We've finished updating the Top Ten Best Seller Lists in each zesty product category at the Carolina Sauce Company for September 2009, and once again we had some brand-new products make impressive debuts by finishing within the top 10 of their category. Quick links for each category list are below, as well as some highlights:
*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: A long-time favorite of serious chileheads who enjoy ultra-hot hot sauces (as evidenced by the customer testimonials), Endorphin Rush Hot Sauce finished in 8th place last month. Be careful with this super-hot sauce, and use only 1 drop at a time!
*Best-Selling BBQ Sauces: One of our newest products, the tomato-rich and sweet-zippy Outta The Park BBQ Sauce, held its place as our best-selling barbecue sauce, and the much-missed Walkerswood Jerk BBQ Sauce from Jamaica made a dramatic return by finishing in 3rd place
*Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce: Two newcomers, the robust and zesty Burning Asphalt Homestyle Steak Sauce from upstate NY (it's on sale!), and the subtly sweet & peppery Samson's Town & Country Sauce from North Carolina (only $3.99!), debuted at 6th and 7th respectively
*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings: A delicious marinade for venison and other game, Ann's Marinade from Durn Good finished in 9th place last month, and the new, tropical flavor-packed Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce moved up to 3rd place -- and both are on sale!
*Best-Selling Dry Rubs & Seasonings: From the makers of the ever-popular Big Daddy's Marinade, the aptly named Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning was our best-selling seasoning last month, and the sweet & spicy Smokin' Cole's BBQ Dry Rub from South Carolina rounded out the list at #10
*Best-Selling Gift Sets: Our popular Lawyer's Gift Set, with legally-inspired sauce names, finished 6th on this list
*Best-Selling North Carolina Products: Our very own hand-made, old-fashioned Hot Chow Chow Relish was 8th on this list - and we donate $1 to Operation Sauce Drop for every jar sold!
*Best-Selling Wing Sauces: Burning Asphalt Sauces from upstate NY had both of its deliciously tangy Buffalo wing sauces on the best-seller list last month, with their new cool & zesty Ranch Wing Sauce in third place (and it's on sale!), and their hot & spicy Burning Asphalt Original Buffalo Wing Sauce in 8th place (with a new lower price!)
*Best-Selling Jerk & Curry Products: An old favorite is back on the market with a new & improved recipe for authentic flavor, and as a result Pickapeppa Jamaican Jerk Seasoning took 6th place honors in September -- and it's on sale, too!
*Best-Selling Snacks & Sweets: Two delicious, award-winning & all-natural preserves from Mrs. Picky Fanicky's in the NC mountains made impressive debuts in September, with her savory-spicy Apple Peach North Carolina Chutney taking 2nd place, and her sublime Apple Pie MmmMarmalade in 4th place (and yes, both are on sale!)
*Best-Selling Mustards & Ketchups: An old favorite, the habanero-spiced dijon-style Ass Kickin' Mustard, came in 7th in September
*Best-Selling Salsa & Relish: Our very own, brand-new, fiery & tangy-sweet Habanero Pepper Relish from the NC mountains broke into this top-ten list, taking 8th place last month -- and it's on sale!
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
PS: Take advantage of our special Twitter coupon to get 10% off any of these delicious best-sellers, as well as ALL other products in our store! Follow SaucyGlo on Twitter to get the special coupon code - but hurry, this coupon expires TODAY, October 11th!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Zesty Faux Mashed Potatoes
If you're cutting carbs and you crave mashed potatoes, these flavorful faux mashed "potatoes" are a delicious low-carb side dish. This recipe makes 3 to 4 servings.
Ingredients
1 large cauliflower
4 or 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves
Salt to taste
Fresh-ground black pepper to taste
1 Tbs butter at room temperature (high quality butter is best, like Plugra brand or other rich European butter)
1 1/2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil (high quality is best)
Optional: 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg OR 1/8 tsp dried dillweed OR 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
Break the cauliflower into florets and place in a steamer or a microwave-safe dish. Add the sliced garlic, a little salt to taste, and just enough water for steaming or microwaving. Cover and cook until very tender, so that a knife easily slides into a piece of cauliflower. Drain well, then place the cauliflower and garlic in a food processor. Add the butter and olive oil, puree until smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and either nutmeg, dillweed or blue cheese if desired.
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
PS: If you're on a low-carb diet, the Carolina Sauce Company has a wide selection of low-carb and no-carb sauces & seasonings, with no more than 1 carb gram per serving.
Ingredients
1 large cauliflower
4 or 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves
Salt to taste
Fresh-ground black pepper to taste
1 Tbs butter at room temperature (high quality butter is best, like Plugra brand or other rich European butter)
1 1/2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil (high quality is best)
Optional: 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg OR 1/8 tsp dried dillweed OR 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
Break the cauliflower into florets and place in a steamer or a microwave-safe dish. Add the sliced garlic, a little salt to taste, and just enough water for steaming or microwaving. Cover and cook until very tender, so that a knife easily slides into a piece of cauliflower. Drain well, then place the cauliflower and garlic in a food processor. Add the butter and olive oil, puree until smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and either nutmeg, dillweed or blue cheese if desired.
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
PS: If you're on a low-carb diet, the Carolina Sauce Company has a wide selection of low-carb and no-carb sauces & seasonings, with no more than 1 carb gram per serving.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Spicy Tuna Casserole
Who said comfort food had to be bland and boring? Here's my hot & spicy version of a classic tuna casserole. You'll want to start this recipe at least a couple of hours before you plan on serving it, because it needs to sit in the fridge for 1 to 3 hours, and then bake for about an hour. Serves 6 (and leftovers freeze well).
Ingredients
1 can (9 to 10 oz) water-packed tuna, drained
5 cups cubed day-old bread (white or wheat)
1/4 cup diced green pepper
1 tsp finely chopped jalapeno pepper
2 Tbs finely chopped onion
4 eggs (or the equivalent in egg substitute)
1 can (10 3/4 cup) condensed cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup
1 1/4 cup milk (you can use skim or low-fat)
1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or low fat)
Dash or two (or to taste) jalapeno hot sauce*
2 Tbs melted butter
Optional garnish: Chopped cilantro or parsley
Place 2 cups of the bread cubes in an 8x8x2 baking dish. Mix together the tuna, peppers and onion in a bowl and then spoon evenly over the bread in the baking dish. Top with 2 more cups of bread cubes. In a large bowl beat the eggs, and then mix in the milk, soup, mayo and jalapeno hot sauce. Pour this mixture evenly over the tuna mixture, then cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Remove casserole from refrigerator and uncover. Toss the remaining cup of bread cubes with the melted butter and then sprinkle evenly on top of the ingredients in the dish. Bake, uncovered, at 325F for about 1 hr or until a knife inserted near the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let rest about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired.
*Jalapeno hot sauces: Here are some tasty jalapeno hot sauces that work well in this recipe:
Burning Asphalt Jalapeno Hot Sauce from upstate NY, with a pleasant medium burn and southwestern flavor
Dave's Gourmet Hurtin' Jalapeno Sauce, seasoned with cilantro and chayote, all-natural, with medium heat
El Yucateco Jalapeno Hot Sauce, made in Mexico and with straightforward jalapeno flavor and medium-hot heat
Iguana Mean Green Hot 'n Tasty Jalapeno Pepper Sauce, a savory Costa Rican hot sauce with medium heat
Melinda's Jalapeno Pepper Sauce, an all-natural tangy jalapeno hot sauce with medium-hot fire
Mile High Hot Sauce, a NC original made with red ripe jalapenos for richer flavor, with medium hot heat
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Ingredients
1 can (9 to 10 oz) water-packed tuna, drained
5 cups cubed day-old bread (white or wheat)
1/4 cup diced green pepper
1 tsp finely chopped jalapeno pepper
2 Tbs finely chopped onion
4 eggs (or the equivalent in egg substitute)
1 can (10 3/4 cup) condensed cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup
1 1/4 cup milk (you can use skim or low-fat)
1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or low fat)
Dash or two (or to taste) jalapeno hot sauce*
2 Tbs melted butter
Optional garnish: Chopped cilantro or parsley
Place 2 cups of the bread cubes in an 8x8x2 baking dish. Mix together the tuna, peppers and onion in a bowl and then spoon evenly over the bread in the baking dish. Top with 2 more cups of bread cubes. In a large bowl beat the eggs, and then mix in the milk, soup, mayo and jalapeno hot sauce. Pour this mixture evenly over the tuna mixture, then cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Remove casserole from refrigerator and uncover. Toss the remaining cup of bread cubes with the melted butter and then sprinkle evenly on top of the ingredients in the dish. Bake, uncovered, at 325F for about 1 hr or until a knife inserted near the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let rest about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired.
*Jalapeno hot sauces: Here are some tasty jalapeno hot sauces that work well in this recipe:
Burning Asphalt Jalapeno Hot Sauce from upstate NY, with a pleasant medium burn and southwestern flavor
Dave's Gourmet Hurtin' Jalapeno Sauce, seasoned with cilantro and chayote, all-natural, with medium heat
El Yucateco Jalapeno Hot Sauce, made in Mexico and with straightforward jalapeno flavor and medium-hot heat
Iguana Mean Green Hot 'n Tasty Jalapeno Pepper Sauce, a savory Costa Rican hot sauce with medium heat
Melinda's Jalapeno Pepper Sauce, an all-natural tangy jalapeno hot sauce with medium-hot fire
Mile High Hot Sauce, a NC original made with red ripe jalapenos for richer flavor, with medium hot heat
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
NC Mountain Pepper Jelly
Straight from the NC Smoky Mountains, our old-fashioned pepper jelly is hand-made on an old family farm using a traditional recipe and local ingredients. Pleasantly sweet and zestily flavorful, these beautiful pepper jellies come in vibrant red and brilliant green (they look like stained glass), with real bits of pepper suspended in the translucent jelly for a lovely visual effect. Both the red pepper jelly and the green pepper jelly come in Mild and Hot, so there's a color and a heat level for every preference. Pair a jar of red with a jar of green, and you have a festive (and tasty) gourmet Christmas gift! In fact, we hope to have pepper jelly gift boxes in the near future, just in time for the holidays.Our pepper jellies add a lovely accent of sweet & zesty flavor to all sorts of meat and poultry, including steak and other beef dishes, lamb, venison medallions, pork loin or chops, roast chicken or turkey, duck, goose, pheasant and other game birds, and even fish and seafood, roasted vegetables, and more. You can also enjoy Carolina Sauce Co. pepper jelly on crackers, crostini, toast, bagels and biscuits, and it pairs wonderfully with cream cheese, brie, and other mild cheeses. All four varieties are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company, so now's the time to stock up for all your holiday parties and gifts!
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Monday, October 5, 2009
Favorite Chili Toppings
In the spirit of National Chili Month, I took an informal poll of friends and family to find out people's favorite chili toppings. The results are below, and include some usual -- and some rather unusual -- chili toppings, all of which have one thing in common: They help to temper the fiery burn of spicy chili without overwhelming the flavors of the chili.
In no particular order, here's the list of favorite toppings for hot & spicy chili:
*Shredded cheese, usually cheddar or Monterey Jack
*sour cream (or plain yogurt, for less fat)
*shredded lettuce
*chopped fresh tomatoes
*chopped cilantro
*crushed tortilla chips
*crushed crackers
*shredded carrot
*chopped sweet onion
*sliced green onions including some of the green tops
*alfalfa sprouts and/or mung bean sprouts (sorry but I think that's just plain weird!)
*cubed avocado (yummy!)
*thinly sliced radishes (surprisingly good!)
Do you have a favorite chili topping that's not on the list? Tell us about it in a comment!
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company
In no particular order, here's the list of favorite toppings for hot & spicy chili:
*Shredded cheese, usually cheddar or Monterey Jack
*sour cream (or plain yogurt, for less fat)
*shredded lettuce
*chopped fresh tomatoes
*chopped cilantro
*crushed tortilla chips
*crushed crackers
*shredded carrot
*chopped sweet onion
*sliced green onions including some of the green tops
*alfalfa sprouts and/or mung bean sprouts (sorry but I think that's just plain weird!)
*cubed avocado (yummy!)
*thinly sliced radishes (surprisingly good!)
Do you have a favorite chili topping that's not on the list? Tell us about it in a comment!
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Creamy, Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Soup
This is my lighter, zestier version of a delicious recipe I found on a jar of Bella Sun Luci sun-dried tomatoes. It serves 3 to 4 in cups, or 2 in bowls.
Ingredients
3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained
2 cups tomato juice
1 cup half-&-half
1 cup evaporated skim milk
1/4 tsp salt, or to taste (original used 1/2 tsp)
1/8 to 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Fresh basil or rosemary as garnish
Combine the drained sun-dried tomatoes and 1 cup of tomato juice in a blender and puree until smooth. In a large saucepan, combine this mixture with the remaining cup of tomato juice and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients except for the basil or rosemary. Cook over low heat while stirring, until thoroughly heated, being careful not to boil. Remove from heat and serve, garnishing with fresh basil or rosemary. For added zip, sprinkle a little bit of crushed red pepper flakes, too.
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
P.S.: If you love the rich, late-summer flavor of sun-dried tomatoes, check out Nando's Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Peri-Peri Marinade from South Africa, and Char Crust Sun-Dried Tomato & Garlic Seasoning & Dry Rub from Al Farber's steakhouse in Chicago.
Ingredients
3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained
2 cups tomato juice
1 cup half-&-half
1 cup evaporated skim milk
1/4 tsp salt, or to taste (original used 1/2 tsp)
1/8 to 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Fresh basil or rosemary as garnish
Combine the drained sun-dried tomatoes and 1 cup of tomato juice in a blender and puree until smooth. In a large saucepan, combine this mixture with the remaining cup of tomato juice and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients except for the basil or rosemary. Cook over low heat while stirring, until thoroughly heated, being careful not to boil. Remove from heat and serve, garnishing with fresh basil or rosemary. For added zip, sprinkle a little bit of crushed red pepper flakes, too.
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
P.S.: If you love the rich, late-summer flavor of sun-dried tomatoes, check out Nando's Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Peri-Peri Marinade from South Africa, and Char Crust Sun-Dried Tomato & Garlic Seasoning & Dry Rub from Al Farber's steakhouse in Chicago.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
New Labels, Lower Prices for Pepper Dog Salsa
Check out the beautiful new labels for Pepper Dog Salsa from North Carolina -- and better yet, check out the new lower prices for these delicious, award-winning and all-natural salsas! Packed with real Southwestern flavor, Pepper Dog Salsas are smooth (not chunky), seasoned with cilantro, chili powder, garlic and other savory spices for a flavor that that's rich and slightly smoky. The red salsas come in three different heat levels: zesty Mild salsa that's perfect for the whole family, spicy Medium salsa with a healthy peppery kick, and fiery Hot salsa for folks who yearn for the burn of hot & spicy Tex Mex cuisine. And if you enjoy the tomatillo tang of Salsa Verde (green salsa), you HAVE to try Pepper Dog Salsa Verde, which is as tasty and authentic as any I've had at real (not Americanized) Mexican restaurants. Pepper Dog salsas are great with chips, nachos, and as a condiment for Mexican, Southwestern and Tex-Mex dishes, but they're also terrific for cooking: Just check out the easy recipes for 5-Minute Chili on the jar labels! I also enjoy them as an alternative to ketchup for my scrambled eggs, omelets and burgers.
The good folks at Pepper Dog also make a wonderful, all-natural dry rub that's robust and full-flavored, with just a bit of heat and that trademark smoky flavor that has made Pepper Dog products famous. Ideal for brisket, ribs, and other hearty meats, Pepper Dog Dry Rub also adds savory flavor to chicken, veggies and seafood (check out the shrimp recipe on the label!). Try it sprinkled over popcorn for a zesty change of pace. This dry rub not only tastes great (and bears the nifty new label), but it's also good for you: No MSG, and it's gluten-free and low-carb, too. You can get all of the Pepper Dog products from the Carolina Sauce Company.Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Friday, October 2, 2009
Top 10 Best-Selling Sauces for September
Here are the top 10 best-selling zesty products across all categories at the Carolina Sauce Company for September - and there are some surprise finishes by some tasty products!
1. Outta The Park BBQ Sauce: One of our newest (and most delicious, if I might add) sauces was also our best-selling product last month. Outta The Park is a thick, rich tomato-based gourmet BBQ sauce that starts off a little sweet and finishes with a zesty ginger-pepper kick that complements everything from ribs and chicken to baked beans, meatloaf, chili & burgers
2. Buderim Ginger Bears are grown-up gummy bears, not too sweet and with a gingery "bite," and they're the second-best selling zesty product for September
3. Matouk's Flambeau Hot Sauce is one of the hottest hot sauces available without added capsaicin extract, coming to us from the West Indies and made with aged scotch bonnet peppers
4. Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is always one of our best-sellers, and is an authentic jerk paste or wet rub from Jamaica
5. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce also comes to us from Jamaica and also regularly finishes in the top 10, with its food-friendly, versatile flavor (it's not a jerk sauce!) and its fiery heat
6. Capsicana Zing Sauce: Made in NC, Zing is a feisty, sweet & spicy table sauce that's great on pretty much any savory food and can be enjoyed with breakfast, lunch & dinner
7. Georgia Peach & Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce captures the essence of a sunny Southern summer day, with juicy ripe peaches and sweet-savory vidalia onions, and just a touch of peppery heat
8. Jamaica Hell Fire 4 in 1 Hot Sauce: Made with sun-ripened tropical hot peppers and Jamaican spices, this very hot sauce adds festive island flavor to any dish
9. Castle Sauce is our all-time best-selling product, and once you taste this classic steak & burger sauce from Greensboro NC, you'll know why!
10. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce: Rounding out our top ten list is this authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's perfect for making Carolina style pulled pork BBQ
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
1. Outta The Park BBQ Sauce: One of our newest (and most delicious, if I might add) sauces was also our best-selling product last month. Outta The Park is a thick, rich tomato-based gourmet BBQ sauce that starts off a little sweet and finishes with a zesty ginger-pepper kick that complements everything from ribs and chicken to baked beans, meatloaf, chili & burgers
2. Buderim Ginger Bears are grown-up gummy bears, not too sweet and with a gingery "bite," and they're the second-best selling zesty product for September
3. Matouk's Flambeau Hot Sauce is one of the hottest hot sauces available without added capsaicin extract, coming to us from the West Indies and made with aged scotch bonnet peppers
4. Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning is always one of our best-sellers, and is an authentic jerk paste or wet rub from Jamaica
5. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce also comes to us from Jamaica and also regularly finishes in the top 10, with its food-friendly, versatile flavor (it's not a jerk sauce!) and its fiery heat
6. Capsicana Zing Sauce: Made in NC, Zing is a feisty, sweet & spicy table sauce that's great on pretty much any savory food and can be enjoyed with breakfast, lunch & dinner
7. Georgia Peach & Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce captures the essence of a sunny Southern summer day, with juicy ripe peaches and sweet-savory vidalia onions, and just a touch of peppery heat
8. Jamaica Hell Fire 4 in 1 Hot Sauce: Made with sun-ripened tropical hot peppers and Jamaican spices, this very hot sauce adds festive island flavor to any dish
9. Castle Sauce is our all-time best-selling product, and once you taste this classic steak & burger sauce from Greensboro NC, you'll know why!
10. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce: Rounding out our top ten list is this authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's perfect for making Carolina style pulled pork BBQ
Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Texas Rib Rangers Rubs in Stock!
After a long absence, both flavors of Texas Rib Rangers Seasonings are back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company! These authentic Texas barbecue dry rubs are exactly what you need to season a brisket, beef ribs, and anything else you want to smoke and grill with genuine Texas flavor. Both varieties are all-natural and balance savory-sweet flavor with rich chili powder, cumin and paprika. You can choose the big & bold (but not hot & spicy) Mild Barbecue Seasoning for the whole family, or the peppery-hot Spicey Seasoning for folks who prefer a bit of heat (but don't worry, this dry rub won't scorch you). And if you're looking to complete the Texas barbeque experience, don't forget to pick up a bottle of Texas Rib Rangers BBQ Sauce, available in Mild, Spicey, and Hot!Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
