Final 2 Days of Carolina Sauce April Coupon Sale

Just a friendly reminder that our April Newsletter Coupon expires tomorrow Saturday, April 30th. There are two ways you can get your coupon for 10% off at the Carolina Sauce Company online store:

1. Read the April Newsletter posted on this blog. If you already subscribe to our monthly Newsletter, then you also should have received the Newsletter in an email earlier this month. Both the email version and the Blog version include a coupon code for 10% off, along with more information on how to redeem the coupon when you shop online with the Carolina Sauce Company.

2. Get the coupon code from the "Coupons" section on the Carolina Sauce Company Facebook Page. To be able to access the Coupons section, you need to be a Carolina Sauce Fan on Facebook. Not yet a Fan? Then simply click the "Like" button on our Facebook page (the "Like" button is found towards the top next to our name and above the photos).

If you already used your coupon code earlier this month, you can use it AGAIN as many times as you want, between now and midnight tomorrow April 30th.

Want to receive more coupons, special discounts, recipes and the latest zesty news? Simply sign up for the Carolina Sauce Newsletter! It's FREE and emailed only once a month, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Habanero Relish & Bone Suckin' Hot Salsa are In Stock Again!

Two fiery and flavorful condiments are finally back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company, much to the joy of pepperheads (or chiliheads if you prefer) around the nation. First, there's Bone Suckin' Hot Salsa, an all-natural, chunky, tomato & hot pepper salsa with a seriously hot kick and garden-fresh flavor. Excellent with chips and all your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex foods, Bone Suckin' Salsa is also tasty with omelets, frittatas, scrambled eggs, quiche, as a casserole or fried-fish topping, and in recipes. Bone Suckin' Salsa is made in North Carolina, and it's Kosher, gluten-free, and comes with a free recipe brochure.

Another fiery North Carolina product making a return is our very own Habanero Pepper Relish, hand-crafted especially for us on a family farm in the North Carolina mountains. Made with all-natural locally-grown ingredients including plenty of HOT habanero peppers, onions, savory spices and chopped cabbage for extra crunch, our habanero relish is superb with burgers and hot dogs, sandwiches, kielbasa, bratwurst, Italian sausage, as an alternative to salsa with chips, and on any hearty dish that could use a tangy kick. For every jar we sell, we donate $1 to Operation Sauce Drop, our nonprofit program that sends free gift boxes of BBQ Sauce and hot sauce to US troops serving abroad.

If you've been waiting for either of these zesty condiments, thank you for your patience and I'm relieved to say that your wait is over!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Nando's Roasted Reds Lentil & Rice Risotto

Here is a simple--and simply delicious--recipe from the makers of the famous Nando's Peri-Peri Sauces from South Africa. This recipe serves 6 and uses one of my favorite Nando's products, their Roasted Reds Cooking & Grilling Sauce made with roasted sweet red peppers, tomatoes, and just a touch of Peri Peri chili peppers.

Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
4 Tbs olive oil
1 cup long grain rice
1/4 cup brown lentils, picked over & rinsed
1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or broth
1 jar Nando's Roasted Reds Cooking Sauce
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp salt, optional
Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley as garnish, if desired

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. In a large, oven-safe lidded pot saute the onion in the olive oil until translucent and soft. Add the rice and saute for a couple of minutes, making sure the rice is well-coated with the oil. Stir in the stock or broth and the Roasted Reds Sauce, and bring to a boil. Add the lentils and bay leaves, stir & cover, then place the covered pot in the oven and cook at 350F degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, uncover and fluff with fork - if all the liquid is not absorbed, return to oven for a few more minutes until the liquid is absorbed (rice should still be moist). Taste and season with salt if desired. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro or parsley as garnish, if desired.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Buderim Ginger Bears Have Arrived!

A fresh new batch of Buderim Ginger Bears arrived in our warehouse this afternoon, much to the joy of devoted fans (addicts, even) of this zippy ginger gummy candy from Australia. Although we received our largest shipment ever, we've already sold more than two-thirds of this supply, ensuring that they'll remain the best-selling snack in the history of the Carolina Sauce Company.

If you haven't yet placed your order and you need your ginger bear "fix," hurry up and place your order ASAP before we sell out (again). I'll also check with our supplier to find out how soon we can get more of these ginger gummy bears--but based on past experience, it won't surprise me if they've already sold out themselves.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Gloria's Spicy Seven-Layer Salad

Here's my zesty take on a classic layered salad. There are no measured ingredients because the amounts will vary depending on how big of a bowl you're using (which should be based on how many people you'll be feeding). In fact, you don't need to limit yourself to seven layers--feel free to repeat layers as desired, or substitute a different ingredient (e.g., celery, sliced water chestnuts, etc.) if there's one here that you don't like. My version is somewhat lower in fat than the original version because I don't use hard-boiled eggs (I'm not a big fan of hard-boiled eggs), and because I prefer to use Greek yogurt (preferably nonfat) instead of the traditional mayonnaise dressing or sour cream. You definitely want to make this salad in a clear glass bowl, since the whole point of layering is to create a pretty appearance.

Ingredients
Chopped or shredded romaine lettuce
Grape tomatoes, halved
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cucumber, peeled, de-seeded & chopped
Radishes, sliced
Mixture of chopped green bell pepper plus 1 or 2 chopped jalapenos
7 or 8 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped (you may need more if making a large salad)
Mixture of shredded cheddar plus pepperjack cheeses
Plain Greek yogurt (regular or nonfat)

Place the romaine lettuce in the bottom of large glass bowl. Layer the sliced grape tomatoes, beginning from the sides of the bowl towards the center so that the layer is visible. Lightly sprinkle with salt & pepper, then layer the cucumbers on top, beginning from the sides of the bowl towards the center. Continue layering in the same fashion with the next 4 ingredients. Use a large spoon to dollop the plain Greek yogurt on top of the final layer, spreading with a spatula to completely cover the final layer all the way to the side of the bowl to seal the salad. Cover the bowl with a large plate or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve - you can make this salad a day in advance if necessary.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Wells BBQ Sauce is Here!

Just a quick note to let y'all know that Wells Hog Heaven Barbecue Sauce arrived in our warehouse this afternoon, as promised! We are busy packing all of our pending orders, and expect to be caught up tonight. Thanks to all of our loyal customers who have been patiently waiting for this best-selling BBQ sauce!

For folks waiting on Buderim Ginger Bears to be back in stock, I have good news: The FDA finally cleared the shipment from Australia and the bulk bears are being packaged into the retail bags. I have good reason to believe that the ginger bears will be available again at the Carolina Sauce Company sometime next week. As soon as I know that they're on their way, we'll start accepting pre-orders. Stay tuned to this blog for a ginger bears update after the Easter weekend.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

4 Easy Ham Glazes for Easter

If you're going to serve a pre-cooked ham for Easter, you can still add your own personal gourmet touch by using a homemade glaze. Simply brush on one of the following glazes (each recipe makes enough for up to a 10 lb ham) during the final 30 minutes of cooking/reheating.

*Spicy Caribbean Glaze: Whisk together 1/2 cup pineapple jam OR 1/2 cup pineapple chutney, 2 Tbs dark rum, and 1 tsp Susie's Pineapple Pleasure Hot Sauce or other pineapple hot sauce.

*Zesty Carolina Chutney Glaze: Whisk together 1/2 cup Mrs. Picky Fanicky's NC Chutney, 2 Tbs honey and 1 Tbs thawed apple juice concentrate.

*Peachy Mustard Glaze: Whisk together 1 cup peach preserves, 2 Tbs Bone Suckin' Sweet Hot Mustard OR other sweet & spicy mustard, 2 Tbs peach schnapps/liqueur, and 2 Tbs lemon juice.

*Sweet & Savory Apple Glaze: Whisk together 1/2 cup apple chutney, 1 Tbs honey, and 2 Tbs thawed apple-juice concentrate.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Wells BBQ Sauce Update

If you're a fan of Wells Hog Heaven Barbecue Sauce (the one with the black label in the photo on the left) and have been waiting for it to be back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company, I have good news: Your wait is almost over! I spoke with the folks at Wells Pork & Beef this morning, and they confirmed that we'll have our sauce sometime this Friday afternoon. As soon as the product is in our warehouse, we'll immediately start packing all of our back-orders from our customers (many thanks to those of you out there who are patiently waiting for your orders--we really appreciate your understanding!)

If you haven't yet placed your order for more Wells BBQ Sauce, I recommend you go ahead and do so now, in order to get in our queue. Orders will be shipped "first come, first served," and we expect continued high demand for this best-selling barbecue sauce, especially as the weather gets warmer. We won't process your payment until your order is ready to ship, and we'll keep you up to date on the status.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Not familiar with Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce? It's a classic vinegar barbecue sauce made in eastern North Carolina that's perfect for pulled pork BBQ, and also makes an excellent marinade for chicken and all sorts of meat. Folks also splash it on collard greens, fried fish and even french fries to add tangy zip.

Baseball Themed BBQ Sauce

"Play ball!" That cry rings out in ballparks all over the country this time of year, to the thrill of baseball fans young and old alike. If you're looking for a unique gift for a baseball fan who also enjoys good eats, check out our baseball themed sauces available from the Carolina Sauce Company.

The Durham Bulls are the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, and were immortalized in the now-classic film, "Bull Durham." The Bulls have their own official barbecue sauce, called Durham Bulls Triple Play Bar-B-Que Sauce. This tasty, tangy BBQ sauce is made here in North Carolina and is a Piedmont (western NC) style sauce, which means it has a zesty vinegar-tomato base with just a bit of peppery zip. What makes Durham Bulls BBQ Sauce stand out from the crowd, however, is its touch of sweetness that plays off the vinegar tang (think bread & butter pickles). Terrific on Carolina pulled pork BBQ, Durham Bulls Barbecue Sauce is also excellent as a marinade and grilling sauce for chicken, ribs, shrimp and veggies. As shown in the photo, it features the Durham Bulls logo on the label, making it a great gift for fans of the movie and the team.

Also from North Carolina, but not a vinegar sauce, is Outta the Park BBQ Sauce, available in zippy Original and the brand-new fiery Hot & Spicy recipe. The award-winning Original Outta the Park BBQ Sauce is a classic all-American tomato-based barbecue sauce that's thick and rich, with just the right amount of family-pleasing sweetness and a feisty finish. The Hot & Spicy version takes the original recipe and adds a special blend of hot peppers to bring on the heat and satisfy fiery-foods fans. Both are wonderful for ribs, chicken, seafood, veggies, and even in recipes--in fact, we'll send you a card with recipes when you order either flavor from Carolina Sauce. Created by a Red Sox fan, the baseball-themed name and label make Outta the Park BBQ Sauce an ideal gift for baseball fans.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria