Greg's Hot 'n Bothered Sauce: Gone for Good

Newsflash: If you were waiting to get yourself one of the last few bottles of Greg's Hot 'n Bothered Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company, I'm sorry to report that you waited too long. The last bottle was ordered today and will be shipped out to a lucky customer on Monday. Sadly, we will no longer be manufacturing this multi-award-winning, versatile and scrumptious all-purpose marinade & cooking sauce, because production costs have simply gotten too high. But don't despair: we still have plenty of Greg's Happy Sauce, which is the same recipe minus the hot peppers (and also has won a multitude of awards). So if you need to get Hot 'n Bothered, all you need to do is add some minced hot chile peppers of your choice to regular Happy Sauce. We recommend that you use the same 3 varieties of chile pepper that were in the Hot 'n Bothered Sauce (habaneros, serranos and jalapenos), but it's totally up to you as to how much and which peppers to add. And as always, we'll send you free recipes and grilling tips when you order a bottle of Greg's Happy Sauce. Best of all, it's currently on sale.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: May BBQ Sauce Sale & Other Specials!

May is National Barbeque Month, and the Carolina Sauce Company is celebrating by saving YOU money on finger-lickin' good BBQ sauces, dry rubs, marinades and more! Simply order any of the following products now through May 31st and enter the coupon code "News508" to get 10% off the product price - no minimum purchase required!

BBQ and Grilling Sauces
*All three flavors of Bear-Man Barbecue & Dipping Sauces, thick, rich gourmet BBQ Sauces that pack a full, multilayered flavor -- in bold Black Bear Boogie, hearty Growlin' Grizzly, and sweet/spicy Sap Happy Golden Bear Maple Sauce
*Bone Suckin' Sauce Hot and Bone Suckin' Sauce Hot Thicker: tangy western NC style BBQ Sauces with a hot & spicy KICK - and they come with free recipes!
*Bog Bottom BBQ Sauce, a sweet, tangy, slightly spicy/smoky BBQ Sauce from the makers of Carolina Swamp Sauce
*Carolina Treet Original Cooking Barbeque Sauce, a versatile BBQ Sauce you can use out on your grill or in the kitchen on the stove
*Cool Hawg Grilling Sauces in Original and Hot & Spicy, unique NC BBQ sauces made with a thick mustard-tomato base, with a bit of tang, smoke & spice
*Both flavors of Dinosaur BBQ Sauce from Syracuse, NY: the fiery Habanero Wango Tango and the sweet & zesty Roasted Garlic Honey BBQ Sauce
*Duplin's Finest BBQ Sauce, a genuine eastern NC vinegar-based BBQ Sauce that's not too spicy but has plenty of vinegar tang
*Durham Bulls Triple Play BBQ Sauce, a vinegar & tomato Piedmont NC style BBQ Sauce from the famous Durham Bulls minor league baseball team featured in the movie "Bull Durham"
*George's Special BBQ Sauce, a vinegar-tomato based NC sauce with a jalapeno kick - comes with recipes!
*Greg's Happy Sauce, an award-winning grilling sauce, marinade and cooking sauce that comes with lots of recipes!
*Greg's Hot 'n Bothered Sauce, the hot and spicy version of Happy Sauce and a Scovie Award winner - limited quantities available!
*Kepley's Downhome BBQ Sauce, a sweet & tangy vinegar & tomato NC barbeque sauce
*Ole Time Barbecue Sauce, a tangy & savory NC vinegar-tomato BBQ sauce that's great on pork, beef & chicken
*Ole Time Hot Sauce, a traditional eastern NC vinegar & hot pepper BBQ sauce that's perfect on pulled pork, collards and more
*Scott's Back-Yard Pit BBQ Sauce, a spicy, tomato-rich NC BBQ Sauce that's great on ribs and chicken
*Both flavors of Smithfield's Chicken & Bar-B-Q Sauce from the famous Smithfields BBQ chain: the original vinegar-based "House Hot" Bar-B-Q Sauce and the sweeter & thicker Grilling & Dipping Sauce
*Thomas Sauce, a Piedmont NC sauce made from an old family recipe
*Wells All Purpose Rib & Chicken Sauce, a sweet & tangy, slightly spicy tomato-vinegar sauce with a touch of mustard and smoke

Marinades
*Sunfire Original Marinade & Sauce, a zippy red vinegar marinade that adds gourmet flavor to meats, chicken seafood & veggies, and comes with a recipe brochure!
*Sunfire Garlic Marinade & Sauce, with the same gourmet red vinegar recipe as the original, plus a healthy helping of garlic to add zesty flavor to anything!

Dry Rubs & Seasonings
*Both flavors of Adams Rib Rubb, sweet & spicy full-flavored tenderizing rubs made in NC, in Original and Ultimate (spicier)
*Bad Byron's Butt Rub, an authentic Texas barbecue rub
*Bear-Man Tummy Rub, a sweet & savory gourmet seasoning from upstate New York
*Pepper Dog Dry Rub, a smoky southwestern-style all-natural rub from NC
*Pig Pen's Original Seasoning, a savory-spicy NC rub for ribs, chicken and more
*All 4 flavors of Pluto's Caribbean Bliss Spice Blends, in Mild, Original Hot, Fiery Hottest, and Salt-Free
*Southern Twang Dry Rub, an award-winning sweet & savory rub with a touch of citrus

Aprons
*Pit Road Apron, a racing-themed sturdy grilling apron from the makers of Pit Road BBQ Sauce, with 2 roomy pockets - Free Shipping!

Remember to use coupon code "News508" to get 10% off when ordering any of the above products. Don't delay - the savings end on May 31st, or when supplies run out, whichever occurs first!

Support the Troops and Get Free Sauce!

Operation Sauce Drop is our non-profit project to send FREE gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed abroad. The troops really appreciate the gift boxes, as you can see from our feedback page. At the time of this writing, we've sent gift boxes to more than 150 servicemen and women, thanks to the generosity of our donors. The problem is, we currently have a waiting list of 98 servicemen and women waiting for a gift box (some waiting since December), but we are all out of money! Here's how you can you help, and receive a FREE GIFT for yourself: Simply make a donation of $5 or more through May 31st, and include the term "NewsOSD508" in the COMMENT section of your order form (or in an email to us if you donate separately). We'll email you a Carolina Sauce Company Discount Coupon for 10% off your next product order, good through Dec. 31, 2008, to thank you for your donation. But wait, there's more: If you make a donation of $5 or more and also order at least 1 product from our online store, we'll send you the Discount Coupon AND a FREE, full-size bottle of Greg's Happy Sauce (with recipes!), our nationally acclaimed all-purpose marinade, grilling & cooking sauce. But remember to include the comment "NewsOSD508" with your order and donation -- it's the only way we'll know to send you your free gift!

Latest New Products AND More Savings

Bear-Man Tummy Rub is a sweet and spicy gourmet dry rub and seasoning that's mouthwatering on ribs, meat, poultry and more. Unlike other rubs, it's not overly salty, which also makes it a great recipe addition. AND it's all-natural! Like Tummy Rub, Sap-Happy Golden Bear Maple Sauce also comes to us from upstate New York. This amazingly delicious award-winning sauce is made with REAL maple syrup and other premium ingredients, and achieves the perfect balance of sweet, savory and peppery flavors that will enhance everything from meat and poultry to fish and seafood. Nando's Medium Peri-Peri Grind from South Africa is a spicy, savory and slightly garlicky/citrusy blend of whole spices and sea salt, with a convenient grinder built in so that you can custom-grind as needed, or unscrew the top and use the whole spices. If you like your BBQ sauces thick, on the sweet side and with natural smoky flavor, you have to try Uncle Pete's BBQ Sauces from South Carolina. These multiple-award-winning rib sauces come in Original, Spicy and Hickory, and we'll send you a recipe brochure when you order a bottle. And if you're up for something a bit less sweet but with a unique robust flavor, then try Craig's Jones'en Espresso BBQ Sauce, a thick, bold sauce made with a splash of real coffee that adds rich, dark flavor to this addictively good barbecue sauce. And finally, for hot sauce fans we've brought back Samson's Sauce, a tangy, medium-hot all-purpose hot sauce from North Carolina with a very funny label but a seriously delicious flavor. I can't eat eggs or omelets anymore without my Samson's Sauce!

If you still need a reason to try one or more of these new products, here's this: Order any of the above listed new products, include the comment "Newsletter" in the COMMENT section of the online order form (or metion this newsletter when ordering by phone), and we'll send you the latest "Dish This" catalog of NC producs AND a Discount Coupon for select products in the catalog!

Kosher Products

Keeping Kosher doesn't mean you have to sacrifice great taste or fiery spiciness. If you're looking for full-flavored BBQ & cooking sauces, spicy hot sauces, zesty condiments or robust seasonings that are Kosher certified, then check out our selection of Kosher Products!

Breaking News, Recipes, Etc.

Don't forget to read this blog regularly to learn about new products as soon as they arrive, as well as special sales and discounts, recipes and cooking tips, and the latest zesty news - or better yet, subscribe to our free RSS feed and don't miss a single thing!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Bone Suckin' Fabulous Ribs in the Oven

This recipe comes to us courtesy of the makers of Bone Suckin' Sauce, perhaps the most famous barbecue sauce to come out of North Carolina. This western NC style BBQ sauce comes in 4 varieties (Original, Hot, Thicker, and Thicker-Hot), and is a tangy tomato based sauce that works wonders with ribs, chicken and anything you grill. But you don't need a grill to make this simple and tasty recipe!

Ingredients
1 jar (16 oz) of your favorite variety of Bone Suckin' Sauce
12 oz Orange juice
5 lbs Baby back pork ribs

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix Bone Suckin' Sauce and orange juice in a bowl. Place ribs in a shallow baking pan and baste with the sauce-juice mixture. Cover with foil and bake 3 hours at 300 degrees. Uncover and baste with more of the sauce mixture. Raise oven temperature to 350 degrees, and continue baking uncovered, for 30 minutes until done, basting again after the first 15 minutes. Serves 4.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Nando's Peri Peri Grinders: Time is Running Out

Newsflash: It is my sad duty to report the upcoming demise of Nando's Peri-Peri Grinders, which are being discontinued by Nando's. I was quite disappointed to hear that the corporation had already made the decision to cease production of these convenient and tasty whole spice blends with their handy grinder twist-top, since all 3 flavors have a prominent spot on my kitchen counter and I use them regularly when cooking and eating. The good news, albeit temporary, is that we currently have two of the 3 flavors in stock (the Medium Peri Peri Grind and the mild Lemon-Herb Grind) and hope to receive some of the last available Hot Peri Peri Grinders in the near future from Nando's. We'll also continue to re-stock these seasonings for as long as Nando's has product available to send us. However, once Nando's (and we) run out, the Grinders will be gone for good - which is a shame, and hard for me to understand. I love the convenience of being able to use either the whole spices by unscrewing the top, or custom-grinding the spices as needed. The flavors and heat levels for each variety are also superb: I use the Hot grinder over pasta, pizza and meat dishes; the Medium over poultry and "richer-flavored" fish like tuna and salmon; and the Lemon-Herb on salads, steamed vegetables and milder seafood. And because the Grinders are whole-spice blends, their shelf life is years longer than for powdered rubs or ground seasonings. It's hard to believe Nando's is discontinuing them. I'll miss the Peri-Peri Grinds when they're gone....

So if you're like me and you're a fan of Nando's Peri-Peri Grinders, or if you haven't tried them and want to check them out before they're gone, make sure to get your order in ASAP so that you don't miss out.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Avocado Soup

Here's an easy recipe that makes a great starter for a Mexican meal to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. You can make it earlier in the day and store, covered, in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You can serve this soup hot or cold.

Ingredients
1 14 1/2 oz can chicken broth (I use low sodium, fat free chicken broth, or homemade chicken broth)
1 cup light cream, or evaporated skim milk (to reduce fat and calories)
1 large avocado
1 small onion, or half of a sweet onion
1 Tbs dry sherry (for a spicier soup, you can use Pepper Sherry)
Your favorite green Mexican Hot Sauce (I use El Yucateco Jalapeno Hot Sauce or El Yucateco Salsa Picante Habanero Green Hot Sauce)
Sour Cream to garnish
Snipped Cilantro, to garnish

Cut the avocado in half lengthwise, rotating the knife around the pit. Remove the pit and scoop out the avocado flesh in chunks into a blender. Chop the onion and add to the blender. Pour the chicken broth in the blender, and add the cream, sherry, and a few dashes (to taste) of hot sauce. Cover and blend until smooth.
For hot soup: Pour the avocado mixture into a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through (about 10 minutes). Be careful not to let the soup boil. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of snipped cilantro.
For cold soup: Pour the soup into an airtight container, cover, and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Serve cold with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of snipped cilantro.
Serves 6 as a side dish.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Looking for authentic Mexican hot sauces for your Cinco de Mayo party? You can't go wrong with any of the 6 flavors of El Yucateco Hot Sauce!

Updated Lists of Best-Selling Hot Sauces, BBQ Sauce, etc.

We've finished updating our lists of best selling hot sauces, best selling BBQ sauces, and other product categories to reflect what Carolina Sauce Company customers have been buying this year so far. If you are looking for a crowd-pleasing barbeque sauce to slather or splash, a mouthwatering marinade, tongue-tingling hot sauce, full-flavored rub to season with, a tasty new snack, or other zesty treat, then you can't go wrong with any of the popular products on the following lists:

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces, with A Taste of Thai Garlic Pepper Sauce appearing for the first time, at #8;

*Best Selling Barbecue Sauces, with Rumboggies Sweet Hickory BBQ Sauce making its debut at #6;

*Best Selling Chicken Wing Sauces, with the unique Wahoo Willie's Jamaican Wing Sauce leading the pack;

*Best Selling Mustards, with my personal favorite, Scorned Woman Mustard, coming in first;

*Best-Selling Dry Rubs & Seasonings, with Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Seasoning & Dry Rub premiering in first place;

*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings, with South Africa's Nando's Lime & Cilantro Peri-Peri Marinade currently at the top of the list;

*Best-Selling North Carolina Products, with the ever-popular Capsicana Zing leading the way;

*Best-Selling Jerks & Curry, with Pluto's Organic Hot Jerk Sauce moving up several places to #2 on the list;

*Best-Selling Snacks, with Buderim Ginger Bears from Australia as the most popular snack;

*Best-Selling Gift Sets, with the NC Gourmet Deluxe Gift Set in first place;

*Best Selling Salsas & Relish, with North Carolina's very own Pepper Dog Salsa (Medium) at the top of the list.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Chile Soap Ristras On Sale!

Our chile soap ristras are made by hand in New Mexico from all-natural ingredients like vegetable glycerin and coconut oil, and scented with spicy cinnamon (the red soaps) and citrusy lime (the green soaps). No, chile peppers are not among the ingredients -- rather, these beautiful soaps are shaped like chile peppers, and the details are realistically rendered. Each ristra has 5 hand-strung chile soaps, and can be hung as a kitchen or bathroom decoration (which will also freshen the air with their heady fragrance), kept in a clothing drawer or linen closet as a sachet, or put to good use as a hand, face and body soap. Their rich lather will leave your skin smooth and silky as well as perfumed with their refreshing scent. Normally priced at $18 for a 5-soap ristra, you can now purchase our chile soap ristras for only $15! Can't decide between the green chiles (lime) or the red chiles (cinnamon)? At this reduced price you can go ahead and treat yourself to both!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: You can also purchase single chile pepper soaps, for only $4.99 each.

Top 10 Best Selling Sauces & Products for April 2008

Lots of folks decided to stock up on hot sauces and zesty snacks last month, as you can see from our list of the top ten best-selling sauces and products for April 2008 at the Carolina Sauce Company:

1. Buderim Ginger Bears, a zingy Australian candy made with real ginger

2. Capsicana Zing Sauce, a spicy-sweet all-purpose table sauce made in North Carolina (it comes with free recipes!)

3. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce, a perennial top ten best-selling hot sauce made in Jamaica from a colonial recipe

4. Matouk's Calypso Hot Sauce, capturing the flavor and fire of West Indies peppers and spices in a rich, thick hot sauce

5. Scorned Woman Hot Sauce, a peppery-vinegary HOT sauce that packs tangy firepower

6. Hot Honeys Honey-Roasted Chipotle Peanuts, spicy, smoky, sweet, and addictively good!

7. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce, made in Trinidad & Tobago using aged scotch bonnet peppers, fresh papaya and other tropical ingredients

8. Carolina Swamp Sauce, a unique North Carolina gourmet grilling sauce and marinade that's a tasty alternative to vinegar or tomato BBQ sauce

9. Nando's Extra Hot Peri-Peri Sauce, made in South Africa using the fiery-hot Peri Peri (birdseye) pepper

10. Jim's Own Hot BBQ Sauce, a spicy-hot award-winning Piedmont NC style BBQ Sauce made with vinegar and tomatoes -- and habaneros! Free recipes provided!

We'll be updating the best-seller lists in specific product categories next, so stay tuned for info...

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce is Back in Stock!

Newsflash: After a brief absence from our virtual shelves (and our physical warehouse), and just in time for the start of National BBQ Month, I'm pleased to report that the ever-popular Wells Hog Heaven Barbeque Sauce (with the black label in the photo) is finally back in stock again! A perennial presence on our Top Ten Best-Selling Barbecue Sauces list, as well as a regular on our Best-Selling North Carolina Products list and our overall Top Ten Best Selling Sauces & Products list, Wells Hog Heaven was sorely missed while out of stock at the manufacturer level (which is why it took us this long to be able to get more - they had to make more, first!) Wells Hog Heaven is a classic eastern NC barbecue sauce made with the traditional vinegar base (no tomatoes!), a healthy dose of pepper and spices for added zip, and a touch of sugar and smoke to temper the tartness of the vinegar while enhancing the tangy flavor of this tasty sauce. Ideal for NC pulled pork BBQ, you can also use Wells on any meats and poultry you grill or smoke. You can also splash it on collards or turnip greens, fries, hushpuppies, and more.

For folks who like a milder, tomato-rich BBQ Sauce that has a bit of vinegar tang, there's Wells All-Purpose Rib & Chicken Sauce (in the yellow label in the photo). As the name implies, this barbecue sauce is particularly good when slathered on slow-cooking ribs and for grilling chicken. But you can also use it on pork and other meats, as well as for dipping french fries or onion rings or even fried okra.

Both flavors of Wells Barbecue Sauce are available now from the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria