Gourmet Stocking Stuffers

Here are some full-flavored sauces, spices and other treats that make great holiday stocking-stuffers and are sure to please:

*Jim's Own Homestyle BBQ Sauce Mini-Bottle, a best-selling Piedmont style NC BBQ sauce (and the mini jar now features the new 10th Anniversary label with the nattily-dressed pig)

*George's Original BBQ Sauce Mini-Bottle, a favorite of fans of tangy eastern NC style BBQ sauce

*Toad Sweat Dessert Hot Sauces mini-bottles, sweet and spicy, with 4 flavors (Cranberry, Key Lime, Lemon Vanilla and Chocolate Orange) per pack which you can give as a set or break up to use as 4 individual stocking stuffers

*Knox's Gourmet Dry Rubs, in 3 fabulous flavors (Cracked Pepper, Chipotle BBQ, and Jamaican Jerk) - each little cube is packed with the finest gourmet blend of herbs and spices

*Pluto's Caribbean Bliss Spice Blends, each little bottle is packed with aromatic Jamaican herbs and spices for authentic Caribbean cooking - comes in 4 varieties (Original Hot, Fiery, Mild and Salt-Free)

*Dave's Gourmet Insanity Popcorn, with its insanely fiery heat level, this microwave popcorn is definitely not for kids but will be greatly appreciated by serious chileheads

*Chile Pepper Soaps, hand-crafted in New Mexico using all-natural skin-soothing ingredients (no peppers used in the soap!) and molded into the shape of chile peppers, in Santa Fe Cinnamon and Santa Fe Lime scents

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Greg's Mom's Sausage & Oyster Stuffing

Greg's Mom is an excellent cook who makes mouthwatering old-fashioned homestyle meals. She makes this turkey stuffing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but she leaves out the oysters due to a fairly recently developed shellfish allergy. Greg includes the oysters, and they really do add a special richness to this dresing. He also cooks the stuffing (dressing) in a pan instead of inside the turkey. I appologize for the less-than-exact measurements, but this is one of those recipes where "feel" (or perhaps I should say "taste") is more important than precise amounts. Amazingly, neither Greg nor his mom measure ANYTHING when they make this delicious stuffing - but then again, they've both made it countless times. Go ahead and give it a try the next time you make turkey or otherwise need stuffing. The flavors are simply spectacular!
Ingredients
2 to 2 1/2 loaves white bread (you can also use whole wheat bread)
1 lb (approx.) ground turkey sausage (you can use regular sausage)
1 pint raw oysters, shucked & drained (optional)
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery (Greg hates celery so he uses 1 cup chopped bell pepper)
1 can water chestnuts, chopped
1 can mushrooms, chopped
2 apples, cored and diced
2 cans chicken broth (or 2 1/2 cups water)
Seasonings
Celery seed
Rubbed sage
Poultry seasoning
Seasoned pepper

The day before you plan on cooking the stuffing, break the bread into bite sized pieces and place in 1 or two bowls to dry out, "churning" it up from the bottom several times until you're ready to assemble the stuffing.

One hour before stuffing the turkey (or cooking the stuffing, if cooked separately): Sautee the sausage until cooked through and browned, then drain off the grease. Add the onions, celery, water chestnuts, mushrooms and apples, and sautee until the onions and celery soften. Add the Seasonings to taste, and stir well. In a saucepan, bring the chicken broth or water to a bowl. Place the dried-out bread in a very large bowl (a soup pot also works) and pour in enough broth or water to moisten the bread (this should take the 2 cans of broth). Add the sausage mixture and oysters, and stir to combine. Stuff into the turkey and bake your turkey as planned. Or, if you want to bake the stuffing separately, spoon into a large baking pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350 to 375 degrees for about 1 hr or until the top is browned.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
www.carolinasauce.com

George's BBQ Sauce Gift Box

Do you need a gift for someone who loves to cook on the grill? How about a gift for a displaced North Carolinian, or for someone who loves (or would love to try) NC style barbecue? If your answer to any of the foregoing questions is "Yes," then you need to get the George's Barbecue Sauce Gift Box and fill it with 3 full-size bottles of your choice of George's Barbecue Sauce! This authentic eastern NC BBQ sauce is made with mellow apple cider vinegar, spices and just the lightest touch of tomato, making it ideal for anyone who's never tried real vinegar-based BBQ sauce before - AND it will please the palate of pulled pork purists, too! The Original flavor of George's is vinegar-tangy without being harsh, while the Hot version adds red pepper to spice up the original recipe. George's Special Sauce is thicker and richer thanks to more tomatoes, and it adds jalapeno peppers to kick up the heat. All three sauces are fabulous on pulled pork as well as chicken, meat and anything else you want to marinate and grill or broil. Plus we include free recipes with every order of George's Sauces! The George's BBQ Sauce Gift Box is not only perfect for the holidays, but also makes a thoughtful housewarming gift, birthday gift, Father's Day gift and more. When you order the George's Barbecue Sauce Gift Box, be sure to specify which flavors you want to include (you can pick 3 of the same flavor, 1 of each, or 2 and 1).

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Chipotle Seasoned Peanuts

I have a new favorite spicy snack: Chipotle Seasoned Peanuts from The Peanut Roaster in Henderson, NC. Generously dusted with ground chipotle and other spices, these premium roasted peanuts start off with a medium burn, but quickly move up the scale to a fiery medium-hot to hot level (or extra hot, by North Carolina standards) as you eat more. The heat lingers pleasantly for a satisfying but not overwhelming burn, and the flavor is tangy, peppery-spicy, and savory with a hint of onion and garlic. There's no sweetness or smokiness, and just the right amount of salt. This time of year when things get crazy and I don't always have time for lunch, I can stave off hunger by grabbing a few handful of these peanuts while working and chasing them down with a big glass of water or iced tea. These Chipotle Seasoned Peanuts take care of my hunger, I get some energizing nutrition from the peanuts, and my craving for fire is satisfied - what more can you ask of a snack?? Try some today!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

November's Best-Selling Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, & More

The stats by product category are in, and here are the Top Ten (or Top 5 or 6, depending on category) Best-Selling sauces and other products at the Carolina Sauce Company last month:

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: A "usual suspect" came in at No. 1, but Marie Sharp's Mild Habanero Sauce cracked the Top Ten for the first time, at a respectable #10

*Best Selling Barbecue Sauces: Another longtime favorite was at the top, and Thomas Sauce debuted No. 9

*Best Selling Rubs: The authentic Cajun seasoning Slap Ya Mama (Black Pepper recipe) from Louisiana broke in at an impressive #4

*Best-Selling Marinades and Dressings: A recent addition to our store, Big Daddy's Marinade, also broke in at #4

*Best-Selling Salsa and Relish: Another new product, Pepper Dog Salsa Verde, made its first Top Ten appearance at #6

*Best Selling Jerks and Curries: Featuring a first-timer, Vernon's Jamaican Hot & Spicy Jerk Sauce, at #5

*Best-Selling Mustards: A first-time Best-Seller, Texas Pete Honey Mustard Sauce, blew past the others to take top honors

*Best Selling Wing Sauces: The original Buffalo wing sauce came in at number 1, but our most unusual (and versatile) wing sauce, Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce, finished in second place

*Best Selling Snacks: A favorite for gag gifts and pranks, Ass Kickin' Jelly Beans cracked the Best-Seller list for the first time, at #5

*Best Selling North Carolina Products: A newer product, Carolina BBQ Peanuts, came in at #3

*Best Selling Gift Sets: With the holiday shopping season picking up steam in Novemeber, it was no surprise to see a few new Top Ten finishers in this category. Interestingly, the Lawyer's Gift Set was the strongest finisher among first-timers, coming in at #4

If you're still looking for a unique gift for someone, or you're searching for some delicious holiday recipe additions, you can't go wrong with any of our Best Selling sauces and products!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Hot & Spicy Potato Latkes

The celebration of Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight. Here is my somewhat non-traditional, hot and spicy take on potato latkes, for folks who enjoy fiery food.

Ingredients
6 medium potatoes, grated
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 large eggs (or the equivalent in egg substitute like Egg Beaters(R))
1/4 cup Matzo meal (or unbleached white flour)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Dash of red pepper or cayenne
Baking powder - just a pinch
Canola oil (or vegetable oil)

Condiments:
*Sour cream (you can use low fat or fat free)
*Apple sauce (I stir in a little bit of fresh grated ginger for some zing)
*Robert Rothschild Raspberry Thunder Sauce

In a large bowl, mix together the potatoes, onion, eggs, Matzo meal or flour, salt, black and red pepper and baking powder until everything is combined well. If you prefer extra-light and crispy latkes, put all of those ingredients in a food processor or in a blender (you may need to divide into two batches) and process until smooth and well-blended. In a large skillet (cast iron works well), add enough oil - about 2 or 3 tablespoons depending on the size of the skillet - to cover the bottom and heat to medium-high. When the oil is hot enough (you'll know because the latke batter will sizzle), drop a large spoonful of batter in the oil and use the spoon to flatten it into a thin pancake. Fry on both sides until brown and crisp. You can add more oil as needed - just make sure it's hot enough before frying the next latke to avoid sogginess! Drain the fried latkes on paper towels, and keep them warm by placing on a cookie sheet in a single layer and placing in the oven at warm/200 degrees until your done frying and ready to serve.

Serve ASAP, topped with a dollop of sour cream. You can serve the apple sauce and the Raspberry Thunder Sauce on the side, or put a dollop of one or the other on your latkes. Just be careful with the Raspberry Thunder Sauce because it is SERIOUSLY hot - you might want to keep more sour cream handy!

Happy Hanukkah!
Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Three Free Gifts For December Blog Readers!

In the spirit of the holiday season, the Carolina Sauce Company is giving away FREE GIFTS for blog readers and RSS feed subscribers in December! There are three easy ways to receive a free gift - and you can do one, two or all three anytime through December 31st:

(1) Place an order for one or more products from the Carolina Sauce Company to be delivered to you, and enter the word "Blog" in the COMMENTS line on the online order form, and we will add a free item of our choice in addition to your purchase! You can also claim your free gift when you order by phone - just mention this blog when placing your order.

(2) Place an order for one or more products OR for a Gift Certificate from the Carolina Sauce Company to be delivered to someone else, and enter the word "Blog" in the COMMENTS line on the online order form, and we will email you a coupon for 10% off your next order of products from the Carolina Sauce Company, good through June 30th, 2008! You can also claim your coupon when you order by phone - just mention this blog when placing your order.

(3) Make a donation to Operation Sauce Drop in any amount between now and December 31st, and enter the word "Blog" in the COMMENTS line on the online order form (or if you donate through PayPal, send us an email at "sales AT carolinasauce DOT com" and mention this Blog). We will then email you a coupon for 10% off your next order of products from the Carolina Sauce Company, good through June 30, 2008! (And yes, even if you've already donated to Operation Sauce Drop in the past, you can still get your discount coupon if you make another donation between now and December 31st!)

Best of all, do all of the above, and you'll get all three gifts: a FREE item of our choice shipped to you with your order, and TWO coupons for 10% off your next two orders! (And yes, you can also do two out of three and get the two applicable gifts.) So what are you waiting for?!? Place your orders and make a donation today, and get your free gifts right away!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

November's Top Ten Best Sellers

Here are November's Top Ten Best Selling Sauces and other zesty products at the Carolina Sauce Company:

1. Carolina Swamp Sauce, a unique marinade, grilling sauce and BBQ sauce with a funny name
2. Buderim Ginger Bears, made with real Australian ginger
3. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce, a tangy, spicy and flavorful eastern NC vinegar-based BBQ sauce
4. Carolina BBQ Peanuts, capturing the unique tang of North Carolina barbecue sauce in a crunchy snack
5. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce, a favorite all-purpose hot sauce from Jamaica
6. Scorned Woman Hot Sauce, a peppery vinegar based hot sauce that's good on everything except dessert
7. Matouk's Calypso Sauce, a West Indian favorite that captures the fiery flavor of the Caribbean in a rich, thick hot sauce
8. Scott's BBQ Sauce, an old-style vinegar based eastern NC BBQ sauce with plenty of red pepper heat
9. Capsicana Zing Sauce, a zesty all-purpose table sauce that's wonderful on any dish and won't burn out your taste buds
10. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce, full of scotch bonnet peppers and a touch of tropical fruit to temper the fire

Stay tuned for updated best-seller lists in specific product categories!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Holiday Shipping Information

The holiday season is upn us, and Christmas will be here before you know it. Don't wait until it's too late to send the gift of good taste to a special friend, business colleague or relative. If you want to avoid paying for expensive Air shipping, please note that the last day to place a Ground Shipping order at Carolina Sauce Company for delivery by Christmas is Friday December 14, subject to product availability (and we will notify you ASAP if any ordered items are out of stock, so that you can make a substitution or change your order). If you place an order after December 14th and would like it to arrive before Christmas, I strongly recommend that you select one of the UPS Air services, unless you are shipping within North Carolina because regular Ground service delivers the next business day within the state. The US Postal Service and UPS will have regular delivery services for Ground and Air packages on December 24th, but neither service will deliver on Christmas Day, December 25th.

November and December are by far the busiest time of year for us, and by Christmas we are in desperate need for some R&R. As in years past, Carolina Sauce will close for 2 weeks after Christmas to rest up and then gear up for the new year. Specifically, we will be closed from Saturday, December 22nd and through Sunday, January 6th. You can still place orders online during that time, but they will be shipped after January 6th. If you email or call us while we're closed, please understand that we won't be able to reply until after January 6th. We will re-open for business on Monday, January 7th, and I'm already excited about the new features and new products that are in the works for 2008!

If you have any questions regarding holiday shipping, product availability, or anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can leave a comment here, or you can call us at 919-765-0143 or email "sales at carolinasauce dot com".

Zestfully yours,
Gloria