Top 10 Best-Selling Sauce Gifts for 2013

If you haven't yet bought a Valentine's Day Gift for a barbecue lover or hot sauce fanatic, here are some excellent gift ideas from the Carolina Sauce Company. In fact, these are the ten most popular sauce gifts for 2013, and each of them is perfect for Valentine's Day or any other gift-giving occasion.

1. Design-Your-Own Hot Sauce Gift Box: This sturdy white cardboard box comes ready to fold into shape and to fill with four separately-purchased hot sauce bottles (4oz or 5oz) of your choice to make a unique, personalized hot sauce for your Valentine or any other lucky hot sauce lover. You can decorate the box with a label or stickers, or write on it, or paint it, etc.

2. Matouk's Hot Sauce Gift Set comes with 4 full-size bottles of the most popular flavors of Matouk's hot sauce: The fruity Matouk's West Indian, the zesty Matouk's Calypso, the savory-hot Matouk's Salsa Picante, and the intensely fiery Matouk's Flambeau. It's a great way to experience these thick, rich and fabulously flavorful Caribbean hot sauces all at once at a bargain price -- or to introduce someone to the wonderful world of West Indian hot sauces.

3. NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set, Mild: Anyone who appreciates genuine North Carolina barbecue sauce in all its tangy glory will rejoice (and salivate) upon receiving this BBQ sauce gift featuring full-size bottles of Wells Hog Heaven representing eastern NC, the original Bone Suckin' Sauce representing western NC, JohnBoy & Billy's Original Grillin' Sauce representing down-east mustard BBQ sauces, and a package of all-natural Bone Suckin' Beef Jerky made from real American beef and seasoned with Bone Suckin' flavor.

4. Semper Fi Marine Corps Hot Sauce: "OORAH!" This fiery, all-natural habanero hot sauce is made from the finest ingredients and comes to us from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Proudly displaying the emblem and motto of the US Marine Corps on its elegant gold foil label, Semper Fi Hot Sauce pays tribute to the brave men and women who serve and have served in the Marines, and is a unique gift for your favorite Marine.

5. 16 Million SHU Pure Capsaicin Crystals Kit: This hot sauce gift looks like something dangerous from a chemistry lab -- and with good reason! The crystals are pure pepper extract in crystallized form, the hottest capsaicin substance known to man (or woman). They'll burn exposed skin, which is why the crystals come in a sealed vial that's packed in an aluminum waterproof carrying case. The kit also includes laboratory-style tweezer forceps and chemical-resistant non-latex gloves for safely handling the crystals, plus a surgical-grade non-latex face mask to keep you from breathing the searing fumes if you decide to cook up some ultra-hot homemade sauces using the crystals. This is the ultimate gift for a heat-craving "mad scientist."

6. Fifty Shades of Red Hot Sauces are a salaciously saucy gift for any fan of the "Fifty Shades of Gray" books. The label features a fiery chili pepper seductively dangled before a waiting open mouth, clearly a play on the iconic image on the book cover. The hot sauces come in two flavors: Red Cayenne and Hotter Habanero. Although the sauces themselves are quite tasty and satisfyingly spicy-hot when enjoyed on food, there may be "other" unconventional ways to enjoy them if you're open to adventure and playing with fire....

7. Blair's 3AM Reserved Extract, Signed Limited Edition is an eye-catching, conversation-starting collector's item coveted by chileheads who enjoy displaying their most prized possessions. The elegant, hand-crafted glass bottle is reminiscent of those used for expensive liqueurs or fine perfumes, and each bottle is sealed with molten Italian resins for an antique "wax seal" look. The famous Blair's skull sits like a crown at the top, and each bottle is hand-signed before being carefully packed in its own gift display box for a truly impressive and memorable gift.

8. Dave's Insanity 2013 Private Reserve Sauce is the hottest Private Reserve Insanity Sauce issued by Dave's Gourmet to date. Each year's limited-edition release has been 3 times hotter than the original Insanity Sauce, and the 2013 edition raised the stakes by using specially selected ghost peppers along with capsaicin extract and jalapeno puree. As always, Dave's Private Reserve comes in a wooden coffin sealed with yellow "caution tape," and each bottle is numbered and hand-signed by Dave himself.

9. BBQ & Grilling Gift Baskets proved very popular with barbecue aficionados and outdoor chefs who enjoy firing up the smoker or grill. The "baskets" are actually reusable galvanized buckets that come packed with a bountiful selection of award-winning barbeque sauces, seasonings & rubs, grilling accessories & tools, and popular grilling, BBQ & smoker cookbooks. Once empty, you can use the buckets to hold hot ashes, or fill with ice to chill your favorite beverages.

10. Hot Sauce of the Month Clubs are gifts that keep on giving, ensuring that the lucky recipient will never have to settle for boring, bland food. Available in 6-month and 12-month subscriptions, each shipment comes with a specially-chosen bottle of hot sauce selected from award-winners, best-sellers and hottest hot sauces.

If you need more ideas for a Valentine gift, simply browse through our Sauce Gifts at the Carolina Sauces online store, or check out our Gourmet Gift Baskets (we even offer bacon gifts through our partner Bacon Freak). We also have Gift Certificates for everything from sauces and condiments to fresh seafood and, of course, bacon.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

New BBQ Gift Baskets & Gift Packs from Jim's Own!

"The Carolinas" BBQ Gift Basket

Jim's Own Barbecue Sauce is an award-winning Lexington (aka western, Piedmont) style BBQ sauce from Durham, North Carolina. The original Homestyle BBQ Sauce is a family-friendly blend of sweet tomatoes and tangy vinegar with just a touch of sassy spice, and it's excellent on everything from slow-smoked pulled pork to marinated and grilled chicken, shrimp kabobs, spare ribs, vegetables and more.

Jim's Own also has a Hot version of their original barbecue sauce recipe, as well as a zesty Mustard BBQ Sauce and a bold, rich Smokey BBQ Sauce. But that's not all: Jim's Own makes a variety of versatile, all-purpose seasoning rubs, including savory-sweet Mild, rich Smokey, robust Pincho and exotic Safari.

This Christmas -- and anytime you want to say, "Thank you," "Congratulations," "Happy Birthday," or for Father's Day, Valentine's Day and other gift-giving occasions -- send a taste of these highly acclaimed North Carolina barbecue sauces and rubs and make a memorable impression with a Jim's Own Gift Basket, available in brand-new product combinations, sizes and price points to suit any budget and taste.

For the barbecue enthusiast with wide epicurean horizons there's the bountiful BBQ Sampler Gift Pack, which comes with a 16-oz bottle of all four flavors of Jim's Own Sauce and a full-size bag of each flavor of Jim's Own BBQ Rubs. And for the adventurous cook who is just as comfortable cooking in the kitchen on the stove or in the oven and firing up the grill or smoker outdoors, give them the Rub Lover's Gift Basket with bags of each of Jim's Rubs to help season everything from meats and poultry to seafood and vegetables, rice dishes, stews, stir-fry and more. If barbecue sauces are the secret to that special someone's happiness, Jim's Own offers two different three-bottle baskets: The Mild Trio with pint bottles of Mild, Smokey and Mustard BBQ sauces, and the Hot Trio with pint bottles of Hot, Smokey and Mustard BBQ Sauces.

Other gift ideas from Jim's Own Sauce include The Carolinas BBQ Gift Basket (shown above) with a bottle each of Jim's Own Homestyle BBQ Sauce (mild NC barbecue sauce) and Jim's Own Mustard BBQ Sauce (inspired by South Carolina mustard-based barbecue sauce) and a package of Jim's Own Mild Rub; the Tasty Creations BBQ Gift Basket with a bottle of Jim's Own Hot Barbeque Sauce and a package each of Jim's Own Pincho Rub (inspired by the savory, spicy flavors of Mexico) and Jim's Own Safari Rub (a bright and zesty blend of coriander, pepper, citrus & other exotic spices used in South African barbecue); and the Jim's Own Smokin' Hot BBQ Gift Basket with the three hottest, spiciest products from Jim's Own: Their Hot BBQ sauce, the Smokey BBQ Sauce and the Smokey BBQ Seasoning Rub.

For those wanting to make a saucy fashion statement and proclaim their love of North Carolina barbecue to the world, we have stylish, sturdy and amply-cut barbecue aprons with two large pockets, and ultra-soft 100% cotton t-shirts (see example on right) in a variety of sizes, all emblazoned with Jim's Own "best-dressed pig" logo.

And brand-new this December, just in time for Christmas, Jim's Own has recently released its flavorful and feisty, savory and mildly spicy all-natural Chili Mix! Simply add a large can of tomatoes, some browned ground meat of your choice (beef, pork, venison, turkey or chicken), water and broth, and simmer on your stovetop or in your slow-cooker for "just like homemade" chili. Jim's Own Chili Mix is available by the single bag (makes 6 to 8 hearty servings) or by the case (6 bags per case). Now is the time to stock up for the cold winter months... and for your Superbowl party, March Madness college basketball, the Winter Olympics, the NHL road to the Stanley Cup playoffs, and movie nights at home with the family.

To order a gift basket, Jim's Own "slow & smokey" Chili Mix or any other Jim's Own NC BBQ products, simply click here.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Five Father's Day Gift Ideas for BBQ-Loving Dads

If you're still hunting for that thoughtful, out-of-the-ordinary Father's Day gift for a Dad who enjoys barbecue, grilling, cooking outdoors and/or using a smoker, here are five great BBQ gifts for Father's Day:

1. The North Carolina BBQ Sauce Gift Set:  Whether Dad is a Tarheel ex-pat longing for a taste of home, a pulled pork purist in search of that quintessentially Carolina tang, or a barbecue aficionado who understands the nuances of genuine eastern, western and low-country NC BBQ sauce, he'll be thrilled with this unique NC barbecue gift set from the Carolina Sauces online store. You can choose between traditional Mild -- which comes with full-size bottles of Wells Hog Heaven (eastern style), Bone Suckin' Sauce (western style), JohnBoy & Billy's Grillin' Sauce (low country) and Bone Suckin' Rib Rub -- or the Hot NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set -- which comes with the HOT versions of Bone Suckin' Sauce & Bone Suckin' Rib Rub, JohnBoy & Billy's Hot Grillin' Sauce, and the original Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce. Better yet, get both of them for Dad if he enjoys a wide range of flavors and heat!

2. If Dad appreciates the mellow, manly flavors of bourbon, give him the Jim Beam BBQ Gift Box, which comes with full-size bottles of thick and rich Jim Beam Barbecue Sauce, sophisticated Jim Beam Steak Sauce, and savory Jim Beam Gourmet Marinade, plus a handy basting brush, all in an attractive Jim Beam gift box. All three sauces are enhanced with a healthy splash of real Jim Beam Kentucky Bourbon, which adds layers of depth and sophistication plus rich smoky-caramel notes. This barbecue gift box is currently on sale, too!

3. Bone Suckin' Sauce is probably the most famous North Carolina BBQ Sauce, but they make a lot more than "just" great-tasting, all-natural, gluten-free barbecue sauces. In fact, they also make dry rubs, hot sauce, and beef jerky, all boasting that finger-lickin', tongue-slappin' and bone suckin' good flavor that has made this award-winning barbeque sauce an international success. The Carolina Sauces online store has two different Bone Suckin' Sauce Gift Sets: The Mild comes with full-size jars of the original Bone Suckin' Sauce, the thicker Bone Suckin' Sauce, the original Bone Suckin' Rib Rub seasoning rub, and a package of all-natural, all-American Bone Suckin' Beef Jerky; and the Hot Gift Set comes with a jar of Hot Bone Suckin' Sauce, the hot version of Bone Suckin' Rib Rub, a bottle of Bone Suckin' Hiccuppin' Hot Habanero Sauce, and a package of Beef Jerky.

4.  Steak branding irons let Dad stamp his unique mark on steaks and other meats as they cook on the grill, so there's no doubt as to which slab of meat is his. For a unique gift, give him the Personalized Steak Branding Iron with his initials (or other meaningful combination of characters), which comes in an attention-grabbing wood gift box stamped with his brand. If Dad is a political pundit, give him a Political Party Branding Iron, in your choice of the Democratic party's donkey or the Republican party's elephant (sorry Libertarians, Greens, etc., we haven't found any party-specific branding irons for you -- if you know of any, please tell us about them in a comment below).

5.  If you really want to show Dad how much he means to you, send him cooked-to-order ribs, pulled pork, sausage and more from Pig of the Month!  Choose from Texas ribs, Memphis ribs, bacon, Carolina style slow-smoked pulled pork, and more, all cooked the old-fashioned way and flash-frozen for express shipping (and each order comes with reheating instructions to ensure superior, just-cooked flavor and texture). They even offer a "BBQ of the Month Club" (just hover your cursor over their "shop" link towards the top of their page, and you'll find the link on their drop-down menu). Treat Dad to his favorite barbecue grill or smoker feast, and neither of you will have to slave over smoker or grill, or barely lift a finger.

For other great Father's Day barbecue gift ideas, check out our BBQ Tools & Accessories page, and also our Gift Baskets page where we offer several different BBQ sauce gift baskets including some from Jim's Own BBQ Sauce (another North Carolina favorite).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  If Dad is more into hot sauces than barbecue, you'll be glad to know that my next post will feature hot sauce gifts for Father's Day.

New BBQ & Grilling Gift Baskets for Father's Day

Father's Day will be here before you know it, and the Carolina Sauce Company has two new gift baskets for Dads who love grilling, slow-cooking on a smoker, and all things barbecue.

The Ultimate Pitmaster BBQ Gift Basket, shown on the left, is the ultimate gift for the King of the grill and master of the BBQ smoker or pit. Well-stocked with some of Kansas City's finest barbecue sauces, dry rubs and seasonings, the 16" galvanized bucket comes with a full-size bottle of each of the following:

• Meat Mitch Whomp BBQ Sauce
• Tim & Todd's BBQ Sauce
• Heffy's Sweet Mesquite BBQ Sauce
• Cowtown Sweet Squeal BBQ Rub
• The Slabs Rib Rub

But wait, there's more:  The Pit Master BBQ Gift also includes Steve Raichlen's renowned book, "How to Grill," plus a Cast Iron Sauce Pot that's perfect for cooking up that secret special sauce recipe, a Silicone Basting Brush for mopping and basting with your favorite barbecue sauce, a Silicone BBQ Mitt to protect Dad's hands when working at the grill or smoker, a Grill Brush for scrubbing grates and cleaning the grill, and a set of Fire Wire Flexible Skewers for making kabobs or even roasting marshmallows. The large, sturdy bucket is great as a beverage tub to ice down and hold Dad's favorite soft drinks or beer, and can even be used for disposing of hot charcoal ash after the grilling or smoking is done. All of these BBQ goodies come in the bucket which is securely shrink-wrapped, and you can get the whole thing gift-wrapped, too, if you'd like.

Another excellent Father's Day gift for the outdoor chef or barbecue enthusiast is the Grillmaster BBQ Gift Basket, shown on the right. This bountiful barbecue gift has everything your favorite grillmaster wants and needs for a truly memorable BBQ and grilling experience. Featuring some of Kansas City's best-loved barbeque sauces, seasonings and dry rubs, the Grillmaster Gift Basket includes a full-sized bottle of each of the following:

• Meat Mitch Whomp BBQ Sauce
• Heffy's Sweet Mequite BBQ Sauce
• Cowtown Sweet Squeal BBQ Rub

In addition to those zesty condiments, the reusable 9" galvanized pail also comes with Steve Raichlen's classic "BBQ Bible" book, a Silicone Basting Brush for mopping and basting with your favorite barbecue sauce, and a set of Fire Wire Flexible Skewers for grilling kebabs and roasting marshmallows. The pail can be used to dispose of hot ash during cleanup, or for holding or storing BBQ tools and accessories. As with the deluxe Pitmaster BBQ Gift Basket, the Grillmaster Gift comes shrinkwrapped with everything in the bucket, and you can choose to have the whole thing gift-wrapped.

You can buy these grilling and BBQ gift baskets, as well as many other barbecue gifts and gourmet baskets, on our Gift Baskets & Gift Boxes page of our website.  Make sure to place your order soon so that it'll arrive in time for Father's Day!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  Are you reading this when it's too late to ship a gift in time? No problem, send a gift certificate instead! We have many electronic gift certificates and gift cards that arrive within 24 hours or even in mere minutes from when you click "send." Browse our Gift Certificates page for more information, and to purchase gift certificates in a variety of budget-friendly amounts.

Top 10 Best-Selling Sauce & Food Gifts for 2012

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so now's the time to get your sweetheart that special gift that says "I love you," "You're HOT!" or "Let's get saucy." Let the Carolina Sauce Company be your Cupid -- Our list of the top 10 best-selling sauce gifts for 2012 is a great place to shop for a zesty Valentine's Day gift: 

1. NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set, Mild:  Despite being added fairly late in the year to the Carolina Sauces online store, this gift set quickly rose to #1 on our top sellers list. Featuring three barbecue sauces representing the 3 regional styles of North Carolina BBQ sauce (eastern vinegar, western/Lexington tomato & vinegar, and coastal mustard) plus a savory-sweet Carolina BBQ dry rub, this gift set is the perfect way to send someone a taste of the Old North State.

2. Dave's Insanity 2012 Private Reserve Sauce:  This limited-edition, specially-crafted ultra-hot sauce from Dave's Gourmet is made with the ferociously hot ghost pepper (jolokia) for extreme heat. Each bottle is numbered and hand-signed, and comes packed in a wooden "coffin" that's sealed with yellow "Caution tape" for an eye-catching presentation. A great gift for hot sauce collectors!

3. Anchor Bar Wing Sauces Gift Set:  For the hot wing lover who adores authentic Buffalo wings, you can't go wrong with the Anchor Bar gift box, featuring three bottles of wing sauce from the birthplace of Buffalo wings. Comes with a full-size bottle each of Medium (original), Extra Hot and Suicide wing sauce from the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY.

4. See Dick, Jane & Spot Burn Gift Box: For the hot sauce lover with a silly sense of humor. Remember the old Dick & Jane storybooks from elementary school? These hot sauces (and the gift box) feature the childhood stick figures plus their dog Spot, with cartoon flames coming from all the wrong places. The hot sauces are classic all-purpose cayenne-vinegar sauces for everyday use. Surprisingly popular with teachers as well as with people named Dick or Jane.

5. Holiday Heat XMas Hot Sauces Gift Box: These Christmas-themed hot sauces are a little bit naughty (no worse than PG-13) and feature Rudolph, Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman on the labels.  There are two different habanero sauces and a feisty Cajun style sauce, all which are well-suited for cooking and enjoying at the table.

6. Carolina Sauce Company Gift Certificates:  Not sure what to get your beloved? Overwhelmed by the choices at our online store? Or perhaps you're not a fan of hot sauce or BBQ sauce but you're looking for a gift for someone who is....  Simply send them a Carolina Sauce Gift Card! You choose the dollar amount, and they choose exactly what they want to spend it on, so there's no worrying over whether you picked out a sauce or seasoning they'll like. All you need is their email address, and we'll take care of the rest. Best of all, our gift certificates never expire and need not be spent all at once.

7. 16 Million SHU Pure Capsaicin Crystals Kit: This one is for the serious hot sauce fanatic or the "mad scientist" type who's always brewing up their own secret hot sauce recipe. The kit comes with pure capsaicin crystals rated at 16 million Scoville Units of unadulterated heat, plus forceps, lab gloves, a surgical grade mask and more.

8. Blair's Super 6 Death Sauces Gift Set: Blair's Death hot sauces are made from all-natural ingredients and range in heat from very hot to almost-deadly HOT. They're also known for the trademark skull keychain that adorns the neck of each bottle. This gift set comes with six of the most famous Blair's Death Sauces including Jalapeno Death with Tequila, Sweet Death, Ultra Death, Original Death with Chipotle, Sudden Death with Ginseng, and the new Golden Death with Chipotle.

Swine & Wine Valentine's Bacon Bundle

9. Bacon Gift Bundles: If your sweetheart loves bacon almost as much as he or she loves you, they deserve a Bacon Bundle. These bacon gifts come in a variety of flavors to suit every palate and in a variety of themes to fit any occasion. Select from nitrite-free bacon, Valentine's Day bacon gifts, international bacon, Bacon Club samplers and more.

10. Personalized Steak Branding Irons:  Anyone who enjoys grilling a big, juicy steak exactly the way they like it has probably fantasized about branding their slab of beef with their initials. Make their fantasy come true by giving them a personalized branding iron. You select the 3 initials for the brand to create a unique gift that comes in a handsome cedar box stamped with the brand.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

North Carolina BBQ Gift Baskets

We're pleased to partner with the makers of the award-winning Jim's Own Barbecue Sauce to bring you these beautiful, bountiful North Carolina BBQ gift baskets.

There are several different sizes and price points from which to choose, whether to send pint bottles (16oz) or quart bottles (32oz) of Jim's Own Bar-B-Que Sauce, and you can even throw in one of their sturdy and practical two-pocket grilling aprons emblazoned with Jim's Own 10th anniversary logo.


A popular choice is the BBQ Sauce & Apron Gift Basket (shown on right), which comes with a 16oz bottle of your choice of flavor of Jim's Own BBQ Sauce -- choose from mild Homestyle, spicy Hot, sweet & earthy Smokey, and tangy Mustard barbecue sauce -- plus Jim's two-pocket apron in black or burgundy. The sauce and the apron come in a festive wicker basket that can be used again and again. This gift basket is a great choice when you want to give a host or hostess gift, or for introducing a friend to the great taste of Lexington style North Carolina barbecue sauce.

The three-bottle BBQ Sampler Gift Basket (on left) is an excellent gift for any occasion for the person who enjoys grilling and good barbecue. It comes with a pint bottle each of Jim's Own Homestyle BBQ Sauce, the habanero Hot BBQ Sauce, and the low-country style Mustard BBQ Sauce, all nestled in a reusable wicker basket.  If you'd like to include an apron, simply order the Deluxe BBQ Sampler Gift Basket (shown in photo at top left of post) with the same selection of sauces plus a Jim's Own apron of your choice.

For an impressive Christmas gift or other special occasion, you can't go wrong when you send the Jim's Own Sauce Variety Gift Basket. A rustic, sturdy basket comes bearing three quart bottles of Jim's Own Homestyle, Jim's Hot, and Jim's Mustard BBQ sauces (one 32oz bottle of each flavor).  And the Deluxe BBQ Variety Gift Basket, shown below, includes a black or brown grilling apron (you choose the color).

Not included in the gift baskets but a great add-on is a Jim's Own BBQ Sauce t-shirt (shown on right) made of 100% ultra-soft cotton and sporting the Jim's Own anniversary logo. The t-shirt is available in adult unisex S, M, L and XL. The grilling aprons are also available for ordering separately from gift baskets.

Of course, you can order each of the different flavors of Jim's Own BBQ Sauce separately, in pints, quarts and even gallon jugs (which are great when you're cooking for a crowd). Jim's Own also makes mouthwatering BBQ rubs in a variety of flavors including savory-sweet Mild, spicy-sweet Smokey, and robust & savory (not sweet) Pincho. The sauces and the rubs are also available by the case.

Send a genuine taste of North Carolina this Christmas with a Jim's Own BBQ Sauce Gift Basket, because this is THE barbecue sauce that "the best-dressed pigs are wearing."

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Irish Food Gift Baskets Now Available!

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, we've partnered with Siopa.com Irish Online Giftstore, providers of delectable Irish food gift baskets and food gifts as well as other fine Irish products from Waterford Crystal and Belleek, Connemara Marble, Boru Jewelry and others.  Named after the Gaelic word for "shop," Siopa.com is renowned for their impeccable customer service, reliability, and extensive variety of otherwise hard-to-find genuine Irish foods and other items--and we are thrilled to be able to count them as part of the Carolina Sauce Company family.

What impressed me the most about Siopa.com was their selection of beautifully-appointed and bountiful Irish food gift baskets, available in a range of price points and carefully shipped to the U.S. to ensure freshness and complete satisfaction for the recipient.  Among the different gift baskets they offer are a St. Patrick's Day Gift Basket (pictured on left) with scones, Irish butter, rashers & sausages, teas, jam and other treats for a magnificent Irish breakfast on St. Patrick's Day or any other day you feel like saying "Top o' the morning to you!"  This gift basket is merely one of several different gifts currently available especially for St. Patrick's Day. You can browse more of their St. Patrick's Day food gifts when you visit Siopa's seasonal selection of Irish gifts.

Another impressive gift choice for an ex-pat or anyone else who enjoys Irish food is the "Taste of Home" Irish Hamper with a brown soda bread mix, blackcurrant preserves, brandy butter, Brewleys Coffee, Irish Morning Tea, lemon biscuits, chocolates, puddings, marmalade and other assorted delights.  There's also a gift box filled with traditional Irish treats including Tayto cheese & onion crisps, figrolls, biscuits, chocolates, brown bread and other goodies for snacking.  You can even order smoked Irish salmon, delivered in a lovely gift-wrapped box for a memorable presentation.

So the next time you're in the mood for Irish food or are looking for an authentic gift from Ireland--especially as St. Patrick's Day approaches--remember to shop with our partner Siopa.com. 

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  If Irish cheeses are your thing, we have a marvelous collection of real Irish cheeses in our Irish Cheese Gift Set, which includes Cashel Blue, Dubliner, Cahill Farm Cheddar with Porter Ale, and Shamrock Cheddar.  You can find additional gourmet gifts and gift baskets from the U.S. and around the world when you visit out Gourmet Gift Baskets page and also our Gourmet Gifts page, where you'll see a selection of featured food gifts from our partners.  To order, view additional information, or browse a partner's complete selection of gourmet gifts and gift baskets, simply click on any link there to visit the partner site where you'll be able to place an order, read more info about the gift item, and browse their other offerings.

Top 10 Best-Selling Hot Sauce Gifts for 2011

If you're looking for a unique, memorable and flavorful gift for a hot sauce collector or anyone who likes a little (or a lot) of spicy heat in their food, you won't go wrong with any of the hot sauce gifts on our list of the top ten best-selling gifts for 2011 at the Carolina Sauce Company:

1. Dave's Insanity 2011 Private Reserve Sauce: Made with jolokia chiles (reputedly the hottest peppers on the planet) plus habaneros and tabasco peppers as well as a hefty dose of capsaicin extract for good measure, Dave's Private Reserve is by far his HOTTEST concoction. Each limited-edition bottle is hand-signed, individually numbered and comes in a yellow "caution" tape-wrapped wooden coffin box.

2. Fruits on Fire Gift Set: Lusciously fruity and spicy, the hot sauces in this exclusive gift set include Dave's Gourmet Ginger Peach (mildly spicy & great with chicken, seafood or stir-fry dishes), Marie Sharp's Grapefruit Pulp Habanero Hot Sauce (fiery-hot with savory citrus flavor), Maui Pepper Co. Apples Ass Hot Sauce (rich apple flavor with medium habanero heat), Melinda's Mango Habanero Hot Sauce (a classic Caribbean habanero hot sauce with a tropical mango twist), Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce (a unique blend of sweet-tart cranberries & habaneros that's great with turkey, chicken & pork), and Scorned Woman Sweet Majic Hot Sauce (summery peaches & apricots plus peppery heat).

3. Lawyer's Gift Set: A great gift for your favorite attorney, judge, paralegal, law student or other legal professional, the four artisan hot sauces in this gift set feature palate-pleasing flavors and tongue-tingling heat, with comical labels and names like So Sue Me, Contempt of Court, Under the Influence, and Lawyer's Breath.

4. Toad Sweat Dessert Hot Sauce mini-4-pack: Featuring all four flavors of the award-winning Toad Sweat Dessert Hot Sauces (which are wonderful on cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes, hot cereal, and even with some entrees like chicken, turkey, fish & seafood, or pork), including mild Lemon-Vanilla, medium Chocolate-Orange, medium-hot Cranberry, and hot Key Lime.

5. Dave's Insanity Sauce Gift Set: If you want all four of Dave's Gourmet Insanity Sauces at a discount price, simply order this gift set, which comes with full-size bottles of the original Insanity Sauce, Dave's Temporary Insanity, Dave's Total Insanity, and Dave's Ultimate Insanity Sauce.

6. Blair's 3am Reserve Extract, red-black-yellow wax & signed: This super-hot pepper extract comes in an eye-catching heavy glass bottle that's hand-signed and topped with red, black and yellow molten wax. Blair's 3 a.m. Reserve rates between 1.5 and 2 million Scoville Heat Units (SHUs), so use with extreme caution if you dare!

7. Blair's 2am Reserve Extract, red-black wax & signed: This is the first of Blair's notorious "a.m." pepper extracts made in limited quantities and attractively gift-packaged. The sauce rates between 650,000-900,000 SHUs and comes in a hand-signed heavy glass bottle that's sealed with black, red and white molten wax, making it a coveted collector's item among hot sauce aficionados.

8. Ultra-Hot Hot Sauce Gift Set: This specially-priced hot sauce gift set is exclusive to the Carolina Sauce Company and comes with full-size bottles of 9 of our hottest hot sauces, including Blair's Sudden Death Sauce, Da Bomb Ground Zero, Dave's Ultimate Insanity, Liquid Stoopid, Mad Dog .357, Marie Sharp's BEWARE, Predator Great White Shark, Vicious Viper, and You Can't Handle This Hot Sauce.

9. 16 Million Pure Capsaicin Crystals Kit: For the hot sauce fanatic who is brave (or crazy) enough to make their own ultra-hot sauces, this kit comes with a sealed vial of 16 Million SHU pure capsaiacin crystals, an aluminum waterproof carrying case for the vial, chemical-resistant lab gloves and plastic tweezer forceps for safe handling of the crystals, and a surgical-grade face mask to keep you safe when handling the crystals.

10. Scary Sauces Gift Set: Another hot sauce gift that's unique to the Carolina Sauce Company, this gift set is especially popular around Halloween and comes with full-size bottles of Satan's Blood, Widow No Survivors (with a realistic plastic black spider attached to the bottle), You Can't Handle This Hot Sauce, and Blair's After Death Sauce.

Zestfully yours,

Gloria

PS:  To see other category-specific lists of our best-selling sauces and seasonings, simply visit our new Best-Selling Products page.

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

Hunter Bay Coffee

Meet our newest Partner, Hunter Bay Coffee, gourmet coffee roasters from Missoula, Montana!  Trained in traditional European roasting techniques by some of the world’s finest Master Roasters, Hunter Bay slow-roasts premium coffee beans daily in small batches to ensure the freshest possible flavor and highest quality.  Their offerings include twelve premium coffee blends made from three or more high-grade coffees combined to emphasize specific flavor tones, body, and roast; three Single-Origin coffees selected from the world's best estates and roasted to highlight the unique qualities of each coffee; three Italian-style Espressos created specifically for espresso-making; and three outstanding decaffeinated coffees.  Hunter Bay also offers a wide selection of 100% organic coffees and is certified as an organic handler by the Montana Department of Agriculture.

In addition to their retail coffees sold by the bag, Hunter Bay Coffee also offers an excellent variety of coffee gift baskets for any occasion, coffee of the month clubs for coffee-lovers, and wholesale coffee roasting for commercial accounts.  They even have exquisite loose-leaf teas as well.  And if you're in the market for a French press, coffee grinder, immersion thermometer, travel mug or the like, make sure to check out their coffee accessories.

Let's extend a hearty Southern welcome to Hunter Bay Coffee, and be on the lookout for more exciting Carolina Sauce Company new-product announcements in the very near future!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

New Gourmet Gifts!

Are you looking for a tasteful housewarming gift, a gourmet business or corporate gift, a thank-you gift for a hospitable host, a special-occasion gift for someone who enjoys cooking, or simply wish to treat yourself to an assortment of delicious products for your kitchen, grill or table? Check out our new Gourmet Gifts at the Carolina Sauce Company! Our wide selection of gift sets available from our partners includes imported pastas, vinegars and oils from Italy, fine European cheeses, American BBQ and grilling gifts, and international selections for serving authentic Spanish tapas and savory Italian antipasto, Alpine fondue, and more. Our gourmet gift sets offer something for every taste and budget--we even have a Gluten-Free Gift Set with hard-to-find, good-tasting gluten-free products, and a surprisingly affordable Travel Spice Kit with 15 different spices and herbs packed in a convenient travel case, the perfect remedy to bland food on the road.

The featured gift sets are just a small sampling of what we have in the works, however. Make sure to bookmark our Gourmet Gifts page and check this blog regularly because we'll soon have exquisite gift baskets and gift boxes, scrumptious baking and dessert gifts, exotic spices and sea salt, fine teas and coffee, seasonal favorites like cider and cocoa, and even premium gourmet gifts like Russian and domestic caviar. We'll also be expanding our selection of cheeses, meats, pantry staples, imported specialties, sauces and condiments, as well as re-stocking old favorites from North Carolina in our warehouse.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Need a Last-Minute Christmas Gift?

If you're like me, you haven't finished your Christmas shopping and still need a gift for at least one more person on your list -- and you're rapidly running out of time and ideas. While I can't buy you more time, I can suggest two easy Christmas gifts that are sure to bring a smile, and which require almost no effort on your part - and which will arrive by Christmas, too!

1. Send a Carolina Sauce Company gift certificate. Our gift certificates NEVER expire, and are impossible to lose because we keep a record in our system and can look them up if someone misplaces the emailed certificate. To send a Carolina Sauce gift certificate, simply select the amount you want for your certificate, enter the recipient's email address, and complete the online checkout process, and we will email the gift certificate to the recipient in 3 days, which means they'll have it on Christmas Day. If you prefer a paper gift certificate, simply enter YOUR email address as the "recipient", and you'll receive the certificate via email in 3 days (on Dec 25th if you order today) and can then print it out to hand to the person you want to give it to. Finally, if you need the gift certificate before Christmas Day, simply print out the email confirmation that you will receive right after you order the gift certificate - although that in itself is not a certificate, it's proof that you purchased it and that the recipient will get the actual certificate via email.

2. Send a Gift Basket, Flowers, or Gourmet Foods from one of our affiliates. Choose from bountiful themed gift baskets in every price range, gorgeous fresh flower bouquets directly from the growers and stunning floral arrangements, mouthwatering gourmet food gifts and more, all through specially-selected vendors including GrowerFlowers, LobsterGram, Wine Enthusiast, and more. Simply click on the boxes on the left column of this blog to visit one of our affiliates and view their offerings, and they can ship your gift so that it arrives in time for Christmas.

Hope that helps, and good luck with your last-minute holiday shopping!
Zestfully yours,
Gloria