enjoy rich flavors with layers of interesting complexity from masterfully blended ingredients, Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce will make your palate sing. Made with all-natural ingredients including green mangoes, tart tamarind and aromatic spices, Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce is similar to conventional steak sauces but with a refreshing tropical twist -- including a pleasantly piquant kick from habanero peppers. The result is a bold and elegant sauce and condiment that's tangy-savory with a subtle hint of sweetness and spice.

I find that Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce pairs beautifully with charbroiled or grilled steak and other hearty meat, as well as with pork chops, roast chicken, grilled tuna, venison and other game. It also complements roasted or broiled vegetables, and you can add it to soups and stews for multidimensional flavor. But don't limit this versatile sauce to table use -- it's also for cooking including basting and grilling. And if you want to add an exotic twist of flavor to burgers and meatloaf, simply add a few splashes of Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce to the raw ground meat before forming patties or the loaf. Perhaps what is most amazing about this tasty condiment is that the flavor is so satisfying despite a very low sodium content of less than 1 mg per teaspoon. So go ahead and indulge your tastebuds by treating yourself to Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce, especially while it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store for only $3.99 a bottle!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

4 Easy Crunchy Snacks for the Big Game

Make these crunchy snacks anytime you want a tastier, healthier alternative to store-bought chips.

1. Tortilla Chips: Use corn tortillas and cut into triangles. Spray with vegetable oil cooking spray and if desired sprinkle with kosher salt and/or chili powder. Bake at 400F degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until crispy & golden

2. Sweet Potato Chips: Wash & thoroughly dry 1 or more sweet potatoes. Very thinly slice unpeeled sweet potatoes (a mandoline is ideal for this). Spray with vegetable oil cooking spray. Sprinkle with sugar (turbinado or brown sugar are great), a pinch of cayenne or ground red pepper, and Kosher salt. Bake at 400F degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until crispy & golden brown

3. Pita Chips: Cut pita bread into triangles. Spray with olive oil cooking spray OR brush lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (the real stuff is best) or crumbled feta cheese, Italian herb blend seasoning or dried oregano, and black pepper (cracked or freshly ground is great). Bake at 400F degrees for about 12 to 15 minutes until crispy and lightly browned

4. BBQ Potato Chips: Wash & thoroughly dry 1 or more potatoes. Very thinly slice unpeeled potatoes (a mandoline is ideal for this). Spray with vegetable oil cooking spray. Sprinkle with your favorite BBQ dry rub (a sweet & savory one works best - I like Smokin' Cole's BBQ Dry Rub or either flavor of Texas Rib Rangers Seasonings). Bake at 400F degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until crispy & golden

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: Super Savings for the Big Game & Valentine's Day!

Super Sale Coupon

Planning a party to watch the big game, or need something to bring to a party? Cooking a romantic Valentine's dinner for your sweetheart, or need a zesty gift? You'll find what you need at the Carolina Sauce Company, AND with our Super Coupon you'll get 10% off EVERYTHING, including already-discounted sale items! Simply order at least $40 in products and use coupon code SuperBlog2010, and we'll give you 10% off the product total through February 14th. Enter the coupon online in the "coupon code" section of the billing page, or mention the coupon when ordering by phone. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

For Saints fans, there's Who Dat? Hot Sauce from Louisiana.

For college basketball fans, we have UNC Tarheels Hot Sauce and NC State Wolfpack Hot Sauce

For romantics, check out our Hot & Saucy Gift Set

And if you're not in the mood for love, we even have a Love Stinks gift set!

Don't delay - the Super Coupon SuperBlog2010 expires on Valentine's Day, February 14th!

Zesty New Products
The first new products of 2010 have arrived, and chances are if you're a sports fan or love hot sauce, you'll get a kick out of a few of these! Here's what's new:

Susie's Burning Desire Hot Sauce, a fiery mustard & scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce from Antigua, West Indies

Susie's Mango Mandingo Hot Sauce, made with succulent ripe mangoes and just a touch of Caribbean chile peppers

Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce, a savory-sweet tropical steak sauce & condiment from Belize that features island fruits & spices with a touch of habanero

No Wimps Allowed Hot Sauce, an ultra-hot Caribbean hot sauce that's not for the faint of heart or tongue

Bone Suckin' HOT Seasoning & Rub, the fiery version of a favorite NC rib rub & BBQ seasoning

Iguana Red Cayenne Pepper Sauce, a rich & flavorful medium-hot cayenne sauce made in the Caribbean style

Who Dat Hot Sauce, a classic Louisiana pepper sauce that's great on everything and was inspired by the Saints

NC State Wolfpack Hot Sauce and UNC Tarheels Hot Sauce, all-natural cayenne hot sauces that are officially licensed by and sport the colors & logos of these ACC rivals

Operation Sauce Drop for US Troops Overseas

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 almost 900 free gift boxes to our deployed military. Since the US Postal Service raised its package rates, the cost to purchase and ship each free gift box is now over $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 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).

Send Valentine's Day Flowers, Wine, Lobster, Steak & More



This Valentine's Day, say "I love you" with 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! For that extra-special touch, personalize your floral gift with your own digital photo and card by selecting a "PhotoBlooms" gift. Need a Valentine's gift for a wine enthusiast? 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. Want to surprise your love with a romantic gourmet dinner? Order lobster so fresh and sweet, it could only have come from Lobster Gram! Prefer to serve mouthwatering gourmet steaks? We have those, too, from La Cense Beef. You can also send the world-renowned Gevalia coffees and get a FREE Coffeemaker today! Simply click on the boxes above to browse our offerings and select that special gift that says "I love you."

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

NC State Wolfpack Hot Sauce

As promised yesterday, we have a special hot sauce just for fans of the NC State Wolfpack who like spicy food: Meet the NC State Wolfpack Hot Sauce! Officially licensed and bearing the colors and mascot of NC State University, Wolfpack Hot Sauce is an honest, full-flavored and full-bodied red cayenne pepper sauce that blows away those overly vinegary grocery store hot sauces. Like its Carolina-blue rival down Tobacco Road, NC State Wolfpack Hot Sauce is all-natural, savory (not sweet) and medium in heat, making it a versatile all-purpose condiment for spicing up any food without changing its flavor. Perfect as an everyday table sauce, you can also use this hot sauce in your favorite chili recipes, for homemade buffalo wings, hearty stews, Cajun dishes and more. And of course it's a great hot sauce to bring to your tailgate parties for burgers, fries, dips, bloody marys, fried chicken and even pizza -- a real crowd pleaser that won't burn anyone out. Plus, if you need a gift for an NC State student, alum, faculty, staff or other Wolfpack fan, you can't go wrong with a bottle (or more) of NC State Hot Sauce. Available now from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If NFL football is your game and you're a fan of the New Orleans Saints, then check out Who Dat? Hot Sauce -- a must have for the big game!

UNC Tarheels Hot Sauce

Are you a UNC Tarheels fan? Do you like spicy food? If you answered "yes" to both of those questions, then this is the hot sauce for you! Officially licensed and bearing the colors and logo of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC Tarheels Hot Sauce is a straightforward all-purpose cayenne pepper sauce with a much richer pepper flavor and texture than those overly vinegary grocery store hot sauces. All-natural, savory (not sweet) and medium in heat, UNC Tarheels Hot Sauce is "user friendly" and perfect for adding spicy heat to any food without changing its flavor. Ideal as an all-purpose everyday table sauce, you can also use it in your favorite recipes for chili, buffalo wings, stews, Cajun foods and more. And of course it's a great hot sauce to bring to your tailgate parties for burgers, fries, dips, bloody marys, fried chicken and even pizza -- a real crowd pleaser that won't burn anyone out. Plus, if you need a gift for a UNC-Chapel Hill student, alum, faculty, staff or Tarheel fan, you can't go wrong with a bottle (or more) of UNC Tarheels Hot Sauce. Available now from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you hate the Tarheels and love the NC State Wolfpack, don't worry, we have a hot sauce for you, too -- stay tuned to this blog for more info!

Spicy Fruit Salsa

This simple and mouthwatering recipe comes to us from the makers of Nando's Peri Peri Sauces, and is wonderful with chips, nachos and Mexican food, as a condiment for fried or broiled fish or shrimp, and even with roast chicken and grilled meats. You can double or halve the recipe to make more or less, as desired.

Ingredients
1 small red chili pepper of your choice
8 cherry tomatoes cut in quarters
1/2 bunch spring onions, sliced finely [I use scallions or green onions]
1/2 ripe papaya, de-seeded and diced
Juice & zest of half a lime
1/2 ripe mango, peeled and diced
2 tsp Nando's Garlic Peri Peri Sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Tbs olive oil [I use extra virgin]

Mix all ingredients together and serve.

Note: I like making this salsa ahead of time and letting the flavors meld in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Wasabi-Spiced Guacamole

This is not your granddaddy's guacamole! East meets west in this zesty wasabi guacamole that's great for dipping chips, veggies, peel-n-eat shrimp, and even egg rolls, and also tasty as a sandwich condiment. Serve it at your next football party or tailgating event, but just make sure to warn your guests of its sinus-clearing properties!

Ingredients
1 large avocado or 2 small avocados, peeled, pitted & cut into chunks
1 tsp wasabi powder
1 tsp Dave's Soyabi Sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
Juice of half a lime or lemon
Pinch of ground cayenne, red pepper or habanero powder
Pinch of salt, to taste (you can omit if desired)

Chunky Version: Place all ingredients in a bowl and use a fork or potato masher to mash everything to desired consistency, making sure to combine thoroughly.

Smooth Version: Place all ingredients in food processor and process until smooth.

Use right away, or cover the surface of the guacamole with plastic wrap (to prevent browning) and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you love wasabi, make sure to check out Blair's Q Heat Wasabi Green Tea Sauce, a deliciously spicy and creamy sauce that blends together real wasabi with jalapenos, ginger, cilantro and green tea. Fabulous on Asian and Mexican fare, including sushi, grilled foods, veggies, etc. And instead of boring wasabi peas, try gourmet Wasabi Peanuts as a snack. Save money and enjoy all three great wasabi products when you order the Wasabi Gift Set from the Carolina Sauce Company!

Apple Butter BBQ Sauce is Back!

Hand-made on a family farm in the NC Smoky Mountains, our all-natural Apple Butter BBQ Sauce is lusciously thick with bold, rich flavor that's naturally sweetened with apples and molasses. Starting with a traditional barbecue base of mustard, tomato and vinegar plus savory spices, this country recipe blends in old-fashioned apple butter for an amazing combination of flavors that the whole family will love. Our Apple Butter BBQ Sauce pairs beautifully with ribs (pork and beef) and other hearty meats as well as chicken, shrimp, and even grilled veggies. Call me crazy, but I love to dip corn chips and tortilla chips in it when I'm craving a crunchy savory-sweet snack. Use it in meatloaf, baked beans, stews and other recipes instead of using ketchup, for gourmet results. Kids love it with chicken nuggets, tater tots, baby carrots and other finger food (and there's NO high-fructose corn syrup, so you can feel good about serving it to your family). Heck, it's even tasty on fried shrimp and fish! In sum, our Apple Butter BBQ Sauce is finger-lickin' good for basting, grilling, slathering, dipping, cooking, and even in the crock pot. And it's now back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: For every jar sold, we contribute $1 to Operation Sauce Drop, our nonprofit program that sends free BBQ sauce & hot sauce to US troops serving abroad.

Tangy Shrimp & Sausage Skillet Dinner

Vinegar-based Eastern NC barbecue sauce is not just for making Carolina style pulled pork BBQ -- you can also use it in recipes, as demonstrated by the following simple country-style recipe. If you prefer hot & spicy foods, simply add the optional jalapeno pepper and use a hot eastern NC BBQ Sauce like our very own, or Scott's Barbecue Sauce if you need a sugar-free sauce. The quantities are flexible, so use your taste preferences (and the number of mouths you're feeding) to adjust as you prefer. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1/2 to 1 lb raw shrimp, shelled & deveined
1 lb beef smoked sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 bell pepper (any color), chopped
1 medium onion (I use sweet onion like Vidalia), chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
Optional: 1 jalapeno pepper, diced (you can de-seed if you wish)
Eastern NC BBQ Sauce in Mild or Hot
Cooked rice

Brown the sausage, peppers, onion and garlic in a skillet. Drain off any excess grease if necessary. Add the shrimp and enough barbeque sauce to simmer everything (you may want to add more as it cooks). Gently simmer, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes until shrimp is done. Serve over hot cooked rice, with a tossed salad or cooked greens to complete the meal (if serving greens like collards or turnip greens, add a splash of the eastern NC BBQ Sauce to the greens for complementary flavor).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Seasonings & More On Sale!

Didn't get the hot sauce you wanted for Christmas? Need to restock the pantry after the holidays? The Carolina Sauce Company is here to help, with great sale prices on zesty sauces, condiments and seasonings! Check out these bargains, good only while supplies last:

Bubba's Special Sauce, a spoonably rich tomato hot sauce with no vinegar, only $4.99 for a 9oz jar!

Dave's Crazy Caribbean Hot Sauce, made in the traditional island style, only $4.99 a bottle!

Dave's Jammin' Jerk Sauce, made with red habaneros and traditional Jamaican jerk seasonings for table use and marinating, only $4.99 a bottle!

Dave's Roasted Red Pepper & Chipotle Sauce, delivering deliciously smoky, peppery flavor with a pleasant medium burn, only $4.99!

Tortuga Caribbean Hell-Fire Sauce (made with fiery scotch bonnet peppers) and Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce (featuring exotic star fruit in a scotch bonnet & mustard base), each only $3.50 for a full-size 5oz bottle!

All 3 flavors of the mouthwatering Pluto's Certified Organic Jamaican Sauces, a steal at only $5.50 for a 10oz bottle!

Melinda's Habanero Ketchup, packed with real tomato flavor and habanero fire, and NO high-fructose corn syrup, only $6.25 for a 13oz bottle!

Just My Taste Jalapeno Dip, featuring pure jalapeno flavor and comes with lots of FREE recipes, only $5.50 for a generous 16oz jar!

Red's Sweet Salsa, chock-full of chunky tomatoes, onions and peppers (NOT a fruit salsa), this award-winning salsa is currently only $6.25 for a large 16oz jar!

Both flavors of Melinda's All-Natural Buffalo Wing Sauces, made in the traditional tangy Buffalo style with the added heat of habaneros, each only $5.85 for a 12oz bottle!

Mullen's Apple Sauce, a Chicago favorite made the old-fashioned way with all-natural ingredients, like the best apple pie you ever tasted (without the crust), only $5.99 for a 16oz jar!

Mama Thomas Marinara, a refreshingly light and flavorful, all-natural traditional Italian sauce for spaghetti, chicken, seafood and other dishes, only $6.75 for a large 26oz jar!

Santo & Josie Tomato Eggplant Pasta Sauce, a rich, robust Sicilian sauce that's great for eggplant parmigiana and all your favorite Italian dishes, only $5.75 for a 26oz jar

Both flavors of Burning Asphalt Steak Sauces, beloved by racing fans everywhere and much better tasting than any grocery store steak sauce, each under $5 a bottle!

Three varieties of Durn Good Seasonings & Spice Blends, a North Carolina favorite and a simple way to add family-pleasing flavor to all your cooking, only $4.50 a bottle!

Two delectable flavors of Char-Crust Seasonings from Al Farber's famous Chicago steakhouse, the Tuscan-inspired Sun-Dried Tomato & Garlic seasoning, and the BBQ favorite Hickory & Molasses Seasoning, each only $4.99!

The Distillery BBQ Sauce, a bold and rich barbecue sauce from The Distillery Restaurant & Bar in Rochester NY, only $5.75 for a 14oz bottle!

D'Vine Foods Muscadine BBQ Sauce, a tangy NC original made with sweet muscadine grapes in a traditional tomato-vinegar-mustard base, only $4.99 for a 12oz bottle!

Tarheel Premium Original BBQ Sauce, blending the best of eastern & western NC barbecue for the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, savory & spicy, only $5.75 for a 16oz bottle!

This is just a sampling of the many delicious items currently on sale at Carolina Sauce. To find more tasty bargains, simply search the Carolina Sauce online store for the words "on sale", or look for the special red sale prices when browsing through our offerings.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Susie's Mango Mandingo Hot Sauce

Liquid sunshine. That's what I call Susie's Mango Mandingo, a lusciously sweet and seductively spicy tropical hot sauce from Antigua that's bursting with juicy, ripe mango flavor. This all-natural delicacy is a lovely sunny yellow color, as one would expect from a sauce in which the main ingredient is mango. A secret blend of Caribbean hot peppers adds a touch of fiery heat (about a mild-medium), making Susie's Mango Mandingo an ideal hot sauce for fish and seafood, chicken, rice dishes, steamed or grilled vegetables, and other similar fare. Winner of the 2005 Golden Chile Award for the Best Fruit Hot Sauce, Susie's Mango Mandingo is sure to please anyone who enjoys fruity, spicy flavors. Use this sauce whenever you want to add sunny tropical flair -- it pairs especially well with island cuisine, Caribbean dishes, Asian and Indian foods, and other exotic fare, as well as on mild rice or noodle dishes. Some folks even use Susie's Mango Mandingo as a chip dip, or as a topping for cheesecake, pound cake, and ice cream! Virtually impossible to find outside the Caribbean, you can now get Susie's Mango Mandingo Hot Sauce online from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Zesty Potato-Beer-Cheese Soup

This easy crockpot recipe will warm you up on a cold evening. You can start it in the morning and cook on low heat (total cook time 10 to 12 hours), or start it in the early afternoon and cook on high (total cook time 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours). Use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart crock pot.

Ingredients
6 medium potatoes, peeled & chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion (I use sweet)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup beer
1/3 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp sherry or pepper sherry (I recommend Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry)
1 12oz can evaporated milk (you can use skim)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Combine the potatoes, onion, broth, beer, pepper and sherry (or pepper sherry) in the crockpot, cover, and cook on low for 9 to 11 hours, OR on high for 4 to 5 hours. Add the evaporated milk and cheese, stir to combine, then cover. Cook on low for an additional hour, or or on high for half an hour. Before serving, gently mash some of the potatoes for added thickness and stir. Makes 6 to 8 small servings or 4 to 6 large servings.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Bone Suckin' Hot Seasoning & Rub

Fiery foods lovers rejoice: Bone Suckin' Rib Rub now comes in a new Hot version! From the makers of the world-famous Bone Suckin' Sauce (a western NC style BBQ sauce), Bone Suckin' Hot Seasoning & Rub features a spicy-hot cayenne kick, the perfect fiery addition to the proprietary blend of brown sugar, paprika, garlic and spices in the original rib rub. The result is a mouthwatering spicy, salty and sweet flavor combination with just enough heat to satisfy chileheads without destroying tastebuds or overwhelming your food. In other words, this tasty and versatile BBQ seasoning and dry rub is definitely hot by North Carolina standards, but a pleasantly peppery medium on a hotter (e.g., Southwestern or Asian) heat scale.

Bone Suckin' Seasonings & Rubs (both the original and the hot) are for more than just beef or pork ribs: Use them to add great flavor to all sorts of meats, poultry and even seafood and fish, veggies, dips, spreads, french fries, popcorn and salads. The bottle label includes a couple of recipes to help you get started. Bone Suckin' Rubs are also a healthy way to season your food as there's no MSG, and they're low-carb and Kosher, too. And you can get both the original and the new Hot Bone Suckin' Rub from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Mayonnaise

Who said mayo has to be bland and boring? You can spice it up and even make it downright fiery using pureed hot peppers! You choose which peppers you want to use: jalapenos, habaneros or smoky chipotle. This recipe makes 1 cup of spicy mayonnaise. Store it in the refrigerator, and use in place of ordinary mayo.

Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise (regular, reduced fat or fat free)
1 Tbs pureed jalapenos OR habaneros* (about 3-4 whole peppers should yield 1 Tbs) OR 1 Tbs pureed chipotle in adobo (available in cans in the Hispanic foods section of most grocery stores)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp Cajun seasoning (I recommend Slap Ya Mama, or salt-free Louisiana Bayou Blend)
Optional: a few sprigs of cilantro or parsley, finely chopped

Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl until thoroughly combined, then refrigerate in an airtight container. For best flavor, make at least a few hours before serving, or the day before serving - this allows the flavors to meld and develop.

*Note: For some variety, you could substitute 1 or 2 serrano peppers for a jalapeno or habanero.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Susie's Burning Desire Hot Sauce

The West Indies are known for their fiery, mustard-based hot sauces, and if you're looking for an authentic example of this style of savory hot sauce, look no further than Susie's Burning Desire Hot Sauce. Made in Antigua using a traditional recipe with all-natural ingredients, Susie's Burning Desire packs a powerfully hot punch thanks to the generous amounts of scotch bonnet peppers included in this hot sauce. The flavor of the peppers comes through and pairs well with the savory and tangy mustard-vinegar base. Because of the mustard, the texture is more substantial and satisfying than that of vinegar-based hot sauces, and this thicker texture allows the sauce to cling to food, making it a good choice for dipping fries, onion rings, fried shrimp, conch fritters, chicken wings and more. In addition to being an intensely hot table sauce and condiment for any savory dish, you can also marinate and cook with Susie's Burning Desire Hot Sauce -- just be careful not to add too much or your food might end up being incredibly hot (of course, this isn't a problem if you enjoy incredibly hot foods).

Nearly impossible to find outside of the Caribbean, Susie's Burning Desire is now available at the Carolina Sauce Company, along with six other delicious and authentic West Indian hot sauces from Susie's Hot Sauces.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Mexican Hot Cocoa

A mug of hot chocolate on a cold, blustery winter day brings warming relief, and this spicy version is sure to add extra heat! This hot cocoa recipe makes 4 generous servings.

Ingredients
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate (use a good quality brand)
1 Tbs instant coffee (regular or decaf)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp mace or nutmeg
Pinch of ground red pepper
Pinch of salt
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups milk PLUS 1/2 cup half & half (whole milk is best but you can use low fat or skim, and for lower fat you can use 2 cups milk without any half & half)

Optional toppings: Whipped cream (the real stuff) and ground cinnamon

Combine the chocolate, coffee, sugar, cinnamon, mace/nutmeg, red pepper, salt and water in a 1 1/2 qt saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 4 minutes at a gentle simmer, stirring constantly. Stir in the milk and half & half, and heat through being careful not to boil. Remove from heat and just before serving beat with a hand beater until foamy. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream plus a dash of ground cinnamon if desired.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

PS:  If you are intrigued by the concept of spicy chocolate--or if you're already a fan of that exotic flavor combination--you should try Toad Sweat Chocolate Orange Dessert Hot Sauce.  This award-winning hot sauce is really more of a spicy dessert sauce:  Enjoy it over ice cream, cheesecake, pancakes or waffles, in brownie recipes, and even stirred into oatmeal and other hot cereals.

Who Dat? Hot Sauce

If you're from Louisiana or a fan of the New Orleans Saints, you're probably familiar with "Who Dat?" and the Who Dat cheer. That's the inspiration for Who Dat? Hot Sauce from Mossy Bayou Foods in Mansura LA, the makers of authentic Cajun products including Louisiana Swamp Scum Hot Sauce and Bayou Blend Seasoning. Who Dat Hot Sauce is a honest vinegar-pepper hot sauce made with three ingredients: golden Louisiana hot peppers, vinegar, and salt. That's it, nothing artificial, no fillers, and no other flavorings, so what you get is pure pepper flavor and heat in a tangy vinegar base that's just tart enough without overwhelming your palate. The color of this all-natural hot sauce is an intense yellow-green (almost neon) and you can see the little bits of pureed pepper. The heat level is about medium (or mild-medium if you're into really hot hot sauce), and because there are no additional seasonings in this sauce it is perfect for adding heat without altering or overpowering the flavors in your food. If you use Tabasco Sauce or Frank's Red Hot or Texas Pete and are looking for a less vinegary and more peppery hot sauce, then you will love Who Dat Hot Sauce.

Use Who Dat as an all-purpose basic hot sauce to add heat to finished dishes and also to recipes. It's especially good in collard greens and other cooked greens and vegetable dishes, and also works well sprinkled on fried catfish, shrimp and other seafood. And because of its food-friendly flavor and relatively mild heat, it's even good on broiled seafood and breakfast foods like scrambled eggs and omelets. Add it to gumbo and other Cajun or Creole recipes, as well as chili, casseroles, ground beef dishes, and anything else you want to spice up without changing the flavor. If you're a member of Who Dat Nation, you need this sauce for your next pre-game tailgate or game-viewing party. And if you need a gift for a Saints fan, Who Dat Hot Sauce is sure to please! Get Who Dat Hot Sauce now from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Dave's Insanity Private Reserve 2009 is in Stock!

Hot sauce collectors and serious chileheads rejoice: If you didn't get a bottle of the limited-edition Dave's Insanity Sauce Private Reserve 2009 Edition last year, you can still get it if you hurry! We were able to obtain a few more bottles recently, and you can order the 2009 edition of Dave's Private Reserve from the Carolina Sauce Company while supplies last. Each bottle is individually numbered and hand-signed by Dave himself, and comes in the trademark wooden coffin with yellow "crime scene" caution tape. The 2009 edition was made with the Naga Jolokia or "Ghost" pepper, the hottest pepper in the world, and the heat level is 2 to 3 times hotter than the original Dave's Insanity Sauce, making the Private Reserve one of the hottest hot sauces on the market. Each year Dave issues only a limited number of his Private Reserve hot sauce, so most folks collect them instead of actually using it. But if you're brave (or crazy) enough to want to use this ultra-hot hot sauce, be extremely careful and use only 1 drop at a time. Get it while supplies last, as when the 2009 edition is completely sold out, it'll be gone for good!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Sweet & Spicy Bacon

This simple recipe makes mouthwatering spicy-sweet bacon that you can use to top salads and casseroles, or enjoy in sandwiches and even on its own. I prefer to use a naturally-cured, high quality bacon. And you can double the recipe to make more (this recipe makes about 1 cup of bite-sized bacon pieces).

Ingredients
1/2 lb sliced bacon
2 tsp Bear-Man Tummy Rub Seasoning
2 Tbs light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 425F degrees. In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the Bear Man Tummy Rub Seasoning and the brown sugar. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and lay the bacon slices on it. Sprinkle the bacon evenly with the seasoned sugar. Bake until the bacon is crisp and browned, around 10 to 15 minutes. While the bacon is cooking, place a few sheets of paper towels over a wire rack, to be used to cool the cooked bacon. Once bacon is fully cooked and crisp, carefully transfer the strips to the prepared rack to drain and cool. You can now use it as crispy strips, or chop into bite-size pieces for sprinkling. If not using right away, allow the bacon to completely cool and then place the strips between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce is Open Again

Happy New Year! The Carolina Sauce Company is open again, and all hands are working furiously to fulfill the orders that we received while we were closed for the holidays. We're also busy re-stocking our shelves, returning phone calls and replying to emails, as well as taking care of more mundane (but necessary) year-end administrative work. Now that I'm back, I'll resume posting more regularly, including some great new recipes, the best-selling sauces and seasonings for 2009 (coming soon, probably by end of the month or early February), and other zesty information to keep you well-fed and eating well throughout the coming year. We also have some tasty new products in the evaluation queue, so stay tuned for those as we add them to our online offerings. And as always, I'll be reviewing new products on this blog.

We hope everyone had a joyous and safe holiday season, a Merry Christmas, and that 2010 is starting off well. Thank you for your patience as we process and ship pending orders, and a special thank you for your continued patronage.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

December's Top 10 Best-Selling Products

BBBRRRRRRrrrrrrr it's cold out here in rural Person County! Yep, I'm still out of town, presently lying on the couch in our RV, listening to the Hurricanes post-game show and quaffing a Carolina Brewery oatmeal porter (the local market here carries their growlers), so technically I'm still on vacation... but thanks to the modern miracle of wireless internet, I was able to tally the totals for December and compile the list of the top ten best-selling sauces and seasonings across all categories at the Carolina Sauce Company online store for December. So without further ado, here's the list:

1. Castle Sauce, our overall best-selling product since we've been in business, was also the best-selling sauce for December 2009. This tangy & rich mustard-tomato steak & burger sauce from Greensboro NC is a real classic, with generations of fans all around the country.

2. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce from Trinidad & Tobago was the second most popular product last month, featuring sweet & spicy tropical flavors with ripe papaya and spicy scotch bonnet peppers in a thick & savory mustard base.

3. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce finished in third place for December, and this fiery & flavorful Jamaican table sauce is great with just about any savory dish, from breakfast (scrambled eggs, omelets, sausage) to lunch (burgers, sandwiches, wraps) to dinner (pretty much any savory entree or side dish!)

4. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce from Burgaw NC (just outside of Wilmington) is our all-time best-selling barbecue sauce, and came in 4th last month. This is an authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's perfect for Carolina style pulled pork BBQ, as well as for marinating and grilling or broiling chicken and other meats

5. Capsicana Zing Gourmet Sauce is a perky, mildly spicy and subtly sweet all-purpose sauce from Mebane, NC, and a regular on our top 10 best-seller list -- and it comes with free recipes!

6. Scorned Woman Hot Sauce has been around for years, and this food-friendly, fiery vinegar-pepper sauce is quite popular with folks who enjoy hot sauce with most meals

7. Matouk's Calypso Sauce is an authentic Caribbean hot sauce with a sweet & savory mustard base and plenty of aged pickled scotch bonnet peppers for a good burn

8. Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is regularly on our list of best-selling products, finishing 8th in December 2009, and this traditional Jamaican jerk paste (wet rub) delivers real Jamaican flavor and fire

9. Walkerswood Jonkanoo Pepper Sauce is named after a colorful street festival, and this feisty and tasty Jamaican table sauce is great on everything from meat and chicken to seafood and veggies

10. Bad Byron's Butt Rub rounds out our list of December's top ten best selling zesty products. Made in Texas and excellent as a seasoning for ribs (beef & chicken), Boston butt and other meat cuts, Bad Byron's is flavorful and pleasantly spicy (not fiery).

As time permits (and so long as our internet connection doesn't flake out), I'll update the best-seller lists in each product category with the December 2009 results -- and then in February we'll have the complete totals for all of 2009 posted here as well as on the Carolina Sauce site.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria