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

Jalapenos, Bacon & ECU Pirate Pride at the NC Steak Cook-Off

Mr. Steak

The inaugural North Carolina Steak Cook-Off was held a few weeks ago in Winterville, NC, and I was able to stop by for a couple of hours before heading off to another commitment.

In addition to vying for the title of Best-Tasting 16oz Steak, teams could also compete in two other categories: Appetizers, and Showmanship. Although I had to leave the Cook-Off before the steaks hit the grill, I did get to watch many of the teams preparing and cooking a mouthwatering array of "apps" -- in the food world, that means appetizers and not new programs for your smartphone. And much to my delight, the competitors were happy to offer up samples for me to taste -- maybe I looked hungry, as I never asked for a bite and yet was regularly offered food!

In addition to popular grill favorites like chicken and sausages, a surprising number of teams prepared apps featuring stuffed jalapenos and bacon, and often both. Everything I tasted was excellent, from the tangy-sweet spicy-hot grilled chicken to the smoked pancetta and grilled pork neck made with a secret Italian marinade. I suspect the judges had a deliciously difficult time selecting the winner from among all the zesty entries.

Among the judging criteria for Showmanship were the design & decoration of the "pit area" for each team, the hospitality of team members, and entertainment. Many teams displayed their support for the ECU Pirates, which made sense given that Winterville is just outside of Greenville, where East Carolina University is located.  But there was at least one team sporting Duke Blue and proclaiming their love of Duke football. For entertainment, one team brought a "Wheel of Fortune" you could spin to find out your "steak personality." Another team included a member dressed as Mr. Steak, who graciously allowed me to take his photo even after I warned him that I wanted to post it on the internet.

If you'd like to see my photos from the first annual NC Steak Cook-Off, visit the Carolina Sauce Company on Pinterest, where you'll find my board dedicated to the event.

This Saturday I'll be in Lexington, NC, for the BBQ Capital Cook-Off, an event I've been wanting to attend for years. Stay tuned to photos and a report from that event in the near future.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  If you're in the mood for a juicy steak, make sure you have a good steak seasoning to season it with, such as Montreal Steakhouse Seasoning or Stubb's Steak Spice Rub -- and if you enjoy a nice steak sauce with your steak, you'll find plenty to choose from when you browse our selection of Steak Sauces you won't find at your local supermarket.

Ring of Fire Steak Sauce: Don't be Fooled By the Name

A good steak sauce hides any flaws a mediocre steak may have -- but often at the expense of overpowering the more nuanced layers of flavors in an excellent steak.

A great steak sauce not only hides the imperfections of a mediocre steak, but also compensates for those flaws by providing its own palette of intriguingly complex flavors.

But what truly differentiates a great steak sauce from a good one is this:  A great steak sauce complements and enhances an excellent steak by allowing the meat's magnificent flavor to take center stage on your tongue while the sauce graciously provides a harmonious background.

Ring of Fire Steak Sauce is just that kind of exceptionally great steak sauce.

First, don't be fooled by the name: Ring of Fire Original Steak Sauce is not fiery in heat. In fact, despite its name, this sauce is not hot & spicy.  The name merely indicates its source of origin:  It's made by the same company that makes the famous Ring of Fire Hot Sauces, renowned for their inspired use of all-natural ingredients including a variety of fresh hot peppers and an array of southwestern spices and seasonings.

And like its hot sauce siblings, this zesty steak sauce is made with only high-quality, all-natural ingredients. The mellow sweetness comes from molasses and brown sugar, NOT high fructose corn syrup. While most supermarket steak sauces rely on tamarinds or raisins and Worcestershire sauce, Ring of Fire Steak Sauce rises above others by using figs, onions, cider vinegar, tomatoes and a touch of natural hickory smoke for incomparable depth of gourmet flavor. A secret blend of spices brings everything together for a smooth yet vibrant finish. In sum, this is a steak-lover's steak sauce that will satisfy even the most discerning palates.

Buy Ring of Fire Hot Sauce online while it's on sale at the Carolina Sauces website, and you'll never go back to A-1 again.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Turn everyday hamburgers into gourmet steak burgers when you leave the ketchup on the shelf and use Ring of Fire Steak Sauce instead.

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

PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) Sauces are Here!

PETA Steak Sauce

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

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

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

PETA BBQ Sauce

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

PETA Hot Sauce

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

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

PETA Steak Seasoning

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

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

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Gator Hammock Bullgator Steak & BBQ Sauce

Gator Hammock Bullgator Sauce

The newest barbecue sauce from Gator Hammock delivers a taste of the tropics in a rich, spicy-sweet and tastefully tangy tomato base. Gator Hammock Bullgator Barbecue Sauce combines their famous cayenne Gator Sauce with traditional barbecue sauce ingredients like tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. The folks at Gator Hammock could have stopped right there and released a lip-smackin' good, peppery-spicy BBQ sauce, and had a winner.

But they didn't stop there.

Instead, they chose to create a world-class champion by adding exotic island guavas and tangy key lime juice for bright tropical fruit notes that are more sassy than sweet. And as the finishing touch, a few habanero peppers were thrown in for wallop of fiery heat that's big enough to make you notice, but not so much as to wipe out your taste buds or overwhelm your food.

This big, bold barbeque sauce goes great with anything you grill, be it beef, pork, venison or other game; chicken, turkey, alligator or other "white meat," and even shrimp, portobellos, squash and other hearty seafood or vegetables. It's a natural on ribs, both pork and beef.

But don't limit it to the grill: Gator Hammock Bullgator Sauce is also a steak sauce! Try it with sirloin, T-bone, brisket and other beef cuts at the table; pour it on hamburgers and steak sandwiches; enjoy it with scrambled eggs and sausage, and use it anywhere else you'd use a steak sauce or ketchup--yes, it's great for dipping fries, too.

Gator Hammock Bullgator Steak & BBQ Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Two New Sauces: Jim Beam Steak Sauce & Bourbon Marinade

Jim Beam Steak Sauce

Previously available only as part of our popular Jim Beam Sauces Gift Box, we are pleased to announce that Jim Beam Bourbon Steak Sauce and Jim Beam Bourbon Marinade are now available individually at the Carolina Sauces online store!

Even if you normally don't eat your steak with sauce, chances are that you will be impressed with the rich and smooth, deep dark flavors of Jim Beam Steak Sauce, a sophisticated and masculine sauce that will complement, not overshadow, the natural flavors of steak and other meat. The earthy sweetness comes from raisins and just the right amount of sugar, while the jalapenos supply a spark of peppery heat without turning this into a hot steak sauce. Tomatoes, vinegar, onion and garlic provide a savory tang, while a splash of Kentucky bourbon brings together all of these different flavor notes into a well-blended, confident and mellow whole. Not only does this steak sauce bring out the best in any steak, it will also enhance burgers, pork, roasts, venison and other game. Add some to your meatloaf or sloppy Joes recipe for a new dimension in deliciousness.

Jim Beam Marinade

Another excellent choice for the meat lover is Jim Beam Kentucky Bourbon Marinade, which will not only tenderize meat but will also keep it juicy and moist regardless of whether you grill it, roast it, broil it or bake it. The Worcestershire and soy sauces deliver layers of complex flavors while the sesame oil and seeds provide a richness and body that many thinner, lesser marinades woefully lack. And the bourbon brings subtle hints of wood, vanilla and spice for incomparable depth. Big and bold enough to stand up to grass-fed beef, wild boar, venison, elk and other hearty meats, Jim Beam Marinade also plays nicely with chicken, duck, pheasant and other poultry or fowl. Be adventurous and try it on shrimp, swordfish, portobello mushrooms, grilled summer squash and more.

Both of these Jim Beam sauces are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company, along with other extraordinary steak sauces and hard-to-find marinades.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Chef's Foolproof Trick for Perfectly Done Steaks

When cooking steaks at home, do you cross your fingers and hope that they won't turn out over- or undercooked?

Do you end up cutting into the meat or stabbing it with a meat thermometer to check for doneness, only to lose the flavorful juices as they drip out--and possibly also finding out that it's already overdone?

Are you tired of "guesstimating" if your homecooked steaks are cooked right, and ending up disappointed more often than not?

Here's a little trick used by professional chefs and experienced home cooks to tell when a steak is perfectly cooked to order, be it rare, medium, well-done or anything in between:

Use your finger and your face!

Here's how it works:

1.  Poke your cheek, without smiling or making a face:  That's what a rare steak will feel like when you poke it.

2.  Poke the end of your chin:  That's medium-rare (red center that's warm).

3.  Poke the end of your nose:  That's medium (pink center that's hot).

4.  Poke the area between your eyebrows, above the bridge of your nose:  That's medium-well (just a very thin line of pink in the hot center of the steak)

5.  Poke your forehead (not much "give" there!):  That's well-done (cooked through but still juicy, no visible pink in the center)

Go ahead and give this method a try the next time you cook a steak at home--or test it when you order steak at a restaurant.  With a little practice, you'll be cooking steak like a pro and wowing family & friends.  Just make sure your face and finger are clean, before and after!

Do you have a foolproof way for telling when a steak is cooked to perfection?  Please share by leaving a comment here.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS:  For those seeking more flavor, here are some excellent steak sauces to choose from.  One of my personal favorites is Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce, an inspired blend of tropical ingredients with a dash of hot pepper flair.  YUM!

PPS:  Want to get those impressive steak-house sear marks on your home-grilled steak?  Simply use a GrillGrate on your grill!

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

Castle Sauce is Back in Stock!

At long last, Castle Sauce from Thomas Gourmet Foods is available again at the Carolina Sauce Company! This is the same recipe perfected recently when the last "missing ingredient" was discovered, and it's a dead ringer in taste for the old original sauce that was bottled in Greensboro until 1997--and that's not just my opinion (which, by the way, is based on my regular consumption of the old original back in the '80s in Winston-Salem, plus the 2 bottles I have left from the final bottling in 1997), but it's also the overwhelming customer feedback we've received since the 2010 version was released.

If you've never tried Castle Sauce, you'll be in for a treat. This is the ideal all-purpose condiment for burgers, steaks, onion rings, fries, popcorn shrimp, hot dogs, sandwiches, meatloaf, baked beans and even fried chicken or fish. The tangy mustard-tomato flavor has a zippy finish, and the thick consistency means that the sauce will stick to your food instead of dripping off or making a mess. Castle Sauce has a devoted following among folks who remember the old original, and it's not uncommon for three generations of families to enjoy it--yes, it's kid-friendly, and a favorite for dunking chicken nuggets or french fries.

Here's a hearty thank you to everyone who's been patiently waiting since our re-opening for their Castle Sauce "fix" - we really appreciate your patience! And if you're looking for a coupon to save some money when you buy Castle Sauce, you'll find two different coupons available in the August issue of the Carolina Sauce Newsletter.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce for 2010

Here is the list of the Top Ten Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce for 2010 at the Carolina Sauce Company online store:

1. As usual, Castle Sauce from Greensboro, NC, is our best-selling steak sauce for 2010. Generations of fans love its classic mustard-tomato flavor with just the right amount of tang that brings out the best in burgers, steaks, fries, sandwiches, onion rings and more.

2. Also repeating its 2009 finish in 2010 is Tortuga Caribbean Steak Sauce, a traditional steak sauce with a refreshing tropical twist. Its hint of island fruit and peppery spice enhances steaks, roast pork, grilled chicken, hamburgers and other robust fare.

3. Once again, our best-selling pasta sauce (and third on this list) is Mama Thomas Marinara, a light and fresh classic Italian marinara that's made with all-natural ingredients using an Old-World recipe.

4. Breaking into the top ten for the first time was Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce from Jamaica, a rich brown sauce made with the perfect balance of savory spices, sweet fruit and spicy hot peppers. Wonderful with grilled and roasted meats, poultry, seafood and even veggies and rice dishes.

5. Moving up a spot from 2009 to 2010 was Samson's Town & Country Sauce, a North Carolina original that's nicely spicy, pleasingly tangy and subtly sweet. Delicious with steak, chicken, pork, venison and all sorts of other food, its old-fashioned humorous label is sure to bring a chuckle.

6. Our second-best-selling pasta sauce for 2010 is Mama Thomas Pasta Sauce, a thick, rich and robust spaghetti sauce that the whole family will enjoy when served on pasta dishes and with all your favorite Italian recipes. It's also great for dipping breadsticks, mozzarella sticks and other appetizers.

7. For two years straight, our seventh best-selling steak or pasta sauce is Melinda's Habanero Steak Sauce from the makers of the world-famous Melinda's Hot Sauces. If you're looking for a traditional steak sauce that packs a fiery habanero punch, this is the hot steak sauce for you!

8. Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce is a palate-pleasing tropical steak sauce from Belize that delivers layers of robust flavors with a zingy ginger-habanero kick.

9. One of our newest steak sauces broke into the top ten last year: Pickapeppa Brown Sauce is a traditional Jamaican table sauce that generations have enjoyed with steak, pork, chicken, lamb and even goat, Jamaican pasties. Enticingly rich and complex with just a touch of spice and sweetness, this sauce is great for folks who prefer flavor over fire.

10. Rounding out our list of the best-selling steak sauces and pasta sauces for 2010 is Susie's Tamarind Tango, a tart and tangy all-purpose table sauce from Antigua that's fabulous with steak and other meats.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

The Great Steak Sauce Sale!

An excellent steak sauce is one that will enhance the natural flavors of a good steak, bringing out the best in the meat without overwhelming your tastebuds. An excellent steak sauce will also elevate a lowly hamburger, and also complement meats other than beef, including venison and other game, bison or buffalo, certain pork cuts, and sometimes even poultry and wild fowl. If you've only tried the mass-produced steak sauces available at your grocery store, you'll be in for a real treat when you taste the following "craft" or "artisanal" (to borrow two foodie terms - or just call them gourmet) steak sauces, made in small batches with the finest ingredients and utmost care -- and all currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! I've categorized them into 3 basic classifications, for your convenience:

1. Traditional Steak Sauces: Featuring bold, earthy flavors from Worcestershire sauce, a pleasant tang from tamarind and just the right amount of sweetness to balance those robust flavors, these two Burning Asphalt Steak Sauces from upstate NY are similar to what you'd find in a fine restaurant, or make at home yourself if you had the time and the culinary background. Don't be frightened off by the name: The phrase "Burning Asphalt" refers to their creator's love of auto racing, and not to the heat level of these steak sauces! The Homestyle Steak Sauce is complex enough to please the most sophisticated palate with notes of red wine vinegar and zesty horseradish, but food-friendly and approachable enough to charm the whole family. For elegant flair, add it to gravy or pour on a roast beef sandwich. The Sweet Pepper Steak & Dipping Sauce is the playful sibling of the Homestyle sauce, with a hint of peppery heat and a sunny sweetness from a touch of fruit. In addition to dressing up a steak, you can use it as a glaze, marinade, and finishing sauce for ribs, chicken and kabobs (including veggie kabobs). Kids who don't mind a bit of spice absolutely love dipping fries and chicken fingers in this sauce!

2. Hot & Spicy Steak Sauce: If you love fiery foods and enjoy finding the right hot sauce for every meal, Melinda's Habanero Steak Sauce is what you need for steak, burgers and other red meat. Made with all-natural traditional steak sauce ingredients plus molasses (not corn syrup) for earthy sweetness, this hot steak sauce features a hefty dose of habanero peppers, making it a favorite of chiliheads who also love good food. Make no mistake, Melinda's Habanero Steak Sauce is not for the faint of heart or delicate of tongue - but if you are a hot sauce fanatic, this is the steak sauce for you. Plus it's also wonderful on grilled salmon or tuna steaks, too!

3. Tropical Steak Sauces: These two versatile steak sauces come to us from the Caribbean, where they're considered all-purpose table sauces rather than simply steak sauces -- and both are under $4 while on sale! Pickapeppa Brown Sauce is perhaps the best known and most loved sauce from the venerable old Pickapeppa company of Jamaica. This is NOT a jerk sauce, but rather a rich and complex savory sauce made with all-natural ingredients including tomatoes, cane vinegar, raisins, mangoes and Caribbean spices, and barrel-aged for over a year for added depth of flavor. There's just a touch of peppery spice without burning your mouth, making this sauce an ideal choice for family meals, cookouts with friends, and even for breakfast foods. Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce is exotically delicious and all-natural. Made with green mangoes and tamarinds for a healthy tang, raisins and sugar for a sweet counterpoint, and zippy ginger plus a dash of habanero peppers for a zesty kick, this is truly an all-purpose sauce. Fabulous with steak and other meats, it's also excellent on pretty much all sorts of grilled food from poultry to seafood to veggies. You can also add it to ground meat for meatloaf, burgers, sloppy joes and other recipes.

I hope I've enticed you into broadening your steak sauce horizons and trying one or more of these full-flavored gourmet steak sauces, especially while they're on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Pickapeppa Brown Sauce

One of our loyal customers recently introduced me to the original Pickapeppa Sauce, also known as Pickapeppa Brown Sauce. I was familiar with several other fine Pickapeppa products, so I must confess that as a zesty-foods lover it came as a surprise to me that I'd somehow never tried the original Pickapeppa. The customer was right: This is indeed a delicious all-purpose sauce that's sure to please anyone who enjoys big, bold flavors with depth and complexity. I'd describe the flavor as "traditional steak sauce on steroids" and yet not "pushy" or overpowering. In other words, the layers of savory flavor will complement your food without overpowering it. There's a pleasant hint of sweetness and a touch of peppery spice, both of which are nicely balanced with the Jamaican herbs and spices for a thoroughly satisfying taste.

Excellent on steaks, grilled meats of all sorts (including venison and other game), on roasts and in stews, Pickapeppa Brown Sauce is also good on heartier seafood and poultry dishes. Add a splash to gravy and soup for dimensional depth, or use it in place of Worcestershire sauce in Bloody Mary's for a new twist. Because this sauce is on the mild side of spicy, it's good with scrambled eggs and sausage or country ham to wake up your taste buds in the morning without scorching them. The ingredients are all-natural, and the sauce is aged in oak barrels for a least one year before bottling, allowing the flavors to meld and develop just like with wine or barrel-aged spirits. Pickapeppa Brown Sauce is low in sodium with only 40mg per teaspoon, and it has only 1 carb per teaspoon, making it a good choice for folks watching their sodium or carbohydrate intake. And if you're looking for a gluten-free sauce, you'll be glad to know that this versatile condiment is gluten-free. Pickapeppa Brown Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company for only $3.95, making it a real steal!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Best Way to Thaw Meat

I read an interesting article in the latest issue of "National Barbecue News" that discussed a Dutch study on how best to thaw frozen meat packed in airtight plastic. The study compared defrosting in the refrigerator -- which is popular among consumers and widely recommended as safest -- versus placing the meat packet in cold water. The study found that the "eating quality" of meat defrosted in the refrigerator is lower than that of the meat defrosted in cold water. The reason is that temperature fluctuations in the refrigerator (e.g., from opening the door) cause the thawing meat to refreeze slightly, which damages the texture of the meat as ice crystals melt, reform and melt again. In contrast, meat defrosted in cold water thaws much more gradually and with less temperature fluctuation because water is a better thermal conductor than air. Thus, while both thawing methods are safe, the cold-water method will generally result in meat with better "eating quality" (texture and flavor).

Here are some tips for thawing frozen meat using the cold water method:

*Make sure the meat is packed in airtight (and watertight) plastic - never thaw unpacked meat in water!

*Use only cold water to prevent bacterial growth

*Use the right size container for the amount of meat being thawed: Saucepan for small steak, soup pot for larger or several steaks, small bucket for a roast, etc.

*Plan on 30 minutes per pound of meat, and after about 1/3 of the estimated defrosting time place the water container under a slow-running tap to slowly add fresh cold water (repeat again after the second 1/3 of thawing time)

*Cook the thawed meat as soon as possible after defrosting, and do NOT refreeze thawed meat

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Looking for an excellent steak seasoning or rub? You can't go wrong with any flavor of Char Crust Steak Seasonings from Al Farber's Steakhouse in Chicago. We also have delicious steak sauces for every palate, ranging from mild but flavorful to fiery-hot.

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!

2009's Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce

Here is the list of the Top Ten Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce for 2009 at the Carolina Sauce Company online store:

1. It should come as no surprise that our all-time best-selling product across all categories, Castle Sauce from Greensboro NC, is our best-selling steak sauce for 2009. Its food-friendly mustard-tomato flavor with just the right amount of tang makes it a favorite of young and old alike.

2. Tortuga Caribbean Steak Sauce adds tropical ingredients to a traditional steak sauce base for an intriguingly complex, subtly fruity and pleasantly piquant steak sauce that will thrill the palate with its island flavor -- and it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

3. Our best-selling pasta sauce (and third on this list) is Mama Thomas Marinara, a light and fresh classic marinara made in NC using all-natural ingredients and a traditional Italian recipe -- and it's also on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

4. Olio & Spices Red Wine Onion Sauce is the inspired creation of an Israeli chef, and is made in Israel using the finest all-natural ingredients. This elegant table sauce is the perfect accompaniment to robust dishes including steak and roast poultry, plus it's Kosher and comes with several pages of FREE recipes!

5. Our second-best-selling pasta sauce for 2009 is Mama Thomas Pasta Sauce, a thick, rich and robust sauce that's perfect for spaghetti and other pasta as well as all your favorite Italian recipes.

6. Samson's Town & Country Sauce is a spicy, tangy and subtly sweet table sauce for steak, chicken, meats and all sorts of other food -- and it has an old-fashioned humorous label that's worth reading for your amusement

7. If you enjoy fiery foods and are searching for a hot steak sauce, you must try Melinda's Habanero Steak Sauce from the makers of the world-famous Melinda's Hot Sauces. This sauce features a traditional steak sauce base that's spiked with habanero peppers plus a few tropical ingredients for exotically delicious heat

8. Susie's Tamarind Tango from Antigua is another tropical sauce that's amazingly good with steak and other meats, featuring plenty of tart and tangy tamarinds tempered with sugarcane syrup and a touch of hot peppers

9. Made from an old Sicilian recipe, Santo & Josie Tomato Artichoke Pasta Sauce is an old-fashioned, robust and hearty spaghetti sauce that's so good you'll swear it tastes home-made!

10. Completing our list of the top ten best-selling pasta sauces and steak sauces is Raisin the Steaks, a gourmet steak sauce that perfectly balances sweet & tart-tangy flavors and is made with raisins, tamarinds and a touch of citrus -- and it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Marie Sharp's Exotic Sauce

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

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

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Samson's Town & Country Sauce

A little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, a little bit bold and a little bit thick, Samson's Town & Country Sauce is the delightfully delicious younger sibling of the original Samson's Sauce, a North Carolina favorite since 1925. Samson's Town & Country Sauce is a cross between a regular all-purpose hot sauce and a flavorful mild steak sauce, which means it's perfect for adding a touch of sweetness and spice to steaks, burgers and other sandwiches, french fries, baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, pork chops & barbecue, chicken, fried fish, and all sorts of main courses. Town & Country Sauce is also a great way to add flavor to recipes like meat loaf, chili, baked beans, omelets, and more. I've been told it's even good on fruit salad, but I must admit I haven't personally tried that yet. What I have tried is splashing this versatile sauce into a mess of collards, and boy was that tasty! I'm sure it would be mighty fine with turnip greens, mustard greens, and other cooked greens too.

Like the original Samson's Sauce, Samson's Town & Country Sauce is made from the original hand-written family recipe. Specifically, Town & Country Sauce was created in 1986 by Gurney S. Boren, whose father developed the original Samson's Sauce back in 1925. Both sauces were commercially produced and sold by the family for 10 years, but then unfortunately the hand-written recipe for Town & Country Sauce was lost and this sauce disappeared from the marketplace. Luckily, the recipe was recently found in a box of old papers, and Samson's Town & Country Sauce is once again being produced and is available for purchase for the first time since 1996. And like the original Samson's Sauce, Town & Country Sauce has the famous "comic label" that dates back to the 1940s and is reminiscent of old "patent medicine" labels, with claims that the sauce can cure everything from baldness to amnesia and insanity, and might even be an aphrodisiac. Regardless, Town & Country Sauce is sure to make you smile, both when you read the amusing label and when you experience its food-friendly, palate-pleasing flavor. And at only $3.99 a bottle from the Carolina Sauce Company, you can't go wrong treating yourself to some Town & Country Sauce!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Samson's Town & Country Sauce is also low carb, with only 1 gram per teaspoon - not bad at all for a steak sauce & all-purpose table sauce & cooking sauce!

Burning Asphalt Steak Sauces

What makes a steak sauce worthy of accompanying a fine steak? A great steak sauce is one that features perfectly balanced sweet and tart flavors with savory herbs and piquant spices for a taste that will enhance the natural meaty flavors of the steak, including the seared outside and the juicy interior, without overpowering them. After all, if you're spending good money on a steak, you want to TASTE the steak. A great steak sauce must also have a rich, thick body with some texture to it so that it will cling to the steak, complement the chargrilled or broiled exterior of the meat and provide a pleasantly interesting mouthfeel. Great steak sauces aren't generally found in grocery stores - that's where you find mass-produced, overly sweet and one-dimensional boring condiments that should never share the plate with a quality cut of meat. If you are ready to try a great steak sauce, you need to try Burning Asphalt Steak Sauces.

Made in small batches by a family-run business in the heart of New York's Amish Country, Burning Asphalt Steak Sauces bring out the best in your steaks, and also add mouthwatering flavor to hamburgers, roasts, meatloaf, and even pork chops and chicken. The old-fashioned Homestyle Steak Sauce begins with a sweet tomato and savory Worcestershire base, but adds gourmet flair with a splash of red wine vinegar and a dash of zesty horseradish for an intriguingly complex palette of flavors that will dance on your tongue. If you're feeling more adventurous, check out Burning Asphalt Sweet Pepper Steak & Dipping Sauce, featuring a subtle hint of tropical flavors thanks to the careful addition of bananas and pineapple juice plus just a spark of heat from habanero peppers. This sauce makes a fabulous glaze for seafood and poultry in addition to dressing up your steak and other meats. Kids and adults both love dipping fries in the Sweet Pepper Steak Sauce, and it's even good with breakfast foods like hash browns, homefries, sausage, and scrambled eggs. Both flavors of Burning Asphalt Steak Sauce can also be used in cooking, such as in gravies and stews, casseroles, and added to ground beef when making meatballs, burgers and meatloaf. Burning Asphalt Steak Sauces are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: In case you're wondering, the "Burning Asphalt" name refers to the makers' love of auto racing (hence the race car and checkered flag motif on the label). It does NOT mean that the sauce is so hot that it will burn asphalt! Both of these steak sauces are big on flavor but mild in terms of heat.

Melinda's Habanero Pepper Steak Sauce

If you're looking for a hot & spicy steak sauce to enjoy with grilled steaks, hamburgers, roast beef and other hearty meat dishes, you MUST try Melinda's Habanero Steak Sauce, from the creators of the world-famous Melinda's Habanero Pepper Sauces. The flavors in Melinda's Steak Sauce are bold and robust, just like you'd expect in a fine steak sauce from a gourmet restaurant, with complex savory and tangy notes enhanced by tart tamarind, a touch of exotic cloves, and earthy molasses for a hint of mellow sweetness. But what really makes this mouthwatering, spicy steak sauce stand out is the careful addition of fresh Caribbean habanero peppers with just a bit of tropical banana and pineapple to round out the edgy bite of these fiery chiles. The end result is deeply satisfying both to serious chileheads (this sauce is pleasantly medium-hot, so it won't destroy your tastebuds but it will definitely deliver some heat), and to gourmands who like to explore new flavor combinations.

If you enjoy venison and other wild game, I think this sauce will nicely complement such exotic meats. Because Melinda's Habanero Steak Sauce contains some soy sauce, you can also use it as a marinade to help tenderize game and other tougher cuts of meat. And the hint of tropical flavor makes this steak sauce a natural accompaniment for grilled salmon, swordfish and tuna -- plus it's fabulous with portobello mushrooms, and even poured over a slab of cream cheese as a quick appetizer to serve with crackers. Better still, Melinda's Habanero Steak Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company for only $2.99 a bottle - truly a steal for a gem of a sauce!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria