Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Hanukkah!

To all our friends and family, customers and fans, business partners and fellow small business owners, the Carolina Sauce Company would like to extend our wishes for a happy, safe and stress-free Thanksgiving and Hanukkah!

Today and every day, we are grateful to have you as part of our extended Carolina Sauce family.

According to what I've read, the coincidence of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah is an extremely rare occurrence, happening once every 79,000 years or so (don't slam me if that number isn't perfectly accurate - I didn't check the math).

To those who are celebrating both holidays, may this special occasion be marked with double the joy and blessings.

To all others celebrating just one or the other, may you likewise be blessed with the true spirit of the day.

And to anyone who is not celebrating either day, may you nevertheless find happiness and a reason to be thankful for something today.

Enjoy the time with loved ones, family and friends, make sure to remember the true meaning of today instead of getting caught up in the frenetic commercialism and societal expectations.

Most of all, find at least one thing or one person you're thankful for, and let them know. There's no better time than today, and there's no knowing when you'll have another chance.

Safe travels to all who are traveling over the holidays.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Last-Minute Recipes & Cooking Tips for Thanksgiving & Hanukkah

Browse our Thanksgiving Recipes

This post is for anyone who might still be planning their menu for Thanksgiving or Hanukkah.

It's also for anyone in search of last-minute recipes, food ideas and cooking tips for either holiday.

By the way, did you know that Thanksgiving and the first full day of Hanukkah fall on the same day this year? Apparently this is an extremely rare occurrence, and is causing some stress among families celebrating both holidays, both in terms of meal planning, coordinating time with relatives, and properly marking or observing both holidays.

I am here to help, whether you're celebrating either Hanukkah or Thanksgiving, or both -- or neither and simply like to read my blog or learn new recipes and cooking tips.

As to Thanksgiving:  Over the years I've shared numerous Thanksgiving recipes and turkey tips on this blog. You can search for them using the search box on the top left of this blog, or, to save time, you can visit us on Pinterest and browse through our Thanksgiving Recipes & Seasonings board on Pinterest, where we've gathered the best of our recipes, cooking tips and seasonings for this holiday. All of the pins there link back to the original recipe or blog post or product page.

Browse our Hanukkah Recipes

As to Hanukkah:  On this blog I've shared Hanukkah recipes, too, albeit not nearly as many as for Thanksgiving. I've also posted information on Kosher products available from the Carolina Sauces online store. You can search this blog for all of those posts, or you can check out our Hanukkah Recipes board on Pinterest (where you'll also find recipes appropriate for Rosh Hashanah and Passover) and also our Kosher Products board on Pinterest. Click on any pin of interest on either board to go directly to the original recipe, blog post or product page.

We hope these tidbits of information help reduce any food-related stress or anxiety you may be experiencing on the eve of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. If you find any particular pin to be of help, please feel free to repin or "like" it there, or leave us a comment on Pinterest or here below.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Happy Hanukkah from the Carolina Sauce Company!

Original Flickr photo by skpy

On this first day of the Festival of Lights, the Carolina Sauce Company would like to wish a very happy and joyful Hanukkah to all our friends, partners, fans and colleagues celebrating the holiday.

Chag Chanukah Sameach!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Dilly Turnip Latkes

Hanukkah begins tomorrow Saturday at sundown. Many Jews, and even some non-Jews like me, enjoy traditional foods like latkes to celebrate the 8-day Festival of Lights.

My latkes, however, are not your Jewish Grandmother's latkes--unless, of course, your Grandma didn't mind breaking with tradition and using something other than potatoes when making latkes for Hanukkah.

My turnip latkes can be tricky to flip during frying if you make them too big, so I recommend making lots of little latkes using no more than tablespoon of the mixture, instead of the traditional larger-size pancakes. Another way to make them easier to flip as well as fluffier in texture is to place the shredded turnips together with the remaining ingredients (except the frying oil, of course) in a food processor and process until smooth, to make a pourable "batter." But if you prefer old-fashioned texture, stick with the shredded turnips and use some TLC when turning in the frying pan--and you can add a couple of tablespoons of fine breadcrumbs or matzoh meal to the mixture to help them stay together during frying and flipping.

The smaller and younger the turnips you use, the sweeter and milder the flavor. Older, larger turnips can have a sharp or bitter tang that kids and more sensitive palates might not appreciate.

Turnip latkes are equally delicious with applesauce (apples and turnips are a natural pairing) or with sour cream.

Ingredients

Shredded turnip mixture

1 lb turnips, washed, trimmed & peeled
3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 Tbs finely chopped red bell pepper or sweet mini-peppers
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp dried dillweed OR 1 heaping Tbs fresh chopped dill
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)

Shred the turnips into a large bowl, then add remaining ingredients EXCEPT oil and mix well to thoroughly combine.

Pour oil about 1/4" deep in a large frying pan and heat over medium flame. Test the oil by adding a tiny bit of butter: If it sizzles when it hits the oil, it's hot enough. Drop the turnip mixture into the hot oil with a tablespoon, using the back of the spoon to flatten and making sure you leave space between the latkes (you will need to fry in batches). Fry until set and the edges turn golden--this takes several minutes and I like to cover the pan to help them set faster.

Carefully flip the latkes over to fry on other side for a few minutes until golden. Use a slotted spoon to transfer onto paper towels to drain--you can keep hot in a warm (200°F) oven until all the latkes are fried. Serve hot with apple sauce and/or sour cream. Makes about two dozen small latkes or about 15 regular-size ones.


Do you have a favorite Hanukkah recipe? Please share in a comment below.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  If you really don't mind straying from tradition, these dilly turnip latkes pair very nicely with an apple-based hot sauce like Tahiti Joe's Maui Pepper Co. Apples Ass Hot Sauce.

PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) Sauces are Here!

PETA Steak Sauce

If you're looking for a unique and amusing Christmas, Hanukkah or other occasion gift for your favorite carnivore--or for that special vegetarian with a healthy sense of humor, here it is:  PETA sauces and seasonings!

No, these are not condiments from the (in)famous animal-rights organization. In this case, PETA stands for "People Eating Tasty Animals." Let's face it: If we were meant to be vegetarians, meat wouldn't taste so good!

These cheeky PETA sauces and seasonings will complement and enhance the natural flavor of everything from beef and pork to chicken and other poultry, venison and other game meats, and even fish and seafood. And although I hate to admit it, they're also quite yummy on meatless and vegetarian foods from grilled veggies to tofu stir fry dishes, black bean burgers, seitan, tofu and more.

PETA BBQ Sauce

PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) BBQ Sauce is a mildly spicy, tangy tomato barbecue sauce that's sweetened with apple juice, brown sugar and molasses and balanced with just the right touch of savory spices for rich flavor the whole family will enjoy.  Whether you're grilling ribs or burgers, smoking a brisket or pork butt, roasting chicken or pork loin, or even barbecuing some shrimp kabobs or tuna steaks, PETA Barbecue Sauce will bring out the best in them and make your taste buds sing.  You can also use it in indoor recipes like sloppy joes, meatloaf, chili, party meatballs, and other stovetop or oven favorites. And if you like to eat healthy, you'll be glad to know that this finger-licking good barbeque sauce is made with all-natural ingredients and does NOT have any high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

PETA Hot Sauce

For meat-eaters who enjoy zesty, fiery hot sauces, we have PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) Garlic Habanero Hot Sauce. Boasting a solid medium-hot habanero burn and distinctive habanero pepper flavor, this is an honest, straightforward vinegar-based habanero hot sauce that's spiked with pungent garlic to keep things interesting. PETA Hot Sauce is an excellent choice as your go-to table sauce and all-purpose hot sauce, whether you're cooking, grilling, tailgating, camping, or eating breakfast, lunch or dinner. Because it doesn't have any "extra" ingredients such as fruit, herbs or strong spices, liquid smoke, or sweeteners, it's perfect for when you want to add habanero heat to a dish but don't want to change its flavor or overpower the food.

PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) Steak Sauce is mild on the heat scale (not spicy) but at the top of the flavor scale. This gourmet steak sauce is superb on all sorts of red meat, from filet mignon and ribeyes to hamburgers, brisket, pork chops, venison medallions, breakfast sausage patties and even over meatloaf instead of ketchup. And I guarantee that if you pour it on a veggie burger, your vegetarian friends will thank you for improving its flavor. In fact, this fine-tasting steak sauce does NOT contain anchovies or any other animal products (unlike many commercial steak sauces), so it's actually an ideal choice for vegetarians and vegans. One taste and you'll never go back to supermarket steak sauces again.

PETA Steak Seasoning

If you like your steak seasoning and BBQ dry rub on the savory, not sweet, side then PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) Steak Seasoning & Rub is for you. Paprika, garlic and Kosher salt are the main three ingredients in this all-natural, savory rub, and there's just a dash of dried peppers and a pinch of a secret spice blend for a deep, robust flavor that's both complex and food-friendly. Pat some PETA rub on your steak before grilling, broiling or searing in a pan, or rub it on ribs, chicken, pork butt, chops, London broil, brisket and other cuts of meat before grilling, smoking or cooking. Sprinkle it on cooked vegetables, French fries, popcorn, baked potatoes and even over a salad.

All PETA products are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauces online store, so get them today before they run out as they're sure to be quite popular as Christmas gifts.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Cyber Monday Sale & FREE Shipping at Carolina Sauce

Our huge Black Friday through Cyber Monday sale is going on at the Carolina Sauces online store, and today is the final day!

ALL orders, regardless of size, automatically get 10% off the product total when you shop online, and no coupon is needed.

Additionally, if your product total is more than $95, you ALSO will get FREE ground shipping along with your 10% discount!

Now is the time to save big on Christmas gifts and other holiday shopping for your favorite foodie or fiery-foods fanatic, whether you're looking for hard-to-find regional barbecue sauces, themed hot sauce gift sets, novelty sauces like political hot sauces or collegiate hot sauces, spicy or fruity or gourmet salsa, and other zesty sauces and seasonings. We even have Hanukkah and Christmas hot sauces!

4-Bottle Hot Sauce Gift Box

For a one-of-a-kind, unique gift, you can design your own hot sauce gift box when you purchase our sturdy, easy-to-assemble white 4-pack gift box and four 5-oz bottles of hot sauces of your choice. Simply fold the box together, insert the bottles and slap on a label you've created or perhaps a bumper sticker, etc. You can even draw, paint or decorate the box, if you're artistically inclined.

This special Cyber Monday sale ends at midnight today, Monday November 26th, so don't delay in placing your order.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  Can't decide what to get? Then send a Carolina Sauces gift card!  These email gift cards never expire and are available in any amount from $5 to $5000.

Quick Kitchen Tips to Reduce Holiday Cooking Stress

Whether you're cooking for a crowd or for fewer than a handful of folks, these quick cooking tips will help you reduce your stress and keep everything going smoothly and efficiently in the kitchen.

1.  Have a Plan:  Before starting, read through every recipe you plan to make.  Make sure you have everything you need, including ingredients & cookware.  Have everything you need handy, or at least know where everything is.  Consider what you will make when, and which recipes or cooking steps can be "staggered" or combined for greater efficiency.

2.  Have Room to Work:  Clear off counters, tables, sinks, etc. of anything you won't need before you start cooking.  And once you get going, clean up as you go OR know where you're going to put dirty/used dishes & utensils until you're ready to clean up.

3.  For Cheese Grating or Shredding:  Cheddar and other cheese will grate or shred more easily if first chilled in the freezer for ten to twenty minutes.

4.  Room Temperature Eggs:  If a recipe calls for beating or separating eggs (or both), let the eggs come to room temperature first.  They'll separate more easily, and beat to greater volume.

5.  Making Muffins or Cupcakes?  Use an ice cream scoop to fill muffin tins or cups more easily.

6.  Baking with Nuts, Chocolate Chips, Raisins or other Dried or Candied Fruit?  Toss these "add-ins" with a little of the flour from the recipe (NOT additional flour) prior to adding them to the batter.  This will keep them from sinking to the bottom during baking.

7.  Cutting Marshmallows?  Apply a light coating of butter to the blades of your kitchen shears to prevent sticking.

8.  Hardened Brown Sugar?  Soften it quickly by placing in a microwave-safe bowl with a slice of bread or an apple slice, cover, and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds.

Merry Christmas to all of our Carolina Sauce Company customers, partners and friends who are celebrating Christ's birth!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

How to Cook Delicious, Lower-Fat Latkes

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah), the Jewish festival of lights, begins at sundown tonight.  Latkes (potato pancakes) are a traditional Hanukkah food, usually fried and rich in oil--after all, oil plays an important role in the story of Hanukkah and its celebration.  If you love latkes but are watching your fat intake, here's a great way you can still enjoy delicious latkes while cutting back on some of the fat.

First, use olive oil.  Olive oil is one of the healthiest fats you can consume, and you can select "pure," "virgin" or "light" (refers to flavor, not fat content) olive oil instead of extra-virgin if you want a neutral oil flavor.

Second:  Instead of frying the latkes, "oven-fry" them!  This technique uses less oil AND less oil is absorbed by the latkes.  Whether you prefer crispy latkes or softer-textured ones, you can make them in your oven.

Preheat the oven to 425°F.  Spread a light coat of olive oil on a baking sheet.  Depending on what size and texture you want for your latkes, use either a 1/4-cup measuring cup or a Tablespoon for dropping the latke batter onto the baking sheet, and form into rounds (smaller, thinner latkes will be crispier, unless of course you shorten the cooking time).  Bake the latkes until golden brown, turning once after about 15 minutes (total cooking time should be around 20 to 25 minutes).

Alternatively, you can bake the latkes at 450°F, especially for smaller, crispier latkes, turning once after 10 minutes (total cooking time should be around 15 to 20 minutes).

Enjoy with your favorite toppings--apple sauce or chutney being the low-fat choices instead of sour cream.  But if you crave the richness of sour cream, your best bet for flavor and mouthfeel is to use a high-quality nonfat or reduced fat plain Greek yogurt instead of fat-free sour cream.  I personally don't care for the flavor or texture of fat-free sour cream, which is often packed with less-desirable ingredients in an attempt to duplicate the mouthfeel of fat.  More importantly, most people can't tell the difference between a good, all-natural nonfat Greek yogurt and full-fat sour cream. 

Happy Hanukkah to all of our friends who are celebrating the Festival of Lights!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

"Jews for Bacon"?

File this one under "Things that make you go 'hmmm'"....

Our partner BaconFreak has quite a selection of gifts for bacon-lovers, ranging from the sublimely delicious to the amusing and downright bizarre.   One in particular falls into all of those categories simultaneously:  The Hanukkah Bacon Bundle, created "because latkes taste better with bacon. Jews for Bacon Unite!"

I'm not making this one up--click the image or link below to check it out for yourself and read their entire description:

"It's Not Kosher But It's Tasty" Hanukkah Bundle

                                                                 from: Bacon Freak

The Hanukkah Bundle from Bacon Freak does come with some mouthwatering bacon and bacon-flavored foods including hickory-smoked bacon, bacon seasoning and bacon milk chocolate, plus whimsical bacon-themed swag like a bacon wallet and a "Bacon is a Vegetable" t-shirt.  And as Bacon Freak points out, they do have some self-described bacon-loving Jews on staff. 

But I can’t help but wonder: Is the Hanukkah Bacon Bundle a light-hearted, well-intentioned gift for the right person?  Or is the whole concept of "Jews for Bacon" in poor taste?  Are you amused or offended? Leave a comment below and tell us what you think.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: Coupon, Holiday Recipes & Gift Ideas

December Coupon Sale: 10% Off!

   In celebration of the season, we have a special 10% off coupon just for our Newsletter readers! Use coupon code CAROLINAXMAS to save 10% off your product total at the Carolina Sauces online store, good on ALL products including already-reduced sale items, themed gift sets that make great Christmas gifts, party-perfect zesty snacks, Kosher products for Hanukkah, and all your holiday favorites. To help you save money this holiday season, the CarolinaXMas coupon is good through Christmas Day, and will expire at midnight on December 25th, 2011.

Looking for a tasty and memorable Christmas gift for someone special? Check these out:

*For the serious hot sauce collector or the person who claims nothing is hot enough, our HOTTEST item is Da Bomb The Final Answer, packing a 1.5 million SHU (scoville heat unit) punch that's THREE TIMES HOTTER than military-grade pepper spray. Comes in a lock-and-key display case for added effect (and to keep it out of little hands!). We also have a "Make Your Own Ultra-Hot Pepper Extract Kit" that comes with a sealed vial of 16 million SHU capsaiacin crystals, tweezer forceps, lab gloves, surgical mask and other essentials for making super-hot sauces at home. Additional ultra-hot products are listed on our Pepper Extracts page and Hottest Hot Sauces page.

*For the person who wishes they could spend the winter in the Caribbean, our Caribbean Gift Set provides a little taste of paradise with 4 different full-size bottles of authentic Caribbean hot sauces. And for the more adventurous palate, our Exotica Gift Set comes with 6 unusual hot sauces featuring ingredients like nopal cactus, chocolate, and exotic chiles.

*For the North Carolina expat or anyone else who craves real NC barbecue, send them a bottle each of Bone Suckin' Sauce (for western/Lexington style BBQ) and Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce (for eastern style BBQ). Visit our recently re-vamped NC Products page to see our entire selection of North Carolina products, including sauces, seasonings, country ham & other pork products.

*For the Buffalo wings addict, we offer all of the classic Anchor Bar Wing Sauces from Buffalo NY, as well as the award-winning DEFCON wing sauces in 3 different heat levels.

*Looking for stocking-stuffers or spicy munchies? Try Deano's Jalapeno Chips (crispy thin-sliced jalapenos seasoned with cheddar or Ranch), any of the 4 different flavors of Blair's Death Rain kettle-cooked potato chips (the Chipotle is my favorite), and the ever-popular Wasabi Bombs (wasabi-coated peanuts).

*For fans of the hard-to-find Nando's Chickenland products from South Africa, we have all of the Nando's Cooking Sauces, plus the Nando's Marinades AND the Nando's Peri Peri Hot Sauces.

Don't forget to enter the coupon code CarolinaXMas at checkout to save 10% off your product total. Coupon expires on 12/25/2011.

***Please note, the CAROLINAXMAS coupon doesn't apply to products purchased from our partners.***

Last-Minute Gift Ideas

We recently added Gourmet Gift Baskets and Gift Boxes available through our partners on the Carolina Sauce Company website, just in time for the holiday shopping season. Here are other excellent gift ideas from our carefully-selected partners:

*BBQ & grilling accessories for championship-quality results at home, including Laser Temperature Guns (what guy wouldn't want one?!?), smoking pellets (turns any grill into a smoker) and of course the award-winning GrillGrates, cut to fit virtually any grill.

*A wide variety of Monthly Clubs in 3-, 6-, 9- & 12-month subscriptions, including Hot Sauce of the Month (featured on the Food Network!), BBQ Sauce of the Month, and even Bacon of the Month and "Swine & Wine" clubs (click on "Monthly Clubs" to see other programs).

*Gluten-Free Guides for restaurants and grocery store products.

*Chili pepper-themed and food/cooking-themed art prints and posters.

*International gourmet items including genuine Spanish products, Italian specialties, French foods, and even Russian caviar and other elegant delicacies.

*For the hard-to-shop-for person who probably prefers to pick out their own perfect present, we offer a variety of Gift Certificates and Gift Cards redeemable on everything from hot sauce to bacon, gourmet foods to exotic meats (kangaroo, anyone?), cookware & more.

TWO Recipes: Smoked Cheese, and Mulled Cider!

Here are two easy, flavorful recipes for holiday entertaining and enjoying with the family.

Greg's Smoked Cheese: You need a smoker, your choice of "mild" wood, a small aluminum pan (the drip pans sold for grills are perfect - use a clean one, of course) and a block of your choice of cheese (approx. 1 lb of something that melts well but not too quickly: Cheddar, Jack or Pepper Jack, Swiss, Provolone). Regular grocery store cheese is fine; you don't need a fancy cheese. Start the smoker and when the temperature reaches 225F, place the cheese in the pan--add some sliced jalapenos on top if you like--and put in the smoker. Smoke until the cheese becomes completely gooey and browns slightly on top (takes about 2 hrs, but keep an eye on it because smoking time will vary). Best served hot, with crackers or pita wedges, but you can reheat in the microwave (transfer cheese to a microwave-safe bowl).  Smoked cheese is also fabulous in sandwiches, on burgers, etc.

Gloria's Mulled Cider: Make a "spice bag" by placing 1 teaspoon whole allspice, 1 teaspoon whole cloves and a 3" stick of cinnamon (broken into pieces) on a small piece of cheesecloth and tie the ends up with kitchen twine or thick thread. Combine 1/2 gallon apple cider or juice, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a healthy dash of ground nutmeg in a large pot; stir to dissolve sugar. Add the spice bag and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Discard spice bag and serve hot in mugs, with a cinnamon stick garnish if desired (makes about 10 servings).

"Like" Us on Facebook!

If you're not already our Fan on Facebook, you're missing out on exclusive coupons, FREE shipping offers and other special discounts available only to our Facebook fans! To become a Fan, simply click on this link: Carolina Sauce Facebook Page, and then click the "Like" button. You can then click on the "coupons" tab to see the current deals. We also post recipes, links to interesting articles about food & cooking, product info, mouthwatering photos, and fun Questions where you can cast your vote. We want to hear from you, too, so please leave us a comment on our Facebook page, and feel free to share your food photos, recipes, BBQ/food blog, etc.

Follow SaucyGlo on Twitter for additional sales & discounts, the latest food news, zesty tips, and to chat with us!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

New Coupons, December Discounts and FREE Shipping!

Christmas is only three weeks away, and if you're like me, you've barely made any progress on your holiday shopping list, you're on a budget, and you're worried you don't have enough time to seek out the best bargains.

Well, I've got good news:  The Carolina Sauce Company is your one-stop shopping source for unique, tasteful and TASTY gifts, priced to fit your budget, and conveniently located online so that you can shop anytime, anywhere.  From hot sauces to meats & cheese, gift baskets to cookbooks, grill accessories to monthly clubs, North Carolina products to international gourmet specialties and more, we have it through our warehouse or our Partners.

And...  we have NEW coupons for December, special holiday offers and FREE ground shipping offers, too, including:

*A coupon for 7% off your product total at the Carolina Sauces online store

*FREE ground shipping for qualifying orders at our partners Bacon Freak and Spanish Feast

*Discount coupons on cookware, tableware and more from our partner Cooking.com

For more info and to get your coupons, simply go to the Carolina Sauce Company Facebook page and click on the "Coupons" tab.  If you're not already our Fan on Facebook, make sure to click the "Like" button on our Facebook page first, to get access to the coupons.

And here's a heads-up:  Our December email Newsletter is going out in less than 48 hours, and it will have ADDITIONAL special offers to save you money, as well as our featured holiday recipe/cooking tips and other zesty news.  If you want to receive the Newsletter, simply fill out your name & email address below:

Sign up for our FREE monthly email Newsletter to receive discount coupons, special sales, new product info, zesty recipes, and more.  We send the Newsletter only once a month, you can unsubscribe anytime, and we NEVER share your email or contact info with anyone.  Simply enter your name & email address below, then click the 'JOIN' button:

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"This is my second order from Carolina Sauce. I have been totally satisfied with both orders. Great selection to choose from and fair pricing. Prompt response and shipment. Shipped and received in perfect condition. I will do business with this company again. No fear using their products and service. Thank you." --Bill J., Lancing TN

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Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Cyber Monday Coupon Sale at Carolina Sauce!

Use coupon code CYBERMONDAY11 to save 10% off all products at the Carolina Sauces online store, including already-reduced sale items, for one day only!

From Dave's Insanity Sauce to Matouk's Hot Sauce, North Carolina's Bone Suckin' Sauce and Well's Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce, hard-to-find gluten-free products and Kosher condiments, and even low/no sodium and low/no carb foods too, we have what you want for all your holiday cooking needs.

Carolina Sauce is also your go-to source for unique Christmas & Hanukkah gifts, beginning with our one-of-a-kind themed sauce gift sets for folks who enjoy zesty foods; hot sauces and ultra-hot hot sauces for chileheads and hot sauce collectors; barbecue sauce and savory BBQ rubs for the outdoor chef; wing sauces and salsas for parties and tailgating; plus unusual spicy snacks to give as stocking stuffers or serve at holiday parties.

Don't forget to enter the coupon code CYBERMONDAY11 to save 10% off your product total when you shop online at the Carolina Sauces store, good through midnight on Cyber Monday only (November 28th).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Company Newsletter: Turkey Tips, Coupon Sale & Gift Baskets

Earlybird Coupon Sale

           

Our annual Earlybird Christmas & Holiday Coupon Sale is back, and this year we're extending the savings through the end of November!  Use coupon code FALL2011 to save 7% off your product total at the Carolina Sauces online store, good on ALL products including on-sale items, hot sauce gift sets, and, of course, the newly-arrived J.T. Pappy's Gator Sauces.  This coupon is good through the end of November, and will expire at midnight on November 30th, 2011.

           

Add zest to your holiday menu and get a head start on your Christmas shopping with these tasty sauces, seasonings and gift ideas:

           

J.T. Pappy's Gator BBQ Sauces:  These rich & savory mustard-tomato BBQ sauces are finally back in stock, and they're bigger and better than ever!  Now in 18oz glass bottles instead of the small plastic 10oz bottles, JT Pappy's is great for marinating, grilling and cooking meat, poultry, veggies, seafood & more.  Available in original mild Gator Sauce, medium Flamin' Gator, hot Gator Grenade, extra hot Termigator, and smoky-mild Hickory Heaven.

           

Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce:  This North Carolina original is perfect for the chilehead who wants to spice up his or her serving of Thanksgiving turkey, and for jazzing up leftovers or even pouring over cheesecake.  For a unique sweet & spicy gift, there's the Toad Sweat Mini 4-Pack with a bottle of each of their award-winning dessert hot sauces.

           

Bone Suckin' Seasoning & Rub:  If you're smoking a turkey or if you're still using your grill outdoors, get yourself a bottle of this all-purpose BBQ seasoning for finger-lickin' flavor the whole family will love.

           

Cheesecake in a Jar:  This lusciously decadent and creamy dessert sauce is fabulous for dipping fruit, cookies or other sweet stuff; for spooning over pie, cobbler and even sweet potatoes; or using as cake frosting.  Makes a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for your favorite cheesecake lover!

           

Bone Suckin' Sweet Hot Mustard:  Sweet and sassy (not fiery), this dipping & spreading mustard will make turkey sandwiches and turkey salad sing.  It's also mouthwatering as a ham glaze and in casseroles calling for mustard.

           

Kosher Products:  Looking for full-flavored Kosher products for Hanukkah?  We have what you need!

           

Themed Hot Sauce Gift Sets:  If there's someone on your gift list that enjoys hot & spicy foods, give them a unique gift they can use year-round on all their favorite foods.  These hot sauce gift sets are specially-priced to save you money, and include an amusing Lawyer's Gift Set, an intriguing Pepper Variety Gift Set, a super-fiery Ultra-Hot Gift Set and more.

           

If you're cooking or shopping for folks with special dietary needs, we have Gluten-Free products, Low/No Carb items with no more than 1 gram of carbs per serving, and Low/No Sodium products with no more than 35mg of sodium per serving.

           

Use coupon code FALL2011 when you order any of the above from us to save 7% off the product total!  Remember, coupon expires on 11/30/2011.

             

***Please note, the Fall2011 coupon doesn't apply to products purchased from our partners.***

Gift Baskets & Gourmet Coffee

                       

Gourmet Gift Baskets and Gift Boxes are now available at the Carolina Sauce Company website!  We've selected these beautifully assembled and bountifully stocked gift baskets and boxes from our partners for their inspired selection of fine specialty foods from around the world.  Whether you need a gift for an experienced home chef or for someone who's exploring international cuisines, for a chocoholic or a bacon fanatic, for a loved one or a business colleague, you'll find what you're looking for when you visit our brand-new Gift Baskets & Boxes page.  From there, you can click on any listed item to get more information on it and also to browse through that partner's complete selection of gourmet gifts. 

           

And here's good news for coffee addicts:  Our newest partner is Hunter Bay Coffee, award-winning gourmet roasters trained by European masters.  They begin with premium beans and slow-roast them daily in small batches, ensuring the freshest possible flavor.  In addition to amazing coffee blends, they also offer organic coffee, fine tea, monthly coffee clubs, coffee accessories and coffee gift baskets.

           

The Secret to Succulent Turkey

           

Regardless of whether he roasts or smokes our Thanksgiving turkey, and regardless of how big or small the bird, Greg always manages to make the juiciest, most succulent and flavorful turkey.  Family and friends always want to know his secret.  His answer?  Brining.  Below is his secret recipe for the perfect turkey brine.  Don't worry about the salt or sugar content: the cooked bird won't taste sweet or salty because those ingredients merely serve to facilitate osmosis, the process that will allow the flavor elements (citrus, herbs, spices) and a little water to penetrate the bird to season it and keep it moist.  To brine a turkey, you'll need a cooler that's big enough to submerge the whole bird, and enough water to cover it.  For a fresh or defrosted bird, brine for 24 hrs prior to cooking.  You can brine a frozen bird if you put it in the brine 3 days prior to cooking.  To keep the brine cold enough, add ice in sealed plastic bags so as to not dilute the brine.

           

Without further ado, here's Greg's Secret Turkey Brine Recipe:  For every gallon of water add 1 cup Kosher salt, 1 cup sugar, the juice, pulp & rinds of 1 orange and 1 lime and 1 lemon, 1 head of garlic (crushed), 1/4 cup black peppercorns (crushed), 1 to 2 Tbs red pepper flakes, 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary, several sprigs of fresh thyme, several sprigs of fresh sage.  The water-salt-sugar ratio is the most important part of the recipe; feel free to adjust the other seasonings.  Mix up enough brine to completely submerge your turkey, and add sealed bags of ice to the cooler as needed to ensure safe refrigeration.  Discard brine once you remove the turkey for cooking.

           

If cooking isn't on your agenda this Thanksgiving but you really want to serve smoked turkey, our partner Johnston County Hams will deliver their delicious ready-to-eat North Carolina smoked turkey (available whole or breast-only) to your home! 

Recipes, Coupons, Product Reviews, Zesty News & More 

The Carolina Sauce Facebook Page is your source for Carolina Sauce news, interesting food articles, and exclusive Facebook-only coupons. For access to these special coupons and the latest zesty news, simply visit our Facebook page and click on the "Like" button to become a Fan. You can then click on the Coupons tab and access special offers. And if you're looking for new recipes, grilling tips, product reviews, and the occasional chuckle, visit this blog on a regular basis. Here's where we post delicious recipes, review new products as soon as they arrive, announce any discontinued or unavailable products, warn of possible product shortages, run special sales and discounts, and provide other useful information. Subscribe to our free RSS feed or NetworkedBlogs feed and you won't miss a single zesty thing! Just fill in your RSS subscription info in the spaces provided in the left-hand column of this blog, or click on "Follow My Blog" in the NetworkedBlogs icon at the bottom of the left-hand column.

Never miss another issue of our free Monthly Newsletter with coupons & specials when you sign up here.

Follow SaucyGlo on Twitter for the latest food news, pithy culinary observations & for sharing zesty tips!

Zestfully yours,

Gloria

Gourmet Gift Baskets & Gift Boxes Available!

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Christmas and the holiday season, the Carolina Sauce Company now offers a brand-new selection of well-appointed, bountiful and beautiful gourmet gift baskets and gift boxes, courtesy of our partners!  Whether you need a corporate gift for a business colleague or a special edible gift for a friend or family member who loves to cook, we can help you find just the right gourmet gift for anyone who enjoys good food.  We have something for the coffee addict and the chocoholic, the international gourmand and the gracious host or hostess, the garlic lover, the bacon fanatic, and more.  There's even a luxurious caviar gift box when only the finest will do! 

When you visit our new Gift Baskets page, you'll see just a few of the many different gift baskets and boxes offered by our partners.  For additional information about a particular item or to browse a partner's full catalog, simply click on any link or picture.  That will take you to the product page for that specific gift item, where you'll find a complete description plus pricing, delivery options, gift message and wrapping options, and other information.  From that product page you can then navigate the partner's site to see more gift baskets and other items available from them.  Here's a helpful tip:  Make sure to open another window in your browser so that you can easily navigate back and forth between our own Gift Baskets & Gift Boxes page and our partners' sites.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Want to Save Money on Holiday Decor?

Click to buy the print on the left at Allposters.com

Our partner, AllPosters.com, offers a dazzling array of prints and posters to suit your personal style when decorating for the holidays.  From vintage to modern, abstract to traditional, and even food-themed posters & art prints, they have what you need to bring your look together, add zesty pizazz to a room, or even give as a Christmas gift.  And for the next three (3) days only, you can get 22% off your product total (excludes shipping & taxes), when you enter the coupon code 22ALL at checkout!  Here's just a taste of what's available from AllPosters.com:

Click to buy the Menorah, Gifts and Candy print on Allposters.com

Click to buy Serenading Christmas Chef poster on Allposters.com

Click to buy the Family Thanksgiving print at Allposters.com

 

Click to buy the Folk Christmas print at Allposters.com

Remember to use coupon code 22ALL to get 22% off at checkout.  And don't delay:  The coupon expires this Friday, 11/11/11.

Zestfully yours,

Gloria