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 Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce

Fresh, juicy mango and naturally sweet flaked coconut are a match made in paradise, or at least in a Caribbean or Southeast Asian kitchen. The folks who make Melinda's Habanero Sauces have taken these two tropical delicacies and blended them with other all-natural ingredients -- including just the right amount of fiery habanero peppers to tickle your taste buds -- to create Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce, truly a taste of paradise. This versatile sauce captures the essence of sunny tropical cuisine and helps you prepare amazing gourmet fish, seafood, poultry and pork dishes with minimal effort. Perhaps the easiest way to enjoy this sweet and spicy sauce is as a finishing sauce or table sauce for grilled foods, but it's also a tasty marinade, an exotic dipping sauce for egg rolls and satays and fried shrimp, and even a glaze for kabobs. One of my favorite ways to enjoy Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce is with skewers of grilled pork or shrimp, fresh pineapple chunks, bell peppers and onions. You can even pour it on fried rice and lo mein as an alternative to duck sauce!

If you're like me and enjoy sauces with interesting textures, you won't be disappointed with Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce: It's got a nice spoon-coating consistency that helps it stick to your food without running or dripping off, and there are plenty of little flakes of real coconut to entertain your tongue and add visual appeal to this lovely orange-yellow sauce. The sweetness comes from the fruit and from the addition of real sugar - there's no high fructose corn syrup here! And amazingly, despite its naturally sweet taste, Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce is low carb, with only 1 gram of carbs per serving (15 ml, which is 1 Tablespoon). Like other Melinda's sauces, this one is all natural, with no artificial preservatives or colors. In short, you can feel good about enjoying this good sauce! Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

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

Burning Asphalt Ranch Wing Sauce

Many folks like to enjoy their hot chicken wings dipped in creamy, tangy ranch dressing instead of blue cheese sauce. There's something about the cool buttermilk & subtle herb ranch flavor that enhances the whole Buffalo wing experience. The only problem is, dipping often leads to dripping -- on the table or on your lap, down the front of your shirt, or (heaven forbid!) even in your beer. Well, the creative folks at Burning Asphalt Sauces in upstate New York have come up with the perfect solution for enjoying Buffalo wings with ranch dressing, without the mess: it's their very own Burning Asphalt Buffalo Ranch Wing Sauce! Now why didn't someone think of that sooner?!?

Burning Asphalt Ranch Wing Sauce starts off with their famous medium-hot Buffalo style wing sauce that's made with aged cayenne peppers in a buttery vinegar base with their trademark hint of garlic. But then the folks at Burning Asphalt add buttermilk, whey and a special blend of herbs and spices for authentic ranch dressing flavor mixed right in to the wing sauce! No more messy dipping and dripping while you enjoy the classic flavor combo of Buffalo wings with ranch dressing! This unique wing sauce is so good that you'll want to use it "straight" for dipping celery sticks and carrots as well as french fries, onion rings and other fried "pub fare". Toss it with fried popcorn shrimp for authentic Buffalo ranch shrimp and serve on a bed of greens for an entree salad, or spread some more of this tangy-spicy Ranch Wing Sauce on the inside of a hoagie roll and then add the sauced shrimp for a mouthwatering sandwich. Burning Asphalt Ranch Wing Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Curried Mango Chicken Salad

Inspired by the flavors of India, this tropical chicken salad tastes best if you make it the night before, so that the flavors can develop while it chills in the fridge. You can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken for best flavor, or canned chicken (drained) to save time. Enjoy this salad in a sandwich or wrap, or on a bed of lettuce.

Ingredients
2 cups cooked chopped chicken
1 jalapeno, habanero or other hot chile pepper (deseeded & minced)
1/4 cup thinly sliced celery
2 Tbs thinly sliced green onions, including some of the green part
1/2 cup roasted cashews, coarsely chopped
1 cup diced mango (fresh is best)
1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or low fat)
1/4 cup plain yogurt (regular or low fat)
1 Tbs fresh lemon or lime juice
1 Tbs mango juice (available in specialty and ethnic markets)
1/2 tsp curry powder (hot or mild)

Combine all ingredients in a glass or plastic bowl. Cover and chill in refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Co., Inc.

Burning Asphalt Zesty Ketchups

Nestled in upstate New York's Amish country, the folks at Burning Asphalt Sauces have brought us tangy Buffalo style wing sauces, old-fashioned BBQ sauces and flavor-packed hot sauces -- and now they bring us two spicy ketchups that are sure to please fans of zesty foods. For serious chileheads who enjoy fiery foods, there's Burning Asphalt Blazin' Habanero Ketchup. Made with plenty of fresh, fiery habanero peppers and piquant jalapeno peppers, Burning Asphalt Habanero Ketchup packs serious heat in a thick, sweet tomato base. Make sure you have a frosty beverage handy if you tend to slather this habanero ketchup on your burgers and fries with abandon!

If you're looking for a spicy ketchup that's more of a medium burn, then Burning Asphalt Zesty Jalapeno Ketchup is the one for you. The same thick, sweet tomato ketchup base is spiced with fresh jalapenos and milder peppers for a pleasant heat that will complement your food without overwhelming your taste buds. Use either of Burning Asphalt's hot & spicy ketchups just as you would use ordinary ketchup: On hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, meatloaf, scrambled eggs, hash browns and anything else that could use a tangy-sweet, tomato-pepper kick. Both flavors are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Melinda's Naga Jolokia Hot Sauce

Finally, a Naga Jolokia hot sauce that has great flavor as well as unrelenting, unforgiving fire! Melinda's Naga Jolokia Hot Sauce is made in the traditional Caribbean style like other Melinda's Hot Sauces (peppers, carrots, onion, vinegar, garlic), but it also features tropical papaya, passion fruit and a dash of lime juice for a subtle hint of tropical fruitiness that enhances the sauce's flavor profile without turning this serious ultra-hot sauce into a fru-fru table condiment.

The Naga Jolokia pepper is officially the hottest chile pepper in the world, coming it at over 1 million Scoville Units in its natural state and surpassing the previous record-holder, the Red Savina habanero pepper. A native of India, the Naga Jolokia is also called the Bhut Jolokia (ghost pepper), Raja Mirchi (king chili) and Naga Morich, depending on the region of India. Because of its extreme heat, the Naga Jolokia is perfect for producing an ultra-hot sauce without having to add capsaicin extract, which can create unpleasant off-flavors. So if you are a serious chilehead, or have a tough tongue and stomach and can handle the extreme heat, Melinda's Naga Jolokia pepper sauce will satisfy your craving for fire while also pleasing your palate (or what you have left of it!). Just make sure you use caution in handling this dangerous hot sauce, and only use a toothpick drop at a time - trust me, you won't need more than that unless you're cooking a huge batch of chili!

Melinda's Naga Jolokia Hot Sauce is Kosher certified, and has zero carbs. Best of all, it's currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Closed for July 23rd

The Carolina Sauce Company will be closed on Thursday, July 23rd, while we attend a funeral out of town. You can still place orders at the Carolina Sauce online store while we are closed, and orders will be processed & shipped after we re-open on Friday, July 24th. We apologize for this inconvenience, and we thank you for your understanding.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Jalapeno Cornmeal Waffles

Waffles aren't just for breakfast anymore - these zesty waffles are terrific with barbecue, fish and seafood, creamed chicken and other creamed dishes usually served on toast points, and other lunch or dinner fare. And of course you can also enjoy them with breakfast: Serve as the base for eggs (poached, fried, soft-boiled or scrambled), or slather with maple butter and serve with a side of sausage for a mouthwatering contrast of sweet, spicy and savory! This recipe makes about 8 waffles.

Ingredients
2 eggs (or the equivalent in egg substitute like Egg Beaters)
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup canola oil
1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, deseeded and diced

Preheat your waffle iron. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and then mix in all remaining ingredients EXCEPT the jalapenos (it's best if you use an electric mixer to beat until smooth). Stir in the jalapenos into the batter. Using a ladle or cup, pour the batter onto the center of the hot waffle iron and bake until the steaming stops (about 5 minutes). Gently remove each waffle onto a plate or serving dish until all waffles are cooked. You can hold them in a warm oven (about 200 degrees) while you finish cooking - just make sure you use an oven-safe dish for the waffles.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Co., Inc.

Zesty Buffalo Chicken Dip with Blue Cheese

If you love Buffalo style hot wings, you'll love this easy party dip!

Ingredients
2 cans (9 to 10 oz each) chunk chicken breast packed in water, drained (I like Swanson brand)*
1 box (8 oz) cream cheese, softened (you can use low fat or regular)
1/2 cup traditional Buffalo style wing sauce, such as Anchor Bar Wing Sauce or Burning Asphalt Wing Sauce
1/2 cup Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce or other blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese divided

Crackers, carrot sticks and/or celery sticks, for dipping

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place the cream cheese in a deep baking dish and stir until smooth, then stir in the chicken, wing sauce, and 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles. Make sure everything is combined well, then bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Stir again, top with remaining 1/4 blue cheese crumbles, and serve while hot with veggies and crackers.

*Variation: For zesty Buffalo shrimp dip, simply substitute about 18 oz. precooked & peeled salad shrimp for the chicken!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

A Quick "Organics" Primer

I found this useful summary regarding the meaning of "organic" in some materials from Publix GreenWise Market. According to their literature, a food can be labeled "organic" if it is "produced without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, added antibiotics and hormones, genetic engineering and irradiation." Organic foods are also minimally processed and must not have any artificial ingredients or preservatives. When it comes to organic poultry and cattle, it's my understanding that the feed those animals consume must also adhere to organic standards, and that includes grazing land. The term "organic" is very strictly defined and regulated by the US Department of Agriculture, especially when it comes to product labels. Here are the three USDA categories for "organic" food:

"Made with Organic Ingredients" means that a product includes 70% to 95% organic ingredients.

"USDA Certified Organic" means that a product includes at least 95% organic ingredients.

"100% Organic" means the product contains ONLY organically produced ingredients, excluding water and salt.

If you're looking for sauces and condiments made with organic ingredients, the Carolina Sauce Company offers some excellent organic sauces and condiments.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Greg's Zesty Bacon-Jalapeno Slaw

Greg came up with this recipe for dinner tonight, and it was phenomenally good. He used Splenda brand sugar substitute, but you can use regular sugar if you prefer. He made it with a bagged broccoli slaw mix (basically shredded broccoli, cabbage & carrots) but you can make it with regular shredded cabbage. Feel free to play around with the ingredient quantities to adjust to your taste & texture preferences - some folks like a creamier slaw with more mayo, while others prefer a thinner, more tangy slaw with more of the vinegar BBQ sauce.

Ingredients
1 bag shredded slaw cabbage or broccoli slaw
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 to 1/3 cup diced jalapenos
2 Tbs white sugar OR Splenda brand sugar substitute
3 Tbs NC vinegar-based BBQ sauce such as Wells Hog Heaven or Carolina Sauce Co. Eastern NC BBQ Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or low-fat)
5 slices bacon

Cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat until evenly browned. Place on paper towels to drain & cool. When cool enough to handle, crumble the bacon into fairly large pieces and set aside in a large bowl. Pour off most of the bacon grease from the skillet (we save it in a jar in the fridge for future use), leaving just enough in the skillet to fry the onions & jalapenos. Fry the onions & jalapenos over medium high heat until the onions are translucent and barely starting to turn golden. Remove the onions & jalapenos from the skillet and place in the bowl with the bacon. Add the slaw to the bowl and combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar (or Splenda), vinegar-based BBQ sauce, and mayonnaise to make the dressing. If the dressing seems too creamy or thick, you can add more BBQ sauce until it reaches the consistency you like. Pour the dressing over the slaw mixture and toss to mix and coat thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. When ready to serve, stir it well one last time.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Couscous & Garbanzo Salad

Here is my variation on a flavor-packed salad recipe by Pam Anderson that I found in the paper a little while back. You can serve it as a side salad for 6, or as a main course for 3 to 4 people. You'll want to make this ahead of time because the salad needs to chill in the fridge until cooled through -- plus, the flavors will meld better if it chills for several hours or overnight.

Ingredients
1 cup couscous
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup boiling water
2 Tbs olive oil
1 red bell pepper (or yellow or orange), diced (but not too small)
1 red onion, sliced into very thin rings
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
1 16oz can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained & rinsed
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro OR fresh parsley
3 Tbs slivered almonds
3 Tbs apple cider vinegar
3 Tbs olive oil (extra virgin if available)
3 Tbs frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Place the couscous and cranberries in a large bowl (preferably glass or metal), add the boiling water and then immediately cover the bowl with plastic wrap to seal. Let this sit until the water is completely absorbed, about 5 minutes. In the meantime, in a large skillet heat 2 Tbs olive oil at medium-high, then add the peppers & onions, cumin, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, salt & pepper. Saute until the peppers & onions are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes, careful not to overcook. When done, add this mix to the couscous bowl, then add the garbanzos, almonds and cilantro (or parsley). Set aside. To make the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together the 3 Tbs olive oil, vinegar and orange juice. Pour over the salad and stir to mix well. Cover and refrigerate until cooled through and ready to serve.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Sauce For A Cause: Eat Good Food while Doing Good

Now you can enjoy mouthwatering BBQ sauces, zesty condiments, the best apple sauce in the world, and other delicious foods, all while helping to support worthy charitable causes, thanks to Sauce For A Cause from the Carolina Sauce Company. Whenever you purchase any of the zesty products listed under "Sauce for a Cause" at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, the manufacturers donate a portion of the proceeds to various charities and nonprofit efforts including breast cancer research, protection of endangered species, children's charities, and more. Among the manufacturers participating are Carolina Sauce Company (offering BBQ sauces and chow chow relishes to help support Operation Sauce Drop, a nonprofit program that sends free sauces to deployed troops), Santo & Josie gourmet Sicilian sauces (supporting children's charities), J.T. Pappy's Gator Sauces (supporting breast cancer research), Mullen's Apple Sauce (supporting families of fallen Chicago police officers), and more.

Especially these days when money is tight for many folks, Sauce For A Cause helps you treat yourself to some really good food without feeling guilty, because you know you're helping out a good cause in the process!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Support Our Troops When You Buy These Sauces & Seasonings

If you love zesty foods and if you want to support our troops serving abroad, you can treat yourself to these zesty products while also helping to send free gift boxes of sauce to our deployed troops. For each bottle or jar sold of the following Carolina Sauce Company brand products, the Carolina Sauce Company will contribute a dollar to Operation Sauce Drop, its nonprofit program that sends free sauce to US troops stationed abroad. Here are the products that qualify:

*Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC BBQ Sauce, an authentic vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's available in Mild and Hot

*Carolina Sauce Company Chow Chow Relish, old-fashioned cabbage chow chows made in the rural NC Piedmont, and available in Mild and Hot

*Carolina Sauce Company Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauce, a western NC barbecue sauce (vinegar and tomatoes) that features sweet Vidalia(R) onions, and is available in Mild and Hot

For every bottle or jar sold of the above products, the Carolina Sauce Company will contribute $1 to Operation Sauce Drop, so the more you buy, the more money that's raised for Operation Sauce Drop.

You can also purchase Pepper Dog Salsa (in Mild, Medium or Hot), Pepper Dog Salsa Verde, or the spicy Pepper Dog Dry Rub, and the entire purchase price is contributed to Operation Sauce Drop, thanks to the generosity of the good folks who make these delicious all-natural salsas and seasonings.

The average cost to purchase and ship a free gift box of sauce for a deployed serviceperson is around $20. We currently have a waiting list of over 200 troops who have signed up for a free gift box of sauce. When you shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, or when you make a donation using a credit card or PayPal (Carolina Sauce matches 100% of ALL donations), you're sending a free taste of home to a soldier far away and letting him or her know that they're remembered back home. The troops really appreciate the sauces, as you can see from the photos and thank you notes that they've sent.

So the next time you're looking for some zesty BBQ sauce or flavorful salsa and seasonings, please shop to support Operation Sauce Drop. We hope to be able to add more products in the future that you can purchase to support our troops, so make sure to bookmark the page and check it frequently!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mid-Year Best-Selling Sauces & Zesty Products

The numbers are in as of July 1 for each product category (BBQ sauce, hot sauce, etc.), and all Top Ten Best Sellers lists have been updated at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. Check out the most popular sauces and seasonings for 2009 as of the midyear point - you'll find some old favorites, and some new rising stars! For your convenience, here are quick links to each category-specific top ten list, together with the top seller for each and some other interesting highlights:

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: As usual, the ubiquitous Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce from Jamaica is our best-selling hot sauce so far for 2009 -- and, in fact, it's also our all-time best-selling hot sauce!

*Best-Selling BBQ Sauces: No surprise here either, as our all-time best-selling barbecue sauce, Wells Hog Heaven Barbecue Sauce, is in first place for the year. But it's getting stiff competition from our very own Carolina Sauce Co. Eastern NC BBQ Sauce, especially the Mild version!

*Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce: A local favorite for generations and also our all-time best-selling product across ALL categories, the classic steak sauce called Castle Sauce is at the top of this list -- and rounding out the list is Santo & Josie's Tomato Eggplant Pasta Sauce, a thick and hearty old-world Sicilian style spaghetti sauce that is fabulous in all Italian dishes (and it's on sale!)

*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings: Made in North Carolina and with a rapidly growing fanbase around the country, the versatile and flavorful Big Daddy's Marinade is presently our best selling marinade - and it comes with recipes!

*Best-Selling Dry Rubs & Seasonings: The best-seller so far has been Calhoun's Charcoal Grill Seasoning, which is made with real charcoal and adds great "char-grilled" flavor to steaks cooked on a gas grill -- and making the best-seller list for the first time is the feisty and tasty Dinosaur BBQ Cajun Foreplay Spice Rub from the famous Dinosaur Bar in upstate NY, currently in 9th place for 2009

*Best-Selling Gift Sets: The ever popular mild version of our NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set is our most popular gift set so far this year, and rounding out this list is our amazingly delicious Kosher Sauces Gift Set featuring 5 all-natural gourmet sauces created by an Israeli chef

*Best-Selling North Carolina Products: No surprise here - the number one best-selling NC product continues to be Castle Sauce, an old-fashioned steak sauce inspired by the original from the old Boar & Castle Restaurant in Greensboro, NC

*Best-Selling Wing Sauces: The mother of all wing sauces (literally!), Anchor Bar Original Buffalo Wing Sauce is the best-selling wing sauce so far for 2009

*Best-Selling Jerk & Curry Products: Regularly featured as our best-selling Jamaican jerk product, Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning continues to hold the top spot on this list - and all 3 of Pluto's Certified Organic Jamaican Sauces are also among the top ten best-selling jerk & curry products this year!

*Best-Selling Snacks & Sweets: An Australian original that's made with real ginger and is my favorite candy, Buderim Ginger Bears are our best-selling snack/sweet - and making the list for the first time is the exotic and delicious Thomas Gourmet Peach Chutney, currently in 9th place for the year (and it's on sale!)

*Best-Selling Mustards: Our top-selling mustard is the sweet & spicy Bone Suckin' Mustard from NC - and for folks who prefer a mild but rich flavor, there's the elegantly delicious and versatile Burning Asphalt White Wine Dijon Dipping Mustard rounding out the list

*Best-Selling Salsa & Relish: The unique Pepper's Original Blue Crab Salsa (made with real Maryland crab!) is currently the best-selling salsa this year - and making the top ten for the first time is the velvety-rich and zesty Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce, the perfect accompaniment for crab cakes and all other sorts of fish and seafood (and it's on sale!)

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Closed for Vacation July 3 thru July 13

Beginning tomorrow, Friday July 3rd, through Monday, July 13th, the Carolina Sauce Company will be closed to give its hardworking employees some vacation time with their families -- and also for some offsite creative planning on new features for our site, plus evaluating potential new products for the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and additional fundraising for Operation Sauce Drop, our non-profit program that sends free hot sauce and BBQ sauce to US troops stationed abroad. You can still place orders online while we are closed, but those orders will be shipped after we re-open on Tuesday July 14th. Although no one will be available to answer the phone while we are closed, you can leave us voicemail or send us email (I will have sporadic access to email while away), and we will reply after we reopen on the 14th. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements next week while we're on the road....

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling Zesty Sauces & Seasonings for June 2009

Here are June's Top 10 best-selling sauces and seasonings across all product categories at the Carolina Sauce Company. Although the top 3 finishers stayed the same from May, there are some surprises in the rest of the list, so keep reading!

1. Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning: This authentic Jamaican jerk paste can be hard to find, but we've been able to keep it in stock pretty consistently, to the joy of jerk fans around the country

2. Castle Sauce is an old-fashioned mustard & tomato based steak sauce from Greensboro, NC, and it's delicious with burgers, fries, onion rings & more

3. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce is an authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce from Burgaw, NC that's perfect for pulled pork BBQ

4. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce comes from Trinidad & Tobago in the West Indies and features fiery scotch bonnet peppers and sweet tropical papayas in a thick, Caribbean mustard base

5. Southern Twang Dry Rub: Making its debut on our overall top 10 best seller list, this sweet and savory North Carolina dry rub features tomatoes, paprika, bell peppers and other zesty ingredients for a feisty flavor with a citrusy twist

6. Scorned Woman Hot Sauce is a classic vinegar-based hot sauce that gets its fire from a blend of hot chile peppers plus red and black pepper

7. Carolina Sauce Co. Eastern NC BBQ Sauce, Mild: Made on an eastern NC farm, this authentic vinegar based barbecue sauce features a hint of apples and just a smidge of tomatoes for a tangy yet smooth flavor that's ideal for pulled pork barbecue -- and it comes with a free recipe flyer for making real NC BBQ!

8. Matouk's Calypso Sauce: Similar to the Matouk's West Indian Sauce but without the papaya, this rich and savory mustard-based hot sauce features aged pickled scotch bonnet peppers in all their fiery glory

9. Buderim Ginger Bears are grown-up gummy bear candies from Australia that are made with real ginger and deliver a not-too-sweet gingery bite

10. Walkerswood Jonkanoo Pepper Sauce is named after a Jamaican street festival and its spirited blend of fiery hot peppers and tropical spices lives up to its sunny name

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Stay tuned, as we'll soon update our category-specific lists of best-selling sauces & products to reflect the 2009 standings as of the middle of the year