Top 10 Best-Selling Salsa, Wing Sauce & Condiments for 2013

Salsa, mustard and wing sauce, oh my! Plus ketchup and steak sauce, too! If you enjoy high-quality, great-tasting zesty condiments to liven up your burgers, hot dogs, wings, nachos, steaks, eggs, sausages and more, it's time to try one or more of our best-selling condiments from the Carolina Sauce Company:

1. Gator Hammock Swamp Mustard comes to us from Florida and gets its feisty tang from locally grown hot peppers. Seductively sassy with a mellow tropical sweetness from juicy ripe guavas, this mustard will make your taste buds sing whether you eat it with brats or kielbasa, burgers or hot dogs, ham sandwiches or turkey clubs, salt-sprinkled pretzels or breaded chicken tenders.

2. Bone Suckin' Sweet Hot Mustard is pourable and dippable but still thick enough to spread on sandwich bread. Made in North Carolina using only natural ingredients, it's pleasantly peppery without burning, and gently sweet without cloying. You can also use it for basting ribs and roasts, and add it to recipes like potato salad, egg salad and the like.

3. Pain is Good Honey Habanero Screaming Wing Sauce is a relative newcomer to the Carolina Sauces online store, and yet it was our best-selling hot wing sauce last year. From the makers of the world-famous Pain Is Good Hot Sauces, this fiery-sweet chicken wing sauce delivers big-time in the flavor and heat departments. All-natural and made with olive oil instead of butter or margarine, it will satisfy wing lovers who are ready to move beyond standard Buffalo sauces.

4. Melinda's Black Pepper Ketchup is a far cry from the mass-produced, super-sweet, one-dimensional kid stuff sold in supermarkets. Using only the finest all-natural ingredients and absolutely NO high fructose corn syrup, this superb ketchup boasts true tomato flavor with just the right balance of natural sweetness and savory spice with a pleasantly piquant bite. Take your hamburgers, scrambled eggs, French fries and other old favorites to new heights when you dress them up with this spicy gourmet ketchup.

5. Anchor Bar Original Buffalo Wing Sauce is THE hot wing sauce that began the chicken wing craze some decades ago at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. Medium in heat with that trademark cayenne tang and buttery mouthfeel, this one is the real deal and a favorite of purists when it comes to genuine buffalo wings and buffalo shrimp.

6. Naga Jolokia 10 Hot Wing Sauce raises the stakes when it comes to ultra-hot "suicide wings" made in the Buffalo style. The searing heat comes from the legendary ghost pepper (also called the naga or bhut jolokia chili). But this wing sauce also tastes good, thanks to a rich and zesty blend of tomatoes and specially selected spices. It's made with real butter, too.

7. Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce is reminiscent of classic American steak sauces, but with a delightful tropical twist. Bananas and mangoes join the usual tamarind and raisins found in ordinary steak sauces, while nutmeg, allspice and thyme add a touch of Jamaican flair to the basic blend of spices and savory ingredients used in regular steak sauces. The end result is a multidimensional, food-friendly condiment that any steak, burger, roast, chop or other hearty meat would be proud to wear.

8. Dave's Insanity Ghost Pepper Salsa is the latest iteration of Insanity Salsa from Dave's Gourmet, and this time he's taken the heat to new levels of madness with the addition of ridiculously hot ghost peppers. If you are brave enough -- and have a sufficiently strong stomach -- to eat this super-hot salsa, you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that it actually tastes good and is not just about the burn, which builds slowly but steadily with every bite. Other than the heat level, it's a classic tomato salsa that pairs naturally with chips, tacos, nachos, burritos, enchiladas and everything else you like to dress up with hot salsa.

9. Ass Kickin' Habanero Mustard is a southwestern style mustard with a hefty habanero kick. Whole mustard seeds are ground together with horseradish for a powerful sinus-clearing punch, but don't worry, there's a touch of honey to soften the blow and bring everything together into a top-class zesty mustard for everyday use.

10. TIE Peppers Original Blue Crab Salsa and Key West Key Lime Salsa: One of my favorite salsas from a jar is the original Blue Crab Salsa from Peppers. It's a traditional tomato, pepper & onion salsa that's medium in heat and has real Maryland blue crab meat mixed in! Sounds weird? It isn't. It's phenomenally good if you like crab, and is wonderful straight from the jar, with chips, on nachos, in quesadillas or over seafood enchiladas, and even as an alternative to traditional tomato sauce for pasta. Another unusual but delectable salsa is Key West Key Lime Salsa, with a bright citrusy flavor from real Key lime juice. Zesty, sassy and lightly sweet with just the right amount of jalapeno heat, it's refreshing like a warm tropical breeze at the beach -- and it pairs beautifully with salty chips, chicken nachos and more.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Maybe Not the Smartest Thing to Bring on a Plane...

Buy Mustard Gas Hot Sauce

If you're serious about your hot sauce and other zesty condiments, you probably have one or two favorites that you bring with you on the road. After all, most food would otherwise simply taste boring.

Unfortunately, the TSA has made it more difficult to bring along your favorite sauces when traveling by air, limiting us to mini hot sauce bottles in a quart-size baggie for carry-on luggage.

Full-size bottles are still generally fine to bring along in checked luggage, and of course you need to pack them with care so that they don't break or leak in transit.

If you choose to bring along a few bottles of hot sauce in your luggage, however, here's a tip:

Leave Crazy Jerry's Mustard Gas Hot Sauce at home.

I know, I know, it may be difficult to have to go without this potent concoction that expertly combines the sinus-clearing, tear-jerking power of REAL mustard (think wasabi or Chinese restaurant mustard) with the tongue-searing, heart-pumping burn of pepper extracts. This super-hot mustard hot sauce takes capsaicin-induced adrenaline rushes to new heights.

But if some overzealous TSA agent happens to open your bag for inspection and finds the metal "mustard gas" canister that encases this hot sauce, you may have some serious "splaining" to do.

So here's my advice:

If you know you'll be visiting friends or family and you can't bear the thought of spending days eating woefully bland food with only wimpy supermarket condiments for seasoning, simply plan ahead and order Crazy Jerry's Mustard Gas Hot Sauce (or whatever your favorite spicy condiment happens to be) from the Carolina Sauces online store and have it shipped your destination ahead of your departure. Your taste buds will thank you.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling Wing Sauces, Salsas & Condiments for 2012

Now's the time to start planning your menu for watching the Big Game, and we've got the zesty salsa, spicy wing sauces and full-flavored mustard & other condiments you need. Regardless of whether you and your friends are cheering for different teams in the Superbowl, you'll probably all agree that our best-selling products are crowd-pleasing winners.

Without further ado, here are the ten best-selling salsas, wing sauces and condiments at the Carolina Sauce Company for all of 2012:

1. Peppers Original Blue Crab Salsa: This is one of my favorite salsas on the planet. Made with chunky tomatoes and peppers plus real Maryland blue crabmeat, it's medium-spicy, freshly flavorful like homemade salsa, and will delight anyone who loves crab.

2. Dave's Insanity Ghost Pepper Salsa: This insanely hot tomato salsa is only for hard-core chileheads and serious fiery-foods fanatics. Smooth rather than chunky, a healthy (or unhealthy, depending on your perspective) helping of bhut jolokia aka naga jolokia aka ghost peppers is blended with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, habaneros and a dash of capsaicin extract--as if the fiery peppers didn't provide enough heat.

3. Crazy Jerry's Margarita Butt Burner Hot Salsa: As its name suggests, this hot, tropical tomato salsa was inspired by the Margarita and is spiked with a shot of tequila. Limes and pineapples provide the requisite tangy citrus notes, while green chiles, serranos, jalapenos and habaneros deliver the heat. It's like a fiesta in a jar!

4. Pickapeppa Brown Sauce: Similar to a steak sauce in appearance and flavor, this spicy brown sauce is ubiquitous in the Caribbean where it is enjoyed with red meat as well as bean dishes and chicken. Medium-hot and with a robust, rich and complex flavor with a touch of sweetness and fruit, it's superb on steaks, burgers, chops, roasts and other hearty fare.

5. Key West Key Lime Salsa: This sweet and citrusy tomato salsa gets is medium heat from jalapenos and its sunny island tang from real key lime juice. It's a natural with tortilla chips and other salty dippers, as well as on all your favorite Mexican, Tex-Mex and Southwestern foods. Try it with breaded shrimp instead of your usual cocktail sauce!

6. Bone Suckin' Sweet Hot Mustard: This North Carolina favorite is lusciously sweet with a sassy jalapeno kick. Slather it on sandwiches, hot dogs and burgers, enjoy it as a dip for pretzels or chicken fingers, use it as a glaze on ribs and ham, and blend it into your favorite prepared salads (e.g., tuna, egg, potato, macaroni, etc.).

7. Melinda's Jalapeno Ketchup: If you've been longing for a grown-up, wholesome spicy ketchup that tastes great, isn't too sweet and has a good medium-hot burn, this is the one for you. All-natural and with NO high fructose corn syrup, this mouthwatering ketchup is hot enough to please most fans of fiery foods but not so hot that you can't enjoy the flavor of your food.

8. DEFCON 2 Medium Wing Sauce: This award-winning Buffalo style wing sauce is probably my favorite of all the Buffalo wing sauces I've ever tried. Its classic cayenne tang will please the purist and its silky-smooth, velvety-rich mouthfeel is proof that it really is made with cream and not margarine or oil. Best of all, it won't drip off your wings (or Buffalo shrimp), so you can relish in every last bit of goodness and even lick your fingers if no one is watching.

9. Busha Browne's Planters Steak Sauce: If you're bored with everyday supermarket steak sauces and are ready to replace your tired old condiments, this spicy (but not fiery) steak sauce is for you. Mangoes and Seville oranges add a hint of tropical fruit to the traditional savory steak sauce base, and crushed red peppers provide a peppery kick to keep things interesting.

10. Melinda's Habanero Ketchup: This fiery-hot ketchup is just as flavorful and wholesome as Melinda's other ketchups, but significantly hotter thanks to the generous addition of fresh habanero peppers. Use with care or be prepared to burn (twice). But if you can handle the heat, go ahead and pour it on your burgers, scrambled eggs, French fries and anything else you'd normally eat with ketchup.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 5 Zesty Burger Condiments

Flickr photo by emerson12

Today is National Cheeseburger Day, so it seems appropriate to list my top five favorite burger condiments, from 5th to 1st. Whether you prefer grass-fed beef or fast-food fare, veggie burgers or venison patties, or any other style of cheeseburger in between, you won't go wrong with one or more of these zesty condiments:

5.  Barbecue Sauce: Many people who enjoy barbeque sauce on burgers--particularly on grilled cheeseburgers topped with cheddar or pepperjack cheese--are looking for a big, bold tomato based BBQ sauce that's a little bit sweet and a little bit sassy to complement the hearty flavors of the burger. My favorite for pouring on a burger is Outta the Park BBQ Sauce, a North Carolina original that's not a vinegar-based barbecue sauce, but rather a classic All-American sauce with lots of savory-sweet tomato. The Original finishes with a bit of a spicy kick while the Hot & Spicy version adds a secret blend of hot peppers for a feisty heat.

4.  Relish:  While a lot of burger enthusiasts stick with traditional pickle relish made from cucumber, I prefer the flavor and fire of a good, spicy pepper relish. An excellent choice is Texas Longhorn Bread & Butter Jalapeno Dip, chock-full of chopped green jalapeno peppers pickled in a tangy-sweet "bread and butter" style brine for a burst of fiery heat and mouthwatering relish-like flavor.

Spicy Pickles

3.  Pickles: You either love them or hate them on your cheeseburger. I love them. And because I tend towards hot & spicy foods when given a choice, my recommendation is Tabasco Spicy Garlic Dill Pickles. There's just enough peppery heat to tickle your tastebuds, while the garlic provides a pleasant pungency that complements the meatiness of a good burger (and also enhances the flavor of veggie burgers).

2.  Mustard:  I must confess that most of the time, I don't put mustard on my cheeseburger if I'm eating a beef burger.... but if the patty is made from another ground meat such as venison, chicken or turkey, or if I'm eating a veggie cheeseburger, the sharp tang of a good mustard makes the overall flavor more enticing, at least to my palate. And when I'm faced with a non-beef burger and I'm craving a meaty flavor, my choice of mustard is Jim Beam Bacon Mustard. It's a classic American mustard that's dressed up with a splash of Kentucky bourbon and the unmistakeably meaty, smoky flavor of bacon.

Black Pepper Ketchup

1.  Ketchup:  Hands down, my favorite condiment for a cheeseburger (or any burger) is ketchup, ideally a high-quality ketchup like one of Melinda's Ketchups, made with the finest all-natural ingredients and no high-fructose corn syrup for a grown-up, gourmet flavor that's neither one-dimensional nor cloyingly sweet like the major brands you find at the supermarket.  Melinda's Ketchups come in five different varieties with varying levels of spice: The mildest is her Black Pepper Ketchup with an upscale flavor and a touch of peppery zip; next is Melinda's Jalapeno Ketchup with a pleasant medium heat and distinctive jalapeno pepper tang; then there's her Chipotle Ketchup with similar heat but that earthy chipotle smokiness; then for serious chileheads Melinda makes a fiery-hot Habanero Ketchup that's one of the hottest (and tastiest) on the market; and finally there's the incendiary Naga Jolokia Ketchup made with the notorious ghost pepper, considered by many to be the world's hottest hot pepper.

What's your favorite cheeseburger condiment? Leave us a comment below to let us know, or tell us on the Carolina Sauce Facebook page. We love hearing from you!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

A Spicy Take on Honey Mustard

Tobago Keys Spicy Honey Mustard

A rich, creamy honey mustard that balances sweetness and tang can be hard to find--and if you're interested in such a honey mustard that's also spicy, it's darn near impossible... until now.

The Carolina Sauce Company is now your source for the fabled Tobago Keys Royale Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, a habanero-heated blend of real honey, yellow mustard, mayonnaise, and other natural ingredients including just the right amount of fiery habanero peppers, for a honey mustard of incomparable taste, versatility and peppery zip.

Whether you use this spicy honey mustard as a salad dressing or as a marinade, a sandwich spread or grilling and basting sauce, at the table or in a recipe, Tobago Keys Honey Mustard will not disappoint. Most people will find it milder in heat than another popular sweet and spicy mustard, Dave's Gourmet Hurtin' Habanero Honey Mustard, and more velvety-smooth on the palate, too, for that "homemade" mouthfeel that's often lacking in bottled honey mustards.

In addition to its obvious use as a creamy dressing for salads and cooked vegetables or as a dipping sauce for raw veggies or fried snacks (e.g., jalapeno poppers, chicken tenders, French fries, onion rings, etc.), this honey mustard adds a feisty kick to deviled eggs, chicken salad and creamy coleslaw. It's excellent as a sauce for grilled, broiled or steamed fish as well as with roasted chicken. Enjoy it in your sandwiches and wraps, too, whether filled with smoked turkey or other cold cuts or even with sliced vegetables, cheese and sprouts. The possibilities are limited only by your culinary creativity.

You can find Tobago Keys Honey Mustard online on our Hot & Spicy Mustards page.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Bacon Mustard is Here!

Jim Beam Bacon Mustard

There's a popular saying that "bacon makes everything better" (or, if you prefer, "everything's better with bacon"), so it should come as no surprise that bacon makes that ubiquitous cookout condiment, yellow mustard, MUCH better.

Jim Beam Bacon Mustard might look like your everyday mustard when you first squeeze it out of the bottle, but once you taste it you'll discover a whole new realm of deliciousness. Beginning with a traditional ballpark-style yellow mustard-turmeric-vinegar base that's a little bit tangy and pungent, a splash of real Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon whiskey adds mellow depth and hints of caramel while natural bacon flavor provides a subtle smoky meatiness that will have your mouth watering at first bite.
This is the kind of mustard that will tempt hard-core vegetarians into becoming "closet" bacon-eaters.

If you're wondering what it's good on, then you're thinking too much: Jim Beam Bacon Mustard tastes like bacon and so it makes EVERYTHING better, of course! In all seriousness, however, it's a natural with burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, sausage, ham or turkey sandwiches and all other meat-related "applications." It also adds smoky, bacon-y richness to deviled eggs and prepared salads that call for mustard--especially chicken salad made from smoked chicken, or everyday egg or pasta salad and the like. And you can substitute bacon mustard for ordinary supermarket yellow mustard in any other recipes calling for mustard if you want to enhance the flavor.

Jim Beam Bacon Mustard and many other hard-to-find mustard and ketchup products, are now on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you're looking for some bacon ketchup to go with the bacon mustard, we have it: Check out Slappin' Fat Bacon Ketchup, also on sale.

Gator Hammock Products Now Available!

The Carolina Sauce Company is pleased to announce that we now offer Gator Hammock sauces and seasonings on our online store!  These award-winning hot sauces and seasonings are made in Florida from all-natural ingredients including aged cayenne peppers and no MSG or other artificial ingredients, so you get pure, clean peppery flavor in every bottle and jar.

The original Gator Hammock Gator Sauce was released in 1989 and is a classic cayenne pepper sauce with a vinegar base with a touch of garlic and other spices for a fuller flavor than your average one-dimensional grocery store hot sauce. Gator Sauce is the table sauce of choice for people who like to add a splash of heat to most dishes, from scrambled eggs and hash browns for breakfast, to sandwiches, pizza or soups for lunch, and pretty much any dinner entree from meats to pasta to beans & rice, vegetable side dishes, casseroles and other savory meals.

For folks who prefer a spicier, hotter flavor there's Gator Hammock Swamp Gator Hot Sauce, which adds the fire and flavor of fresh habaneros, jalapenos and hammock peppers.  Now, you might be asking, "What are hammock peppers?"  That's an excellent question, and one which I've been pondering. A quick online search failed to turn up any answers, as the only references all pointed back to the ingredient lists of Gator Hammock sauces. Perhaps "hammock pepper" is the local name for a type of Florida hot pepper that's more widely known by a different name? If you know what a "hammock pepper" is, please leave a comment to let us know!

The hottest of the Gator Hammock hot sauces is Gator Hammock Lethal Gator Hot Sauce, which starts off with the trademark base of vinegar, aged cayenne peppers and garlic, but then ratchets up the heat to seriously hot levels by adding enough habanero peppers and scotch bonnet peppers to get the attention of even the most jaded chilehead.  Use Lethal Gator Hot Sauce with care on foods that are robust enough to handle the high heat, such as chili recipes, "suicide" Buffalo wings, and the like.  The nice thing about Lethal Gator is that it actually tastes good, and the particular flavor notes of each type of hot pepper can be appreciated (that is, assuming you're an experienced fiery-foods fanatic who can pick out the subtleties of habaneros vs. scotch bonnets vs. cayennes and other hot chile peppers), for a satisfying flavor experience that isn't just about the blazing heat.

Gator Hammock Swamp Mustard is unique in that it has a split personality: It's both a hot sauce that happens to be made with mustard as the main ingredient, AND a pourable spicy mustard for all your mustard needs. It's also uniquely delicious: Tropical guava fruit is added for a natural, subtle fruit sweetness that complements the red cider vinegar and special secret blend of spices to spark up the flavors of anything you pour it on: Hamburgers, hot dogs, ham, sandwiches, kielbasa, veggies, etc. It's also quite good as a dipping sauce for pretzels or chicken nuggets or even jalapeno poppers, or mixed into prepared-salad recipes calling for mustard, in deviled eggs, and even as a glaze ingredient for baked ham.

Last but not least is Gator Hammock Gator Sprinkle, an all-purpose savory BBQ rub and seasoning with plenty of zesty garlic, a variety of peppers for layers of spicy flavor, and other secret spices.  There's no sugar added to this dry rub, so it won't burn on the grill--and it's an excellent choice for low-carb and other sugar-restricted diets.  Rub it on meat or chicken and let marinate before grilling for mouthwatering flavor. Sprinkle it on grilled vegetables, baked potatoes, fish, egg dishes and even fries or popcorn. It's also a great spice blend to mix into ground beef for flavorful, juicy burgers.

You can find all of these Gator Hammock products *on sale* at the Carolina Sauce Company online store.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Think Outside the Jar for Zesty Sandwich Condiments

Are you guilty of automatically reaching for a jar of bland mayonnaise or ho-hum yellow mustard when slapping some cold cuts on bread for a quick sandwich?  It's time to think outside the jar and add some zest to your sandwich!  Here are three of my favorite ways to bring an ordinary sandwich to new heights of flavor:

1.  Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce:  Similar to a steak sauce, but with brighter, livelier flavors and a subtle touch of tropical fruit with a feisty peppery finish, this all-natural condiment from Belize is amazingly good with roast beef, burgers, and other hearty sandwiches.  Do you have some leftover rotisserie chicken or roast turkey?  Make a sandwich and splash on some of this sauce for a real treat.

2.  Blues BBQ Chipotle Mustard Pepper Sauce:  Sure, it's a hot sauce, but its rich texture and mustard flavor make it the perfect fiery alternative to everyday mustard.  The chipotle adds a smoky depth that works wonders with chicken, turkey and ham sandwiches.

  3.  DEFCON Wing Sauces:  These award-winning Buffalo style wing sauces are simply too good to be limited to chicken-wing use alone.  Surprisingly thick and creamy, they're great for adding tang and spice to roast chicken or turkey sandwiches as well as any meat sandwich.  Stir some DEFCON sauce into your favorite tuna salad, chicken salad or even egg salad to wake up your taste buds.  I prefer to use the mildest (DEFCON 3) or medium (DEFCON 2) for sandwiches, but if you're a serious chilehead you might prefer the ultra-hot DEFCON 1.

And if you're a purist and insist on using mustard and/or ketchup in your sandwiches, then it's time to think outside the grocery store and try some of these unique, flavor-packed mustard and ketchup brands that you can get from the Carolina Sauce Company.

What's your favorite sandwich condiment that's "outside the jar?"  Please leave a comment to let us know!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Jolokia 10 Mustard

Rarely does an extremely hot sauce or condiment also rate highly for excellent flavor. The new Jolokia 10 Mustard is that rare exception, masterfully blending two of the hottest peppers on the planet with premium yellow mustard for a result that is tantalizingly delicious while burning the bejeezus out of you.

Unlike other hot mustards that rely on wasabi or horseradish for a sinus-clear kick, or on funky-tasting capsaicin extracts to artificially ratchet up the heat, Jolokia 10 Mustard does it the old-fashioned way with simple, natural ingredients. As you've probably figured from the name, the Naga (Bhut) Jolokia Pepper--recently recognized as the world's hottest hot pepper--plays a major role in this fiery mustard, and it's paired with ultra-hot Red Savina habanero peppers for additional dimensions of peppery flavor and fire. Because the base mustard used is a high-quality product, and no artificial heat-boosters have been added, your first taste will present the familiar flavor of a well-made yellow mustard. But within a few seconds the intense heat will announce its presence, and will build steadily with each bite until it is searingly hot. Yes, you might cry, but you'll be shedding tears of pleasure as well as pain as you discover what a well-made ultra-hot mustard should taste like!

If you are serious about your fiery foods, Jolokia 10 Mustard is a must for your table. Use it like you would any mustard, albeit judiciously and with respect. Jolokia 10 Mustard is perfect for robust grilled fare like sausages, bratwurst and kielbasa, on hot dogs and burgers, as a wet-rub for pork loin and chops, and as a spicy addition to your favorite deviled eggs or potato salad recipe. If you follow a low-carb or no-sugar diet, you'll be glad to know that this mustard has no sugar added. It's also very low sodium, in case you're watching your sodium intake. Normally retailing for $10 a jar, it's currently on sale online at the Carolina Sauce Company where you can now buy Jolokia 10 mustard for only $8.95 a jar!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top Ten Best-Selling Mustards & Ketchups for 2010

Here is our list of the top ten Best-Selling Mustards and Ketchups (or catsups, if you prefer) for 2010 at the Carolina Sauce Company online store:

1. For the second consecutive year, our best-selling mustard was Bone Suckin' Mustard, a North Carolina favorite from the same folks who make the world-famous Bone Suckin' Sauce. Bone Suckin' Mustard is sweet and spicy, can be used for dipping and as a spread, and you can use it in cooking too--in fact, it comes with free recipes when you order it from us.

2. Moving up dramatically to finish as our best-selling ketchup (and second place on this list) was the fiery-hot Melinda's Habanero Ketchup, an all-natural, HFCS-free, savory ketchup that gets its blazing-hot heat from a hefty dose of habanero peppers. Use with caution on anything you'd use ordinary ketchup on: burgers, fries, onion rings, scrambled eggs, hot dogs, etc.

3. Also jumping up several slots from 2009 to 2010 was Melinda's Jalapeno Ketchup, a zesty, savory, all-natural ketchup (no HFCS) with plenty of jalapeno tang and medium-hot burn. This is my "go-to" ketchup at home, and once you taste it you'll never go back to regular grocery store ketchup (unless, of course, you live with a hot sauce wimp who needs the mild, sweet "kid stuff")

4. Another condiment I use at home finished 4th on this list last year: Texas Pete Honey Mustard Sauce, which is made in NC despite the name. Unlike other honey mustards, this one is less sweet and has a nice tang as well as a pourable consistency, so you can enjoy it as a salad dressing, a dip for pretzels and other finger food, or a condiment for sandwiches and grilled sausages.

5. The smoky-hot, all-natural Melinda's Chipotle Ketchup finished fifth on our list of best-selling ketchups and mustards. This all-natural ketchup is a favorite of foodies and chileheads with its rich, complex flavors and NO high-fructose corn syrup.

6. Durn Good Hot & Spicy Mustard is made in NC and lives up to its laudatory name. This traditional yellow mustard is spiced with just the right amount of peppery heat for a pleasant medium kick that will wake up your hot dogs, deviled eggs, brats, sandwiches, and anything else on which you slather it.

7. Dave's Hurtin' Habanero & Honey Mustard is an award-winning mustard that blends fiery-hot habanero peppers and red chiles with sweet honey for a tantalizing taste that enhances grilled foods and dresses up sandwiches & hot dogs.

8. The sweet and mildly spicy Burning Asphalt Zesty Jalapeno Ketchup from upstate New York broke into the top ten last year with a very respectable 8th place finish.

9. Another newcomer to the annual top ten list was Ass Kickin' Mustard, a Dijon style mustard that gets its feisty kick from habanero peppers and horseradish.

10. Completing our list of the top ten best-selling mustards and ketchups for 2010 was Burning Asphalt Blazin' Habanero Ketchup, a sweet ketchup with enough habanero and jalapeno heat to satisfy serious fiery foods fanatics. The racing-themed label makes this hard-to-find spicy ketchup an ideal gift for auto racing fans who like their food HOT.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Saying Goodbye to Scorned Woman Mustard

I was dismayed to learn today that Scorned Woman Mustard has been discontinued by the manufacturer. What a shame, as this was one of my favorite mustards and also one of the best-selling mustards at the Carolina Sauce Company. Its thick texture featured little bits of garlic, onion and pepper, providing for a pleasingly interesting mouthfeel, and the flavor was classic dijon with complementary herbs and spices plus a fiery chile pepper wallop. Alas, I won't have another chance to slather it on sandwiches or sausage now that it's gone for good and I finished my last jar several days ago....

Although there's no other mustard that tastes just like Scorned Woman mustard, another one of my favorites comes close, Trolly Stop Hot Mustard from Wilmington NC. This one also has a thick, rich texture with a dijon base and interestingly complex layers of flavor which include a subtle hint of sweetness and smoke, neither of which asserts itself but rather adds depth and dimension. The heat level is comparable, so if you enjoyed the spiciness of Scorned Woman mustard, I think you'll be pleased with the Trolly Stop mustard -- and no, that's not a typo on my part. The product is actually called "Trolly Stop", not "trolley".

Since Scorned Woman Mustard is no longer available, we've reduced the price of our popular Scorned Woman Gift Set, which features the remaining Scorned Woman products including the 3 different hot sauces, the salsa, BBQ Sauce and wing sauce. And we've replaced the Scorned Woman Mustard with the aforementioned Trolly Stop Mustard Sauce in our Mustard Lover's Gift Set. I hope to have new photos of both of these gift sets posted on the Carolina Sauce online store in the near future.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mustard Coupon Sale Extended through Sunday Aug 8th!

The Carolina Sauce Company has been running a one-day coupon sale today on all mustards and mustard gifts in celebration of National Mustard Day. By popular demand, we're extending the coupon sale through tomorrow Sunday, August 8th! Save 10% off all mustards and mustard gifts today AND tomorrow when you use the coupon code Mustard2010. Simply enter the coupon code in the coupon field on the billing page when you order online. This coupon is now good through Sunday, August 8, 2010, in celebration of National Mustard Day (which is technically today the 7th, but why limit this zesty celebration to just One single day??)

If you want to find out which are my favorite mustards, simply read my earlier post.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Celebrate National Mustard Day: 10% off Coupon!

Today is National Mustard Day! What better way to celebrate than with a coupon for 10% off ALL mustards and mustard gifts at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! Simply enter the coupon code Mustard2010 in the coupon field on the billing page when you order online, and you'll get 10% off all mustards, mustard gift boxes and mustard gift sets in your order. This coupon is only good TODAY, August 7, 2010, in celebration of National Mustard Day, so don't delay and place your order today!

Looking for a new mustard to try? Here are my favorites:

Scorned Woman Mustard: This thick Dijon style mustard has great flavor and texture with little bits of hot peppers, onions and garlic. The medium-hot heat comes from jalapeno peppers, red peppers and habaneros.

Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce: Usually available only from a local hot dog vendor in Wilmington NC, this gem of a mustard is brimming with mouthwatering layers of flavor including a touch of smoky heat from chipotles, a subtle sweetness from honey and pineapple, and a feisty kick from habaneros and ginger. Makes every hot dog, burger or sausage a gourmet experience!

Burning Asphalt White Wine Dijon Dipping Mustard: Creamy and elegantly smooth, this rich Dijon mustard is all about flavor (no heat) and is fabulous on sandwiches, as a dip for veggies or chicken fingers, and as a glaze for ham or chicken. Even kids love this mustard!

You can also check out our list of best-selling mustards for more ideas. Just remember to use the coupon code Mustard2010 to get 10% off today only!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

All Burning Asphalt Sauces Are Back In Stock!

Fans of zesty foods will be thrilled to learn that all Burning Asphalt sauces and condiments are now back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! Made by a small family business in the tiny town of Forestville in rural upstate New York, Burning Asphalt first caught my attention with their spicy and tasty Buffalo wing sauces, including their innovative Ranch Wing Sauce which adds a touch of creamy ranch dressing to their traditional Buffalo wing sauce recipe. But this company with the racing-inspired name and logo (they're huge NASCAR fans) isn't just about wing sauces. Burning Asphalt also makes a wonderful line of fiery and flavorful hot sauces (currently on sale), ranging from tangy jalapeno to flaming habanero, plus a habanero-garlic and a sweet garlic hot sauce as well.

This affinity for blending food-friendly flavor with peppery fire is perfected in Burning Asphalt's spicy ketchups, including Zesty Jalapeno and Blazin' Habanero. Ideal for chargrilled hamburgers, hot dogs and other hearty fare but also quite good with scrambled eggs and sausage, these sweet tomato ketchups feature just the right amount of heat for folks who like a little kick (jalapeno) as well as for those who enjoy playing with fire (habanero). You'll never go back to ordinary grocery store ketchup once you've tasted Burning Asphalt Ketchups. Don't despair if you prefer mustard over ketchup: Burning Asphalt also makes an elegantly delicious White Wine Dijon Mustard that will please even the most discriminating palate (and it's not spicy, so even kids will enjoy it).

And since Burning Asphalt is located in the vicinity of New York's Amish community, it only makes sense that they should also have a couple of old-fashioned barbecue sauces made with farm-fresh ingredients including juicy apples and sweet honey. Featuring an Amish horse & buggy logo on the label, both the Dutch Honey Smoked BBQ Sauce and the Dutch Apple BBQ Sauce are thick and rich, packed with layers of mouthwatering flavor, and are marvelous on ribs, chicken, and anything else you grill. And if you're a steak lover, you've gotta try both varieties of Burning Asphalt Steak Sauce (which are on sale), including their zippy Homestyle Steak Sauce and their sweet & spicy Sweet Pepper Steak & Dipping Sauce.

All of these wonderful Burning Asphalt products are once again available at the Carolina Sauce Company, and now is the time to order them for your Memorial Day cookout!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: In celebration of National BBQ Month and National Burger Month, you can save 10% off all Burning Asphalt barbeque sauces, ketchups and mustards when you use our special blog coupon!

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: May is National BBQ, Burgers & Salad Month!

Coupon Sale for National BBQ, Burgers & Salad Month!

If you love BBQ, burgers, or salads (or all three), you're in luck: May is National BBQ Month as well as National Burger Month, and vegetarians can join in the fun by celebrating National Salad Month! The Carolina Sauce Company can help you celebrate AND save you money. Simply use the coupon code May2010Blog and we'll give you 10% off ALL barbecue sauces, burger condiments, and salad dressings, including already-discounted sale items, no minimum order size required. Now is the time to stock up for your Memorial Day cookout or picnic! This coupon is valid through May 31st, and is good on the following products:

*All BBQ sauces

*All Mustards and Ketchups

*All relishes, which include: Crunchy & tangy-sweet Chow Chow relishes in Mild and Hot, mild & tangy-sweet Sweet Pepper Relish, hot & tangy-sweet Habanero Pepper Relish, fiery-hot & savory (not sweet) Mama T's Hot Pepper Relish, ultra-hot and sweet Twenty-Pepper Relish, and spicy-hot & savory Just My Taste Jalapeno Sauce & Dip

*All condiments, which include: Fiery and tangy-sweet Mixed Hot Pepper Rings, spicy-hot and savory-tart Hot Dill Pickle Chips, and our all-time best-selling product, the tangy mustard-ketchup burger sauce from Greensboro NC called Castle Sauce

*All salad dressings, which include: Mama T's Olive Oil Vinaigrette (a classic herb vinaigrette dressing that's hand-made in the NC Outer Banks) and Thomas Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing (a unique vinaigrette with a zesty tomato twist from a splash of BBQ sauce)

Get 10% off the above products when you use the coupon code May2010Blog. Enter the coupon online in the "coupon code" section of the billing page, or mention the coupon when ordering by phone. This coupon is valid during the ENTIRE month of May, and you can use it more than once, so order as often as you wish during May to save $$$ while celebrating National BBQ, Burgers and Salads!

Last-Minute Mother's Day Gifts

Still haven't found the perfect Mother's Day gift? Here are some beautiful and thoughtful gifts she's sure to love:

*Send breathtaking florist-arranged flowers of the highest quality, all at a reasonable price, such as the Sweet Serenade mixed bouquet of roses, lilies, stock, daisy poms and more, arranged inside a sleek lavender vase decorated with a wearable heart locket and chain.

*Gorgeous fresh flower bouquets shipped directly from the grower, including 12 pastel premium long-stem roses accented with greenery and Baby's Breath

*Pamper your Mom with the luxurious and indulgent So Serene Spa Essentials Gift Basket, or send her a bountiful Gourmet Gift Basket loaded with fabulous foods, delightful snacks and candy confections -- or how about the Bon Appetit Taste of Italy Gift Basket filled with delicious imported treats such as Parmesan bruschetta crisps, Tuscan style dipping herbs, Los Olicos wine biscuits and more.

*Moms are sure to enjoy the magnificent Gourmet Breakfast Basket, a beautiful cloth-lined muffin/bread basket filled with fantastic breakfast favorites including classic buttermilk pancake mix, New England maple syrup, cinnamon nut coffee, Perugina chocolates, cappuccino rolled wafer cookies, European sipping chocolate and more!

*For more last-minute gift options including fresh lobster & steak dinners, fine coffees & wine accessories and more, click on the link boxes at the top of the left column of this blog to see our offerings and select that special gift. Next-day and even same-day delivery options are available!

Latest Zesty New Products

Our newest products offer something for everyone, from mild & tasty to fiery-hot. Check these out:

Bone Suckin' Poultry Seasoning & Rub: From the makers of Bone Suckin' Sauce, this mild and savory-sweet seasoning features an all natural blend of herbs and spices that pair perfectly with chicken, turkey, cornish hens and more. The whole family will love the finger-lickin', bone-suckin' good flavor!

Blue's Chipotle Mustard Pepper Sauce is fiery-hot and robustly flavored with smoky chipotle and zesty mustard in a rich, thick base. Wonderful on everything from burgers to sandwiches to pizza to Tex-Mex and more -- and it's ON SALE!

Carolina Sauce Co. Mixed Hot Pepper Rings are deli-style "bread & butter" (sweet/tangy) pickled hot pepper rings made in the NC Mountains from locally grown hot peppers and all-natural ingredients. Terrific on burgers, subs, sandwiches & more, these zesty hot pepper rings are on sale AND you'll get an extra 10% off when you use the coupon code May2010Blog!

Carolina Sauce Co. Three-Pepper Hot Sauce is made in the Piedmont region of NC from all-natural ingredients and features jalapenos, cayenne and black pepper in a tangy-sweet vinegar base. A tasty, all-purpose hot sauce, it also makes a great spicy-hot sauce for Eastern NC style pulled pork BBQ -- and it's ON SALE!!

May is Military Appreciation Month - Send Free Sauce to a Soldier

Operation Sauce Drop is our non-profit program that sends free gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed abroad. To date, we've shipped over 900 free gift boxes to our deployed military, at absolutely NO cost to them. Our cost to purchase and ship each free gift generally runs from $20 to $25. 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 during Military Appreciation Month? 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).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mustard Coupon for National Pretzel Day!

Today is National Pretzel Day! Whether you prefer the big soft pretzels sold by street vendors and found at sporting events, or the small crunchy ones you buy in bags at convenience and grocery stores, chances are you enjoy your pretzels dipped in or slathered with mustard. If so, you are in luck: In honor of National Pretzel Day, the Carolina Sauce Company is holding a one-day-only coupon sale on all mustards! Simply use the coupon code "Pretzel2010" (without the quotation marks) to get 10% off any and all mustards, including mustard gift boxes and our already-discounted Mustard Gift Set, which features 5 full-size bottles of some of our most popular mustards. There's no minimum purchase required - just make sure you enter the coupon code Pretzel2010 in the coupon field found on the billing page when you order online, OR mention the coupon code if you order by phone (919-286-1080). But don't dilly-dally, as this special coupon is good ONLY on National Pretzel Day 2010, which is TODAY April 26, 2010!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you're looking to try a new mustard that's packed with zesty flavor and is great on sandwiches, hot dogs, pretzels and more, I recommend Trolly Stop Hot Mustard, a local favorite from Wilmington NC that's virtually impossible to find outside the NC coast.

Best-Selling Mustards & Ketchups for 2009

Last year we added zesty ketchups to our condiment offerings at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and several finished on our list of the Top Ten Best-Selling Mustards and Ketchups for 2009. Here is the complete list:

1. The number one best-selling mustard or ketchup last year was the spicy and sweet Bone Suckin' Mustard, made in North Carolina by the same folks who make the world-famous Bone Suckin' Sauce -- and it comes with free recipes!

2. In second place was one of my personal favorites, Scorned Woman Mustard, a thick, hot & spicy savory mustard with great texture and gourmet flavor

3. Texas Pete Honey Mustard Sauce, which is made in NC despite the name, once again finished 3rd (same as in 2008), and has a pourable consistency so you can use it as a not-too-sweet and pleasantly piquant salad dressing or as a dip for pretzels, cheese cubes, chicken nuggets and veggies

4. The award-winning Dave's Hurtin' Habanero & Honey Mustard repeated its 4th place finish from 2008. This mouthwatering mustard features fiery-hot habanero heat that's tempered by sweet honey.

5. Continuing the repeat finishes, the incendiary Dave's Insanity Mustard, whose name says it all, was the fifth best-selling mustard last year (as it was in 2008), and yes, it is insanely hot!

6. In sixth place on our best-selling condiments list was our overall best-selling ketchup, the smoky-hot, all-natural Melinda's Chipotle Ketchup, packed with amazingly tasty and complex flavors, and NO high-fructose corn syrup!

7. Durn Good Hot & Spicy Mustard, a traditional yellow mustard that's revved up with just the right amount of peppery heat, came in 7th last year -- and it comes in two convenient sizes

8. The Carolina Sauce Company's Mustard Lover's Gift Set, featuring 5 of our most popular mustards at a discounted price, ended up in 8th place for 2009, just as it did the previous year

9. Another new ketchup, the fiery-hot Melinda's Habanero Ketchup, debuted strongly and finished 9th on our list of 2009's best-selling mustards and ketchups. It tastes great, is all-natural, has no HFCS, and it's currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

10. Completing our list of 2009's best-selling ketchup & mustards was Melinda's Jalapeno Ketchup, a feisty, flavorful and all-natural ketchup made with no HFCS

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

2008's Best-Selling Mustards

Here's the list of the top ten best-selling mustards for 2008 at the Carolina Sauce Company:

1. The best-selling mustard last year was one of my personal favorites, Scorned Woman Mustard, a thick, hot & spicy savory mustard with great texture and flavor

2. In second place was the spicy and sweet Bone Suckin' Mustard, made in North Carolina by the same folks who make Bone Suckin' Sauce -- and it comes with free recipes!

3. Texas Pete Honey Mustard Sauce, which is also made in NC despite the name, finished 3rd, and has a pourable consistency so you can use it as a not-too-sweet and pleasantly piquant salad dressing or dip for pretzels and veggies

4. The award-winning Dave's Hurtin' Habanero & Honey Mustard took 4th place, with fiery-hot habanero heat that's tempered by sweet honey

5. The incendiary Dave's Insanity Mustard, whose name says it all, was the fifth best-selling mustard last year, and yes, it is seriously hot!

6. Another popular NC product, Durn Good Hot & Spicy Mustard, finished in 6th place, and is a devilishly delicious alternative to plain yellow mustard -- and it comes in two convenient sizes

7. Ass Kickin' Mustard, spiked with habanero and horseradish, took 7th on our list of last year's best-selling mustards

8. The Carolina Sauce Company's Mustard Lover's Gift Set, featuring 5 of our most popular mustards at a discounted price, ended up in 8th place

9. One of our newer products, the savory and spicy Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce from Wilmington, NC, finished a very respectable 9th despite having arrived in our warehouse very late in the year. Trolly Stop Hot Mustard is wonderful on hot dogs, burgers, sausages, sandwiches, wraps, and more -- and it's currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

10. Rounding out the list of 2008's best-selling mustards was Burning Asphalt White Wine Dijon Mustard, a mild but full-flavored gourmet mustard that's fabulous for cooking as well as for slathering and dipping.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce

Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce is a local favorite in Wilmington, NC, and is the creation of a hot dog vendor in that coastal town. This spicy, savory mustard is not your average, everyday yellow condiment that often gets slopped onto a hot dog or sandwich without much thought. No, this unique mustard starts off with a sophisticated dijon base, and then enhances it with smoky chipotle, zingy ginger, sweet pineapple and honey (but don't worry, this isn't a sweet mustard), and a dash of habanero pepper for a phenomenal flavor burst that will transform even a lowly hot dog into a culinary masterpiece. Well, ok, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.... but not much! Trolly Stop Hot Mustard is seriously flavorful and a sheer delight on all sorts of sausages, wursts, cold cuts, sandwiches, corn dogs, and anywhere else you use a regular mustard. The results are fabulous when you stir it into your favorite potato salad, or add it to your deviled eggs recipe. Previously virtually impossible to find other than at the Wilmington hot dog stand, you can now order Trolly Stop Hot Mustard Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company online store -- and it's currently on sale!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Durn Good Hot 'n Spicy Mustard

Are you tired of boring, bland yellow mustard? Are your hot dogs and burgers begging for some zest to complement their meaty flavors? Do you enjoy spicy, peppery foods and need a mustard to bring your sandwiches and prepared salads some extra zip? Then Durn Good Hot 'n Spicy Mustard is the answer to your prayers! Made in North Carolina, this zingy yellow mustard is most definitely not your ordinary store brand condiment. Popping with peppery personality, this spicy and tasty yellow mustard has just enough burn to satisfy your need for fire without interfering with the flavors of your food. Use Durn Good Hot 'n Spicy Mustard anywhere you'd use regular mustard: on sandwiches and subs, in potato salad and egg salad, in slaw and on burgers or hot dogs, as a dip or topping for pretzels and other snack food, and anywhere else you want to banish the blahs. Durn Good Mustard comes in two sizes, and the 12 oz bottle is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria