Outta the Park Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce

If you like your BBQ sauce to be thick and rich, tomato-based, and big on fiery heat, you're going to love the new Outta The Park Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce, from the creator of the original award-winning Outta The Park BBQ Sauce. Like the original, the Hot & Spicy version is a classic American barbecue sauce made with all-natural ingredients including tomatoes, brown sugar, mustard and savory spices. But while the original starts off mild and finishes with a pleasantly peppery kick and a touch of zippy ginger, the new Hot & Spicy Outta The Park BBQ Sauce leads off with a powerful hot-pepper punch and more gingery zing. But don't worry, you'll still get plenty of that mouthwatering tangy-tomato flavor that's made the original Outta The Park a favorite of young and old alike--just be prepared for some fiery heat from the secret blend of hot chilies, the additional fresh ginger, and extra dash (or three) of hot sauce that have been masterfully added to create the Hot & Spicy version.

If you taste Outta The Park Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce straight from the bottle, you'll probably notice the fiery heat level first, especially if you're used to the tamer original. But don't worry, the heat settles down to a food-friendly medium-hot when you baste or slather the sauce on food while it's cooking (preferably during the last 15 minutes). The end result is deliciously robust with enough of a hot pepper burn to please folks who crave hot & spicy foods, but not so hot as to burn out your taste buds.

Enjoy Outta The Park Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce just as you would the original: On ribs, chicken, pork, venison, kabobs of all sorts, shrimp and stronger flavored grilled fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel), robust veggies like portobello mushrooms, and mixed into hamburgers, meatloaf, sloppy joes, cocktail meatballs, baked beans and other recipes where you'd use tomato sauce or ketchup but want a bolder flavor. Like the original recipe, Outta The Park Hot & Spicy BBQ Sauce is all-natural and mostly organic, and has no high fructose corn syrup and no MSG. Unlike the original which uses butter for added richness, the Hot & Spicy version is dairy-free, substituting expeller-pressed safflower oil for the butter in order to preserve that satisfyingly rich mouthfeel. Both flavors of Outta The Park BBQ Sauce are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company, and you'll get a FREE recipe card when you order either flavor from us!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling Wing Sauces for 2010

Here is our list of the top ten best-selling wing sauces for 2010 at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, just in time for your March Madness game-watching parties:

1. Continuing its reign as our best-selling wing sauce is THE original Buffalo wing sauce from Buffalo, NY: Anchor Bar Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce, with that world-famous tangy flavor and cayenne kick.

2. Repeating its 2009 second place finish was the hotter & spicier version of the original Anchor Bar Buffalo wing sauce, appropriately called Anchor Bar Hotter Buffalo Wing Sauce.

3. Jumping up several spots on this list was the ultra-rich and pleasantly spicy DEFCON 2 Medium Heat Wing Sauce, a multiple award-winning Buffalo style wing sauce made with fresh and aged cayenne peppers plus a splash of real cream for a luxuriously satisfying mouthfeel.

4. One of my favorite Buffalo wing sauces is the medium-hot Distillery Original Buffalo Wing Sauce from Rochester NY, which is also super-rich and doubles nicely as a zesty sandwich spread or burger topping.

5. The Distillery Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce is substantially hotter than the original version, and is sure to please people who prefer seriously hot Buffalo wings.

6. Also a favorite of chileheads and folks with cast-iron stomachs is the super-hot Anchor Bar Suicidal Buffalo Wing Sauce, which is ideal if you dare to make "suicide wings" at home.

7. Many restaurants and bars serve their Buffalo wings with a cool and creamy dip, and we offer a popular one: Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce, a creamy and tangy dipping sauce with chunks of blue cheese. You can also enjoy it as a salad dressing.

8. Don't be fooled by the name: Texas Pete Buffalo Wing Sauce is made in North Carolina by the makers of the popular Texas Pete vinegar pepper sauce. This classic Buffalo style wing sauce is moderately spicy, making it a crowd-pleaser.

9. Tony's Birdland Hot Wing Sauce is a unique tangy-sweet and spicy-hot wing and chicken sauce from the famous Tony's Birdland chain of chicken restaurants in upstate New York. Enjoy it as a change of pace from regular Buffalo wing sauce, and as a piquant marinade, grilling and basting sauce for chicken, seafood and veggies.

10. Completing our list of the top ten best-selling wing sauces last year is the family-friendly Tony's Birdland Mild Wing Sauce, a gently-spiced and pleasantly tangy-sweet sauce that's great for everything from chicken wings to breaded strips, onion rings, grilled chicken, french fries and more.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce is Back in Stock!

Good news for fans of Carolina pulled or chopped pork BBQ: Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce is back in stock again at the Carolina Sauce Company! I drove out to Wells Pork & Beef in Burgaw, NC, today and brought back a truckload of their zesty vinegar barbecue sauce, so we once again have plenty in stock. Wells Hog Heaven Barbecue Sauce (the one with the black label in the photo on the left) is our all-time best-selling barbecue sauce. In addition to being the perfect sauce when you want to enjoy eastern NC style pork BBQ at home, Wells Hog Heaven is also excellent for marinating and basting chicken and meat. Tangy and pleasantly spicy without being hot, Wells also adds a zesty kick to cooked greens and other veggies. I like to splash it on fried catfish, hushpuppies, Calabash shrimp, and french fries.

We also have Wells All-Purpose Ribs & Chicken BBQ Sauce (with the yellow label in the photo), which blends plenty of tomatoes into the tangy vinegar base for a sauce that's mellower in flavor, with a thicker, richer body. As the name suggests, Wells All-Purpose Chicken & Ribs Sauce is perfect for slathering on grilled chicken or ribs, and can also be added to ground meat for hamburgers or meatloaf.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you ever find yourself in Burgaw, which is about 30 minutes outside of Wilmington, NC, and you have a hankering for some Calabash style seafood, I recommend Holland's Fish Camp Restaurant, which is only a few miles down the road from Wells Pork & Beef. I had lunch at Holland's today and enjoyed a generous portion of fried catfish and frog's legs, which were expertly fried and not at all greasy. The coleslaw was creamy, "NY deli" style slaw, as opposed to the tangy vinegar slaw often served in NC. The portions were large, the food was fresh and flavorful, the service was attentive and friendly, and the rustic log dining room overlooking a fishing creek (this is a real fish camp, folks!) was quite relaxing.

Top 10 Best-Selling Jamaican Jerks & Curry Products for 2010

Here is our list of the Top Ten Best Selling Jamaican Jerk and Curry products for 2010 at the Carolina Sauce Company online store:

1. Continuing its multi-year streak as our best-selling Jamaican jerk is Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, an intensely aromatic and peppery-hot jerk paste or "wet rub" from Jamaica that's the key to making authentic jerked chicken, pork, fish, goat and other Jamaican dishes at home.

2. Continuing to hold on to second place for yet another year is Walkerswood Spicy Jamaican Jerk Marinade, which is a little milder than the Walkerswood seasoning and is ideal for marinating, basting and cooking poultry, meat or seafood.

3. Moving up to third place in 2010 from 5th in 2009 is the richly flavored Walkerswood Jerk BBQ Sauce, an exotic Jamaican barbecue sauce that's made with bananas, jerk spices and other tropical ingredients.

4. Dropping down one notch on this best-seller list is Busha Browne's Authentic Jerk Seasoning, also from Jamaica. This intensely flavorful jerk paste is powerful stuff, and a little goes a long way to add authentic jerk flavor to meats, poultry and seafood.

5. Nando's Curry Coconut Cooking & Grilling Sauce from South Africa is one of my favorite products. This rich and creamy tropical curry sauce is spiced with the South African bird's eye (peri-peri) pepper and is an easy way to prepare curry dishes at home without having to buy a bunch of hard-to-find spices.

6. Busha Browne's Spicy Jerk Sauce captures the complex flavor and fiery heat of slow-cooked Jamaican jerk in a versatile table sauce so that you can splash it on any dish that needs a boost

7. Another popular Jamaican table sauce is Tortuga Jamaican Jerk Sauce, which features savory, sweet and spicy-hot flavors in a pourable sauce that also works quite nicely as a marinade.

8. Repeating its 8th place finish despite being unavailable for the latter part of the year (manufacturer problems again) is Pickapeppa Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, a rich, highly concentrated jerk paste that's bursting with exotic spices and herbs. We plan on having this popular jerk seasoning back in stock as soon as it's available again from the manufacturer.

9. Dave's Gourmet Jammin' Jerk Sauce adds a California twist to traditional jerk sauce, and the result is a food-friendly, all-purpose savory-spicy table sauce with a touch of sweetness that goes nicely with everything from pork to chicken to seafood to rice dishes.

10. Rounding out our list of 2010's top ten best-selling jerk & curry sauces is the Mild version of Pluto's Certified Organic Jamaican Jerk Sauce, the creation by a Jamaican ex-pat now living in North Carolina. This delicious jerk sauce comes with a free recipe brochure, and is a wonderful way for the whole family to enjoy the rich flavors of Jamaican jerk without the burn of hot peppers.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling Salsa & Relish for 2010

Just as I did last year, I'm posting the Carolina Sauce Company's list of the annual Top Ten Best Selling Salsas and Relishes on National Chili Day. Here goes:

1. Moving from 2nd in 2009 to first place in 2010 was our own Hot Chow Chow Relish, made on a small family farm in the North Carolina Piedmont. We donate $1 from the sale of each jar to Operation Sauce Drop for the troops.

2. Sliding down from first in 2009 to second last year was the original Peppers Blue Crab Salsa, an all-natural, medium-heat tomato and pepper salsa made with real Maryland crab meat. Enjoy it with chips, spooned over broiled or grilled fish, with seafood enchiladas, and even as an alternative to spaghetti sauce!

3. Breaking into the top ten with an impressive third-place finish was our own Habanero Pepper Relish, made especially for us in the NC mountains. Fiery-hot with a tangy-sweet "bread & butter pickle" flavor, this habanero relish adds heat to burgers, sandwiches, tuna salad, tartar sauce and more. We donate $1 for every jar sold to Operation Sauce Drop.

4. Improving one spot from 2009 to 2010 was our Mild Chow Chow Relish, an old-fashioned Carolina pickled-cabbage condiment that's zesty and crunchy--and we donate $1 from the sale of each jar to Operation Sauce Drop for US troops serving overseas.

5. Once again finishing among the top 5 best-selling salsas and relishes was Capone Family Secret Hot Giardiniera from Chicago. This spicy-hot traditional Italian condiment is ideal for sandwiches and subs, antipasto trays, appetizers and more--and it comes with a free recipe for Giardiniera pizza!

6. Just My Taste Jalapeno Dip is a deliciously spicy, multi-purpose dip, condiment, marinade and sauce made with fresh jalapeno peppers and no artificial ingredients. Enjoy just like a salsa or in your favorite recipes--and we'll send you a bunch of recipes when you order Just My Taste from us!

7. Pepper Dog Salsa - Medium is an all-natural, smoky Southwestern style smooth (not chunky) tomato salsa that gets its heat from jalapeno peppers. Its rich flavor and texture makes this award-winning salsa an excellent choice for your favorite Tex-Mex, Southwestern and Mexican dishes, and also for enjoying with chips.

8. If you enjoy fish and seafood, you'll love Thomas Fish Camp Cocktail Sauce, an old-fashioned zesty tomato cocktail sauce from North Carolina with a zippy horseradish kick. Don't limit yourself to Calabash and other fried seafood, however, because this full-flavored cocktail sauce is also great with french fries, hush puppies, fried mozzarella sticks, and even as a burger condiment.

9. Another treat for seafood lovers is our 9th place finisher, Peppers Zesty Blue Crab Salsa. Made in the Chesapeake Bay area with real Maryland crab, this fiery salsa gets its kick from horseradish and hot peppers.

10. Just like the previous year, Thomas Fish Camp Tartar Sauce completes our list of the top ten best-selling salsas and relishes for 2010. This rich and creamy tartar sauce is far tastier than any you'll find in a grocery store, and will complement any seafood including fried shrimp, broiled fish, deviled crabs, crabcakes, etc. Kids love it on fish sticks and even with chicken nuggets!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Easy "Roasted" Garlic

Slow-roasted garlic is one of life's little culinary pleasures: Buttery-soft and easily spreadable, with a velvety mouthfeel and a rich, almost earthy mellow garlic flavor that lacks the sharply pungent edge of raw garlic. The only problem is that roasting a head of garlic in the oven takes a really long time.

Luckily, there's a quick and simple way to enjoy a surprisingly close imitation of roasted garlic, even when you're short on time. I learned this technique from my time in California's "wine country" many years ago. All you need is fresh peeled garlic cloves (which you can now find in the produce section of quality grocery stores like Whole Foods, saving you the trouble of peeling fresh garlic), water, and olive oil. I make a whole bunch at a time (at least 30 cloves) because you can store the "roasted" cloves in a sealed container in your refrigerator for up to a week. They might even keep longer, except I always use mine up within a few days. And once you taste these, you'll want to have plenty on hand to toss in salads, add to sandwiches, use as a garnish for entrees (steak, chicken, pork, fish, etc.), mix into omelets and scrambled eggs, and include in your favorite recipes.

Bring some water to a boil in a small saucepan--you'll want enough water to completely submerge the garlic cloves. Add the peeled garlic cloves to the boiling water and boil for 3 minutes. Drain and carefully pat dry the cloves with paper towels. In another small, heavy saucepan or skillet, heat half a cup to a cup of olive oil (enough to cover the cloves) over medium-high heat. Add the dry garlic cloves--you'll want to make sure they're completely dry so that they don't spatter--and cook over medium-high heat for about 7 minutes, turning frequently, until deep golden-brown. Remove the garlic cloves from the hot oil--I use a metal mesh wok strainer--and place on paper towels to drain and cool. That's it!

Don't discard the oil you used to "roast" the garlic, as you've now created lusciously flavored garlic oil to use in dressings, for sauteing, and in other recipes. Allow the garlic oil to cool, then pour into a small clean glass jar or bottle with a lid.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Top 10 Best-Selling Snacks & Sweets for 2010

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

1. As usual, our all-time best-selling snack (which is also a sweet) led this list last year: Buderim Ginger Bears are Australian gummy bears made with real ginger for a zippy flavor you can't get enough of.

2. Moving up all the way to second place after a 10th place finish in 2009 were our very own Carolina Sauce Co. Hot Dill Pickle Chips, a favorite hamburger and sandwich topping of folks who enjoy hot & spicy foods--and we donate $1 from the sale of each jar to Operation Sauce Drop!

3. Hot Honeys are premium North Carolina honey-roasted peanuts that are lightly seasoned with chipotle for a sweet & spicy snack that's addictively good.

4. Repeating its 2009 fourth place finish in 2010 was Robert Rothschild Hot Raspberry Thunder Sauce, a super hot sauce that's lusciously fruity but also crazy-hot thanks to a dose of capsaicin extract. Enjoy Raspberry Thunder with care--it's quite good with cream cheese or as a recipe ingredient.

5. Moving up several spots on our list of best-selling snacks were the unique Carolina BBQ Peanuts from The Peanut Roaster in Henderson, NC, featuring that signature Carolina vinegar tang and hint of peppery spice that's typical of eastern NC barbecue sauce.

6. One of my favorite sweet treats, Lilly's Gourmet Maple Butter, was our sixth best-selling sweet or snack in 2010. Made according to an old family recipe, this Maple Butter is luscious on pancakes, waffles, biscuits, toast, stirred into oatmeal and drizzled warm over ice cream.

7. For the second straight year, our Hot Pickled Garlic finished seventh on this list. Made by hand in the NC mountains using garlic cloves and hot peppers, this zesty snack is great for cooking and snacking--and $1 from the sale of each jar is donated to Operation Sauce Drop for troops serving overseas.

8. Dave's Insanity Popcorn is aptly named, as this microwave popcorn is a LOT hotter than any popcorn you'll find in a grocery store. Make sure you have a cold beverage handy to put out the fire!

9. Speaking of fires, the firefighter-themed Firehouse Nuts held on to a spot on our best-selling snacks list last year. These premium North Carolina peanuts are seasoned with smoked habanero powder for a savory, fiery flavor.

10. Ass Kickin' Jelly Beans complete our list of the top ten best-selling snacks and sweets for 2010. These grown-up candies look like ordinary jelly beans, and start off tasting that way, but give them a couple of seconds and BAM! The habanero heat kicks in!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Gloria's Favorite Nachos

Sometimes a girl's just gotta have her junk food. When I get a craving for nachos at home, I make this simple version, preferably in the oven although you can use your microwave instead. Ingredient amounts are to your taste.

Ingredients
Tortilla chips - I use regular salted chips, not flavored chips
Shredded cheddar and/or Monterrey Jack cheese
Chili powder - you can substitute your favorite BBQ rub if you prefer
Very thinly sliced onion: I cut an onion in half and then slice half-rings paper-thin (translucent) using a very sharp knife

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Arrange tortilla chips on an oven-proof platter (I use a quiche dish). Sprinkle cheese over the chips, then sprinkle on chili powder or BBQ rub as desired. Top with sliced onions and bake at 400F degrees for 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Sometimes I'll add sliced jalapenos and/or sliced black olives. I usually enjoy these nachos without salsa since I've already seasoned them with chili powder, but if I'm in the mood I'll spoon a few dollops of Pepper Dog Salsa Verde when the nachos come out of the oven.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings for 2010

Here is our list of the top ten best-selling marinades and dressings for 2010 at the Carolina Sauce Company:

1. For the second year in a row, Walkerswood Spicy Jamaican Jerk Marinade was our top-selling marinade. Made in Jamaica using traditional jerk spices and seasonings, this is the marinade to use for making jerked chicken, pork, lamb, and other Jamaican jerk favorites at home.

2. Also repeating its 2009 finish in 2010 was Big Daddy's Marinade, a North Carolina sauce with plenty of vinegar tang and savory spice. This barbecue marinade is excellent for pork, beef, chicken and other hearty grilling fare, and we'll send you a free recipe card when you order Big Daddy's from the Carolina Sauce Company.

3. Moving up to 3rd place after finishing 10th in 2009 was Bone Suckin' Yaki, from the makers of Bone Suckin' Sauce. Similar to teriyaki but with a tangy Carolina twist, Bone Suckin' Yaki is delicious with steak and chicken, and also enhances your favorite recipes including stews, seafood, stir-fry dishes and ground beef.

4. Thomas Marinade was our fourth best-selling marinade last year. This all-natural, old-fashioned "soak" from Greensboro, NC, pairs beautifully with beef, pork and chicken, and will tenderize venison and other tough or lean cuts.

5. Moving up in the standings for the third consecutive year was Mama T's Olive Oil Vinagrette, a classic herb-infused vinaigrette from the North Carolina Outer Banks. Enjoy this simple yet elegant dressing on all your favorite green salads and steamed vegetables, and also as a light marinade for fish, seafood and chicken.

6. Also rising on our annual list of best-selling marinades and dressings was Tortuga Mango & Ginger Stir-Fry Sauce from Barbados. This bright and zesty tropical marinade and stir-fry sauce is excellent with seafood and chicken as well as in rice and veggie dishes. I like to dress up Chinese takeout with a few splashes for added flavor.

7. Nando's Sundried Tomato & Basil Marinade is a Mediterranean-inspired sauce from the world-famous Nando's Chickenland restaurants. Rich and hearty, with a pleasantly spicy kick from South African peri-peri peppers, this marinade works wonders with chicken, meat, seafood and pasta dishes.

8. Breaking into the annual top ten list was Thomas Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, an inspired blend of traditional balsamic vinaigrette with a splash of Thomas Sauce, a Piedmont style BBQ sauce (tomato & vinegar). Delicious on salads and grilled veggies, this dressing also doubles as a marinade for chicken, pork, seafood and more.

9. The Asian-inspired Dave's Gourmet Soyabi Sauce combines savory soy sauce with zippy wasabi to create a zesty dipping sauce for sushi, spring rolls, egg rolls, tempura and more. Soyabi Sauce is also superb for marinating tuna steaks, salmon and other seafood.

10. Completing our list of the top ten best-selling dressings & marinades for 2010 was Nando's Lime & Cilantro Marinade from South Africa. This thick, rich and mildy spicy marinade boasts the refreshing flavors of lime, cilantro and just a touch spice from peri-peri peppers, making it ideal for chicken, shrimp and fish.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling NC Products for 2010

Here is our list of the top ten best-selling North Carolina products for all of 2010 at the Carolina Sauce Company online store:

1. Moving up a spot from 2009 to dethrone the two-time first place finisher is Wells Hog Heaven Barbecue Sauce, an authentic eastern NC vinegar BBQ sauce (no tomatoes) from Burgaw (near Wilmington). Wells Hog Heaven is ideal for Carolina pulled pork BBQ and also works well as a marinade for chicken and meat.

2. After two years as our best-selling NC product, Castle Sauce finished a close second in 2010. Based on the original favorite from the old Boar & Castle Restaurant of Greensboro, NC, Castle Sauce is a classic American tomato-mustard condiment that's good on everything from hamburgers to steak, fries, onion rings, sandwiches and more.

3. Moving up 3 spots to finish in third place last year was Scotts BBQ Sauce from Goldsboro, NC. This is a classic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce with a fiery peppery kick. Enjoy Scott's Barbecue Sauce on Carolina pork BBQ, splashed on fried catfish and hushpuppies, and mixed into collard greens or three-bean salad for a boost of spicy flavor.

4. Sliding from third to fourth was Capsicana Zing Gourmet Sauce, a sweet & spicy (not hot) all-purpose table sauce that's also excellent for cooking--and it comes with free recipes, too!

5. Jim's Own Homestyle Bar-B-Que Sauce was the very first product at the Carolina Sauce Company, and this mild & tangy, subtly sweet Piedmont NC barbecue sauce (vinegar & tomatoes) was our fifth best-selling North Carolina product last year. Jim's Own Homestyle sauce comes in three sizes, and you get free recipes when you order it from us!

6. For a second consecutive year, Outta the Park BBQ Sauce finished among the top ten North Carolina products. This rich, tomato-based barbecue sauce with a pleasant tang and a zippy kick is perfect for the whole family and complements everything from ribs to grilled chicken, burgers, shrimp and more--and it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

7. Adams Rib Rubb broke into the top ten last year for the first time. This savory BBQ rub not only imparts delicious flavor to ribs, roasts, chicken and even salmon, but it also helps tenderize tougher cuts of meat, including venison and other wild game.

8. Bone Suckin' Seasoning Rub is made by the same folks who make the famous Bone Suckin' Sauce. Like the sauce, Bone Suckin' Rub is sweet and savory with just the right amount of sassy spice to bring out the best in all sorts of meat, poultry and even veggies and seafood.

9. Speaking of Bone Suckin' Sauce, the original version was 9th on our list of best-selling NC products. This is a western NC style BBQ sauce with plenty of tomato to tame the vinegar tang, and you get free recipes when you order it from us.

10. Repeating its 2009 tenth place finish was Carolina Treet Original Cooking BBQ Sauce, a unique barbecue sauce for indoor use (on the stove or in the oven or crock pot), and not for grilling or table use--in other words, you need to cook with it, not splash it on pulled pork! Carolina Treet is a real treat with chicken, pork or meat.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

All JT Pappy's Gator Sauces In Stock Again!

At long last, all five flavors of J.T. Pappy's Gator Sauces are finally back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company! The manufacturer had been out of stock for at least a month but recently ran a limited production batch, and we received our fresh back-ordered inventory this afternoon. Our warehouse is busy packing all of our pending orders for the JT Pappy's sauces, and we hope to get completely caught up by no later than tomorrow (and possibly even this evening). To everyone who has been patiently waiting for their Gator Sauce, please accept my heartfelt thanks for your patience and understanding!

For those unfamiliar with the J.T. Pappy's sauces, let me recommend that you give them a try. These are savory, mustard-based barbecue sauces with a touch of tomato and a hint of smoke, and their thick texture makes them ideal for basting, slathering, dipping, grilling and also marinating. Made with all-natural, vegetarian ingredients (no alligators are harmed in their making), JT Pappy's Gator Sauces complement anything you grill including ribs, chicken, pork, seafood, veggies and more. Available in mild and smoky Hickory Heaven Sauce, flavorful Mild Gator Sauce, medium-spicy Flamin' Gator Sauce, peppery-hot Gator Grenade Sauce and fiery-hot Termigator Sauce, J.T. Pappy's sauces are only $4.50 a bottle from Carolina Sauce--and the manufacturer donates a portion of the proceeds to support breast cancer research.

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

Carolina Sauce Valentine's Day Giveaway Ends Today!

Today is the final day you can claim your FREE Valentine's Day gifts from the Carolina Sauce Company. Receive a free jar of North Carolina Pepper Jelly plus a free little surprise gift when you order $20 or more in products at the Carolina Sauce online store and use the coupon code Heart2011Blog. Don't forget to include a jar of pepper jelly of your choice in your order, or else the coupon won't work. And don't delay: This special giveaway ends at midnight TODAY!

Want to receive more coupons, free gifts and exclusive discounts as well as recipes, the latest product news and other zesty info? Simply sign up for our FREE monthly eNewsletter, and become a Fan on our official Facebook page!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Need a last-minute Valentine's Day gift for a foodie or a hot sauce fanatic? Give them a Carolina Sauce Gift Certificate! Our gift certificates come in amounts to fit every budget, and you can print out your email confirmation if you want a paper certificate to give to your sweetheart. Best of all, our gift certificates NEVER expire and can never be lost!

Top 10 Best-Selling Gift Sets for 2010

Here are the top ten best-selling gift sets from the Carolina Sauce Company for all of 2010:

1. For the third consecutive year, the Mild version of our NC Barbecue Sauce Gift Set was our top selling gift set. This ever-popular food gift comes with 6 full-size bottles of North Carolina BBC sauces representing the different regional styles found in NC, plus FREE recipes and instructions for making genuine Carolina pulled pork barbecue.

2. Repeating in second place was the Hot version of our NC Barbecue Sauce Gift Set, featuring 6 full-size bottles of hot & spicy North Carolina BBQ sauces representing the different regional BBQ styles in NC. Like the mild version, this hot gift set comes with FREE recipes and instructions for making genuine Carolina pulled pork barbecue.

3. Moving up from its 10th place finish the previous year to finish third in 2010 was the Mild version of our Bone Suckin' Sauce Gift Set, which comes with 2 jars of Bone Suckin Sauce (Original and Thicker style), a bottle each of the savory Bone Suckin' Yaki marinade and original Bone Suckin' Seasoning & Rub, and a jar of the mild version of Bone Suckin' Salsa, plus FREE Bone Suckin' recipes.

4. Moving down one spot was the "customizable" George's BBQ Sauce Gift Box with three full-size bottles of this popular eastern NC barbecue sauce. You choose which flavors of George's BBQ Sauce to include in the gift box (mild Original, spicy Hot, and thick & spicy Special), and we include lots of FREE recipes!

5. Our mild Grilling Party Gift Set comes with all the sauces, seasonings and condiments you need for barbecuing, tailgating and outdoor entertaining: BBQ & grilling sauces, wing sauce, salsa, mustard, seasoned peanuts and more!

6. Moving up a couple of spots was our Hot Wings Gift Set, with 4 bottles of zesty wing sauces ranging from traditional Buffalo style to gourmet and exotic, plus a bottle of Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce from the birthplace of Buffalo wings, the famous Anchor Bar in Buffalo NY

7. Our brand-new Taste of NC Gift Set made an impressive debut as 2010's 7th most popular gift set. This collection comes with 8 different gourmet products made in NC, including steak sauce, crab cake sauce, pepper jelly, pasta sauce, seasoned peanuts, BBQ sauce and more, all at a bargain price!

8. Our Lawyer's Gift Set features 4 judicially-named hot sauces with comical labels, including Lawyer's Breath, So Sue Me, Under the Influence, and Contempt of Court.

9. A favorite with snackers and a popular Father's Day gift, our Peanut Lover's Gift Set comes with 4 full-size cans of seasoned gourmet peanuts: Carolina BBQ peanuts, Hot Honeys (chipotle-honey roasted peanuts), Wasabi Peanuts, and habanero-seasoned Firehouse Nuts

10. Completing our list of the top ten best-selling gift sets for 2010 was our dangerously hot Ultra-Hot Hot Sauce Gift Set, which features nine of our hottest hot sauces including Blair's Sudden Death, Mad Dog .357, Liquid Stoopid, Vicious Viper, You Can't Handle This Hot Sauce, and more!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes

These adorable miniature cherry cheesecakes are romantic, easy to make and perfect for Valentine's Day. This recipe makes a dozen mini cheesecakes, and you can refrigerate or freeze (wrap well in plastic wrap) any leftovers. You can also substitute any flavor of pie filling for the cherry if you prefer.

Ingredients
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 plus 1 Tbs sugar
1 egg
1/2 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
18 vanilla wafers, crushed
1 can cherry pie filling (or blueberry or other flavor)

Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Beat the cream cheese, egg, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla until light and fluffy. Line a small muffin pan with paper cupcake baking cups. Use a spoon to evenly distribute the crushed vanilla wafers among all 12 cups - make sure you cover the bottom of each cup. Fill each cup 2/3 full with the cream cheese mixture. Bake at 375F degrees until set, about 15 or 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully lift out each baked cheesecake cup from the muffin tray. Place the cheesecakes on a platter or large plate and top each with about a tablespoon of pie filling. Place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour or until serving time.

Variation: For a spicy-sweet twist, omit the pie filling topping and instead drizzle each mini cheesecake with your favorite flavor of Toad Sweat Dessert Hot Sauce.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Carolina Sauce Co. Closed on Feb. 11

The Carolina Sauce Company will be closed on Friday, February 11th while we attend a seminar out of town. You can still shop online while we are closed, and orders received on Friday will begin shipping out on Monday February 14th when we re-open for business. Although no one will be available to answer the phone or reply to email while we are closed, please feel free to leave us a message or to send us an email, and we'll reply as soon as we can when we re-open.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Jump Up & Kiss Me is Back!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the original Jump Up & Kiss Me Hot Sauce is available and back in stock again at the Carolina Sauce Company! Out of stock at the manufacturer level for several months, Jump Up & Kiss Me arrived in our warehouse this afternoon, fresh from our supplier (who, in turn, had just received this fresh batch from the manufacturer). Created by a chef and food writer, this all-natural gourmet hot sauce is brimming with layers of flavor and rich texture that make it a favorite of foodies and regular folks with good taste. Moderately spicy rather than fiery-hot, Jump Up & Kiss Me artistically blends habanero peppers and other savory ingredients with papaya, honey and ginger in a tangy mustard-vinegar base for an intriguingly delicious sauce that complements meat, chicken, lamb, grilled vegetables, and more. One taste and you'll understand why Jump Up & Kiss Me is known as the "original hot sauce with passion"!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: The original Jump Up & Kiss Me Hot Sauce has no salt and zero carbohydrates per teaspoon - and you won't miss either.

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: A Free Valentine Gift for You!

Receive a FREE 10oz jar of our delicious farm-made Pepper Jelly, plus another free little surprise gift, as our Valentine's Day gifts to you! Simply order $20 or more in products at the Carolina Sauce Company online store and include a jar of pepper jelly in your order, then enter the coupon code Heart2011Blog when you order online, or mention the coupon when ordering by phone. This coupon is good only through Valentine's Day and will expire on Monday February 14, 2011.

Our old-fashioned pepper jellies are made by hand on a family farm in the North Carolina mountains and come in Mild Green Pepper, Mild Red Pepper, Hot Green Pepper, and Hot Red Pepper. Make sure to include a jar of your choice of flavor as one of the items in your order -- just like in a grocery store, you have to "put" the item in your "shopping cart" in order for the "cashier" to apply the Heart2011Blog coupon at checkout.

Looking for a romantic edible gift to say "I love you" to your Valentine? How about:

Jump Up & Kiss Me Hot Sauces, created by a gourmet chef using all-natural ingredients for fabulous flavor with just the right amount of spicy heat

Hot Honeys, mouthwatering honey-roasted and chipotle-seasoned peanuts in a "lipstick-kissed" container

Kiss of Fire Hot Sauce, sure to fire things up with its sizzling scotch bonnet heat

Susie's Burning Desire Hot Sauce from Antigua will ignite your senses with passionate Caribbean flavor, even if neither you nor your sweetie is named Susie!

Romantic Hot & Saucy Gift Set, featuring four of our romantically-named products for the perfect Valentine gift.

Not exactly in the mood for love? Feel like saying "good riddance" to a bad relationship? Then our "Love Stinks" Gift Set is for you, including a hot sauce called Mean Devil Woman and a bottle of Scorned Woman Fiery BBQ Sauce, among others...

Is Hot Sauce an Aphrodisiac?

Many cultures throughout history have believed that hot and spicy foods, especially chili peppers, are aphrodisiacs, probably because of the "rush" or "burn" one experiences from eating hot peppers, and possibly also due to the shape and red color of certain chilies. Scientific studies now suggest that there may be some truth to this belief because eating spicy foods stimulates the release of endorphins. Here are five other legendary aphrodisiacs that just might light your (or your loved one's) fire this Valentine's Day:

1. Raw oysters on the half-shell, especially with a dash of your favorite hot sauce -- a staff favorite here is Blues Habanero Reserve

2. Chocolate, whether eaten as dessert or enjoyed as a beverage. The Mayans spiked their hot cocoa with chilies for added effect. For a uniquely delicious blend of sweet chocolate and spicy heat, drizzle some Toad Sweat Chocolate Orange Dessert Hot Sauce over cheesecake or ice cream

3. Figs were seen as erotic treats by ancient Mediterraneans. Their seductively rich flavor shines in the enticingly exotic Olio & Spices BBQ Fig Sauce from Israel, which comes with free recipes AND is on sale!

4. Pineapple is used in homeopathy to help spark libido. Susie's Spicy Pineapple Pleasure blends sweet tropical pineapple with just the right touch of hot peppers to spark your tastebuds... and maybe more??

5. Ginger stimulates the circulatory system, which may be why some cultures believe it also stimulates passion. Find out for yourself when you splash Tortuga Mango & Ginger Stir-Fry Sauce on your favorite stir-fry dishes or other Asian fare!

Operation Sauce Drop Needs Your Support

Operation Sauce Drop is our non-profit program that sends free gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed abroad. To date, we've shipped almost 1,050 free gift boxes to our deployed military, at absolutely NO cost to them. The troops greatly appreciate the free sauces, as you can see from their thank-you notes & photos. Unfortunately, the program is presently out of funds and as of this writing we have 3 pending gift box requests that we currently cannot fulfill. Our cost to purchase and ship each free gift box generally runs from $20 to $25, and 100% of all donations received are used SOLELY to pay for the cost of the sauces & shipping. Carolina Sauce pays for all the overhead of the program and also for a portion of the costs of each gift box. Send a soldier a taste of home by donating to Operation Sauce Drop. You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, where some or all of the purchase price of the products goes straight into Operation Sauce Drop (you get the products you order, and the money you pay is used to send free sauce to the troops). Our troops will thank you for your support!

Find Recipes, Special Coupons, Product Reviews, Zesty News & More

The Carolina Sauce Facebook Page is your source for Carolina Sauce news, interesting food articles, and exclusive Facebook-only coupons. For access to these special coupons and the latest zesty news, simply visit our Facebook page and click on the "Like" button to become a Fan. You can then click on the Coupons tab and access special offers. And if you're looking for new recipes, grilling tips, product reviews, and the occasional chuckle, check out this blog, where we post delicious recipes, review new products as soon as they arrive, announce any discontinued or unavailable products, warn of possible product shortages, run special sales and discounts, and provide other useful information. Subscribe to our free RSS feed and you won't miss a single zesty thing! Click on the RSS button in the left margin to subscribe to the feed.

Follow SaucyGlo on Twitter for additional exclusive coupons, the latest food news, & for sharing zesty tips!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top Ten Best-Selling BBQ Sauces for 2010

Here is the list of the Top Ten best-selling barbecue sauces at the Carolina Sauce Company online store for 2010:

1. For the second straight year, Wells Hog Heaven Barbecue Sauce was our best-selling BBQ sauce. This is an authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce (no tomatoes) made in the tiny hamlet of Burgaw outside of Wilmington, and is ideal for Carolina pork barbecue.

2. Scott's Barbecue Sauce from Goldsboro NC is also a traditional eastern NC vinegar barbecue sauce, and it moved up two slots from 2009 to finish in second place last year. Scott's BBQ Sauce traces its roots back to 1917, and it packs a peppery-hot kick, making it ideal for folks who enjoy spicy foods.

3. Jim's Own Homestyle Bar-B-Que Sauce from Durham NC took third place honors for 2010. This tangy-sweet Piedmont style BBQ sauce (vinegar, tomatoes, sugar & a touch of pepper) comes in three convenient sizes (pints, quarts. and mini-jars that make great party favors). Not just for pulled pork BBQ, Jim's Own Sauce is also great as a marinade for chicken and ribs -- plus you get free recipes when you buy it from us!

4. Outta the Park BBQ Sauce, also made in North Carolina, was the fourth best-selling barbecue sauce last year. This award-winning tomato BBQ sauce is thick and rich (not a Carolina style sauce), made with all-natural ingredients, and is perfect for slathering on ribs & chicken. It also comes with free recipes, and is on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

5. Moving up from 9th in 2009 to 5th in 2010 is J.T. Pappy's Flamin' Gator Sauce, a tangy medium-spicy mustard-tomato barbecue sauce made with all-natural ingredients. This Gator Sauce is great with all sorts of meat and chicken, and rumor has it that it's also tasty on alligator.

6. JT Pappy's Hickory Heaven Barbecue Sauce is similar to its Gator Sauce sibling, but milder on the heat scale and with a pleasantly smoky flavor. If you like your BBQ sauce with rich savory flavor but without a peppery bite, this is the sauce for you.

7. If you prefer spicy-hot barbecue sauce with savory mustard-tomato flavor, you'll love J.T. Pappy's Gator Grenade BBQ Sauce, the hotter version of the 5th and 6th place finishers. Enjoy it on ribs, chicken, pork chops, burgers and other hearty fare -- and with a cold drink on hand to help quench the fire!

8. If you enjoy Jamaican jerk and other exotic flavors, our 8th place finisher is for you: Walkerswood Jamaican Jerk Barbecue Sauce blends traditional jerk seasonings with ripe bananas and other tropical ingredients for a delicious island sauce that's wonderful with pork, seafood, chicken and more.

9. J.T. Pappy's Mild Gator Sauce is comparable in heat to the Hickory Heaven Sauce but without the smoky flavor. This mild but tasty barbecue sauce is a favorite of kids as well as folks with more sensitive palates who still appreciate great flavor.

10. Completing our list of 2010's top ten best-selling BBQ sauces (and repeating its 2009 finish) is the original Bone Suckin' Sauce, a western NC style barbecue sauce that blends sweet tomatoes with vinegar and a touch of spice for a sauce that has more body than eastern NC sauces but still delivers that trademark Carolina tang. It comes with free recipes, too!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

6th Street Water Chestnut Wraps

Add some North Carolina flavor to your game day party fare when you serve these deliciously tangy bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, from the creator of Jim's Own Bar-B-Que Sauce.

Ingredients
2 8oz cans whole water chestnuts, drained
1 to 2 cups Jim's Own Homestyle BBQ Sauce or Jim's Own Hot BBQ Sauce
1 lb sliced raw bacon

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. As the oven is warming up, wrap each water chestnut with half a slice of bacon and secure with a wooden toothpick. Place on a microwave-proof dish and microwave the bacon-wrapped water chestnuts for 6 minutes (you may want to place a paper towel over them to prevent splattering). Transfer the bacon-wrapped water chestnuts to a baking dish and pour as much of Jim's Own Sauce as desired over the water chestnuts. Bake at 350F degrees for 30 minutes, basting once during baking. Remove from oven and serve hot.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: This is just one of the tasty recipes you'll receive when you order any size or variety of Jim's Own Bar-B-Que Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company!

Top 10 Best-Selling Hot Sauces for 2010

Here is the list of the top ten best-selling hot sauces at the Carolina Sauce Company for all of 2010:

1. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce moved up from its second-place finish in 2009 to take top honors as our best-selling hot sauce for 2010. Made in Trinidad & Tobago from fiery scotch bonnet peppers and sweet tropical papaya, this flavorful island hot sauce is great with chicken and seafood as well as meats and veggies.

2. Matouk's Calypso Sauce also moved up a spot from 2009 to 2010. Hotter than Matouk's West Indian sauce with a more savory flavor, Matouk's Calypso features scotch bonnets in a thick and tangy mustard base and is great with all sorts of hearty fare, especially grilled food.

3. Making a dramatic leap from the previous year, Matouk's Salsa Picante Hot Pepper Sauce finished third in 2010. This traditional Caribbean hot sauce is made with aged, pickled scotch bonnet peppers in a spicy, savory mustard base, and is beloved for its versatility and heat.

4. Scorned Woman Hot Sauce is a classic vinegar-based hot sauce made with black pepper and several different types of chile peppers for tangy, fiery heat. Aptly named after the saying that Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, this all-purpose hot sauce regularly finishes in the top 5 of our best-selling hot sauce lists.

5. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce is another regular top-5 finisher and is our best-selling hot sauce of all time. Made in Jamaica and inspired by old colonial recipes, Pukka Sauce is great with everything from scrambled eggs to burgers & pizza to dinner entrees including seafood, steak, chicken, pork and more.

6. A favorite of folks who focus on fabulous flavors rather than fiery heat, Georgia Peach and Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce is gently spicy and brimming with the bright flavors of ripe peaches and mellow Vidalia onions. Like summer sunshine in a bottle, this delightful sauce complements meat, poultry, seafood, veggies and even rice dishes.

7. Finishing seventh on our list of best-selling hot sauces for the second year in a row, Matouk's Flambeau Sauce is about as hot as you can get without adding pepper extract or capsaicin oil. Not for the faint-hearted, Matouk's Flambeau features an outrageous quantity of the hottest aged pickled scotch bonnet peppers available, in a traditional West Indian mustard base. Ideal for robust dishes, a little Flambeau sauce goes a long way!

8. In contrast to Matouk's Flambeau, Capsicana Zing Gourmet Sauce is a subtly sweet and mildly spicy gourmet sauce from North Carolina that anyone, including kids and others with more sensitive palates, can enjoy. Zing Sauce adds mouthwatering flavor at the table and as a cooking ingredient. You can get it in 5 oz and 10 oz bottles, and it comes with a free recipe sheet!

9. Walkerswood Jonkanoo Pepper Sauce moved up a spot from 10th in 2009 to 9th in 2010. Made in Jamaica and named after a traditional street festival that's colorful and lively, this feisty hot sauce is true to its name. Enjoy Jonkanoo Sauce on all types of savory foods that could use a burst of tropical flavor and fire.

10. Completing our list of the top ten best selling hot sauces for 2010 and making its debut on this annual list is Dave's Ghost Pepper Naga Jolokia Hot Sauce. Made with the world's hottest pepper and spiked with pepper extract, Dave's Ghost Pepper Sauce is best used with caution, just one drop at a time. It also makes a great gift for anyone who brags that no hot sauce is hot enough for them!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Homerun Chicken Wings

Here's another finger-lickin-good recipe from the makers of Outta the Park BBQ Sauce. If you're tired of ordinary Buffalo wings, or want to serve less-spicy but flavor-packed wings for the big game this Sunday, Homerun Chicken Wings won't disappoint!

Ingredients
2-3 lbs raw chicken wings
Salt and pepper, other seasonings such as paprika if desired
1 bottle of Outta the Park BBQ Sauce
Fresh cilantro for garnish
Wooden skewers (or extra long toothpicks)
Regular size muffin pans

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place wings in bowl and season with salt, pepper & paprika or other desired seasonings. Insert skewers into wings, perpendicular to bone with meaty sides up. Place skewered wings in muffin pans with bone sides down so that wings are suspended in muffin cups (the cups will catch the fat drippings). Bake 25-30 minutes or until done. Remove from oven, remove skewers and place wings in a large clean bowl. Add Outta the Park BBQ Sauce and toss until wings are coated thoroughly. Garnish with cilantro and serve immediately, or keep warm in crock pot for party guests to enjoy (add the cilantro at serving, not in the crockpot).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Outta the Park BBQ Sauce is on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company, AND we'll also send you a free recipe card when you order it from us!

Outta the Park Meatballs

This mouthwatering recipe is from the makers of Outta the Park BBQ Sauce, an award-winning, all-natural, thick and tasty tomato-based barbecue sauce that's delicious with ribs, chicken, shrimp and more. It's also one of my favorite barbecue sauces, and a regular best-seller at the Carolina Sauce Company. If you're looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer to serve for the big game this Sunday, Outta the Park Meatballs are a winner!

Ingredients
2 lbs. Ground Beef
1 lb. Ground Pork
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs*
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
3 TBS Outta the Park BBQ Sauce (save the rest of the bottle for saucing the meatballs in a crockpot)
1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro

*Season plain bread crumbs with salt, pepper, parsley, garlic powder & onion powder

In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients, using your hands to mix thoroughly. Gather the mixture into a ball and then form into meatballs roughly 1" in diameter.
In a shallow bowl, combine extra breadcrumbs and Parmesan along with salt and pepper and dredge each meatball in the mix, coating thoroughly. Cook meatballs in frying pan over medium heat until done, or bake using mini-muffin pans. To bake, pierce each meatball through its center with a toothpick and suspend each meatball in the muffin cups, which will catch fat drippings. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until done, then remove toothpicks.

Place cooked meatballs in a warmed crockpot. Add 1 Bottle of Outta the Park BBQ Sauce to crockpot. Serve hot and enjoy!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Outta the Park Barbecue Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company, and we'll send you a FREE recipe card when you order from us!

Buderim Ginger Bears are Back!

Ginger lovers rejoice: Buderim Ginger Bears are finally back in stock again at the Carolina Sauce Company! A fresh new batch of these zingy gummy bears from Australia arrived at the Carolina Sauce warehouse earlier today, and these babies have been flying off the shelves from the moment I re-activated the ginger bears order page on our website. In fact, we've already sold more than half of the inventory we received today, so if you've been waiting to get your ginger bear fix and haven't yet placed your order with us, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible before we run out (again).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria