Tortuga Caribbean Sauces Gift Packs

Give a taste of the Caribbean this holiday season, with Tortuga Caribbean Sauces Gift Packs from the Carolina Sauce Company! If you enjoy hot sauce and you've taken a Caribbean cruise or visited the islands, you're probably familiar with the delicious hot sauces and spicy condiments from the Tortuga Rum Company. These authentic tropical sauces from Jamaica, Barbados and other Caribbean islands are virtually impossible to find here in the US, so we're thrilled to be able to offer them at the Carolina Sauce online store. In addition to carrying the individual sauces, we now have two different gift packs of Tortuga sauces, each with three flavorful sauces ranging from zesty to spicy-hot.

The Sweet & Savory Caribbean Gift Box is perfect for folks who like to cook and who enjoy naturally sweet tropical fruit flavors and fiery Caribbean peppers. This gift box has 1 bottle each of Tortuga Spicy Seafood Grill Sauce for marinating, cooking and grilling fish and seafood; Tortuga Mango & Ginger Stir-Fry Sauce for cooking poultry, seafood and veggies (and it's great for dressing up Chinese takeout!); and Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce, a feisty all-purpose spicy-sweet condiment for all sorts of savory dishes. For folks who like things more on the savory-hot side, we have the Tortuga Savory Caribbean Sauces Gift Box, featuring a bottle each of Tortuga Caribbean Steak Sauce, a traditional steak sauce with a dash of island flavor that's great for marinating, grilling, broiling and seasoning steak and other meats; Tortuga Jamaican Jerk Sauce for making authentic Jamaican jerk chicken, beef, pork, fish and veggies; and Tortuga Caribbean Hell-Fire Sauce, a blazing scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce for adding Caribbean heat to all sorts of dishes. Each Gift Pack comes with tasty Caribbean recipes that are easy to make at home, and at only $9.99 each, these gift packs make affordable and thoughtful gourmet gifts for Christmas and other special occasions.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Cranberry-Apple Casserole

This easy recipe showcases the flavors of Fall, and is a great Thanksgiving recipe if you enjoy zesty foods.

Ingredients
3 cups chopped, unpeeled apples (almost any variety works, and a combination of Granny Smith, Rome & McIntosh works well - don't use Red Delicious)
2 cups whole fresh cranberries (you can use frozen whole cranberries but defrost first)
1 1/2 cups sugar
Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce
1 1/2 cups regular (not instant) oatmeal
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Mix together the apples, cranberries, regular sugar and several dashes of Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce in a casserole dish, and set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl until well-mixed, then spread this topping over the apple-cranberry mixture. Bake at 350F degrees for about 1 hour or until the topping is golden brown.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Best-Selling Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce, Snacks & Condiments for October

The Top Ten Best Seller Lists for each product category at the Carolina Sauce Company have been updated for October 2009, and we had some surprise finishes, as usual. I've highlighted some notable best-sellers below, and also provided quick links for each category list:

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: One of our "Sauce for a Cause" products, African Rhino Peri Peri Hot Sauce, finished in 7th place last month. A portion of the proceeds from each sale goes to help preserve the African Rhino. Also finishing strong is the ever-popular Capsicana Zing Gourmet Sauce, a versatile sweet & spicy table sauce that comes with free recipes and which took 9th place on our best-seller list.

*Best-Selling BBQ Sauces: The award-winning tomato-based Outta The Park BBQ Sauce was the second-best-selling barbecue sauce for October (and it's on sale!), and our very own Hot Eastern NC BBQ Sauce was 6th (and your purchase of our Eastern NC BBC Sauce helps to support Operation Sauce Drop, our non-profit program that sends free sauce to deployed troops!)

*Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce: A recent newcomer, the subtly sweet & peppery Samson's Town & Country Sauce from North Carolina (only $3.99!) moved up to #2 on this best-seller list, while the bold and exotic Tortuga Caribbean Steak Sauce (it's on sale for only $3.35!) finished third

*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings: Another new product, Nando's Hot Peri Peri Marinade from South Africa, finished a very impressive third last month, and the fruity-spicy Melinda's Mango Coconut Pepper Sauce remained on the best-seller list, this time in 10th place -- and it's on sale!

*Best-Selling Dry Rubs & Seasonings: The hard-to-find Nando's Lemon & Herb Peri Peri Grind from South Africa was our 3rd best-selling seasoning last month, and the sweet & spicy, subtly citrusy Southern Twang Dry Rub from North Carolina finished close behind in 4th place -- and it comes with free recipes!

*Best-Selling Gift Sets: Two frighteningly hot gift sets proved popular most likely because of Halloween, with our dangerously fiery Ultra-Hot Hot Sauce Gift Set being the top selling gift set and the aptly named Scary Sauces Gift Set (just take a look at the sauces in this gift set!) finished 4th in October

*Best-Selling North Carolina Products: The #1 best-selling NC product last month was Castle Sauce from Greensboro, a beloved mustard-tomato steak sauce that's also terrific on burgers, onion rings & more -- and our very own mild Eastern NC BBQ Sauce came in 9th - and we donate $1 to Operation Sauce Drop for every jar sold!

*Best-Selling Wing Sauces: One of our newest wing sauces, Melinda's All-Natural Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce, debuted at #5, and Rochester NY's sweet-tangy Tony's Birdland Mild Wing Sauce finished in 8th place -- and both are on sale!

*Best-Selling Jerk & Curry Products: Two varieties of the versatile & flavor-packed Pluto's Caribbean Bliss Seasonings, the Mild and the Salt-Free Seasoning, took 6th & 9th place honors respectively

*Best-Selling Snacks & Sweets: Our crunchy, spicy Hot Dill Pickle Chips finished an impressive 4th last month (and a portion of each sale goes to support Operation Sauce Drop), and the addictively delicious Lilly's Gourmet Maple Butter took 7th place (and it's on sale!)

*Best-Selling Mustards & Ketchups: The smoky, spicy-hot and all-natural Melinda's Chipotle Ketchup came in 6th in October (and it's on sale!), and North Carolina's own Durn Good Hot 'n Spicy Mustard completed the list at 10th

*Best-Selling Salsa & Relish: Another North Carolina treat, the fiery & flavorful Just My Taste Jalapeno Dip, had a strong finish and took 4th place (and it comes with lots of recipes, AND it's on sale!), while our own mild but zesty Sweet Pepper Relish came in 7th (and a portion of the proceeds goes to support Operation Sauce Drop)

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce

After a long absence, Walkerswood Zesty Caribbean One Stop Savory Sauce is finally back in stock, and available online from the Carolina Sauce Company! Similar to the still-unavailable Walkerswood Hot & Spicy Jamaican Jerk Sauce but with a richer, fruitier flavor, Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce is an all-purpose tropical table sauce that blends naturally sweet bananas, mangoes and raisins with tart tamarind, fiery Caribbean hot peppers, and island herbs and spices. The delicious result is a palate-pleasing, moderately spicy sweet-tangy sauce that complements poultry and seafood, cheese and egg dishes, and all sorts of grilled food. You can also add some Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce to soups, stews and casseroles if you want to add a touch of exotic, sunny flavor. Notoriously hard to find outside of Jamaica, we're thrilled to be able to offer this flavorful condiment just in time for holiday cooking and Christmas gift shopping. We don't know how long we'll be able to get it, and whether it might disappear from the market again, so now is the time to order some Walkerswood One Stop Savory Sauce while it's available!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade

If you love sweet peaches, you must try Mrs. Picky Fanicky's latest creation, Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade. Sublimely sweet, intensely peachy, delightfully chunky, and with a subtle citrusy twist, this peach marmalade is unlike -- and far more delicious than -- any you'll buy from a grocery store. Made the old-fashioned way with tree-ripened juicy peaches, Mrs. Picky Fanicky adds a little sweet pineapple, orange juice and cherries for depth of flavor and richness. Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade is irresistible straight from the jar, but it's also fantastic with hot biscuits, pancakes, waffles, toast, croissants, stirred into hot oatmeal, poured over ice cream, served with cream cheese and crackers, and even as a fruity-sweet condiment for pork, chicken, turkey, broiled fish, and other savory dishes. Kids love it with chicken nuggets and fish sticks, too! Spoon it over pound cake or yellow cake frosted with cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting for a beautiful as well as tasty dessert. Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Peach Cocktail MmmMarmalade is made with natural ingredients, has no sodium or artificial preservatives, and comes with recipe ideas on a pretty card. And it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Operation Sauce Drop Ships 800th Gift Box!

Earlier this week, Operation Sauce Drop shipped its 800th free gift box of hot sauce and BBQ sauce to US troops serving overseas, thanks to a generous repeat donor who recently made a $1,000 donation (which the Carolina Sauce Company has matched), and the generosity of over 150 other donors, some of whom are also repeat donors.

Since its inception over 2 years ago, Operation Sauce Drop has sent 814 free gift boxes of sauce to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Far East, Europe and other APO/FPO locations. The Carolina Sauce Company operates this nonprofit program, donating the time and labor needed to fulfill gift box requests, paying for all incidental expenses associated with the program, and donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of several Carolina Sauce brand products through the "Shop to Support Operation Sauce Drop" program. The troops and their families greatly appreciate receiving a little "taste of home," as is evident from their thank-you notes and photos such as this one and many more posted on the Operation Sauce Drop Feedback & Photos page.

Because gift box requests greatly outpaced incoming donations last winter and into the spring, a lengthy waiting list developed earlier this year. But thanks to the continued support of donors both large and small, the Carolina Sauce Company is working its way through this waiting list and will soon finish fulfilling the pending gift box requests. Once the last pending request has been fulfilled, we will resume accepting requests for free gift boxes of sauce for our deployed military.

The average cost to purchase and ship a free gift box of sauce to a serviceperson serving overseas is about $20. You can donate to Operation Sauce Drop in any amount, and 100% of your donation will be used ONLY to purchase and ship a gift box (as mentioned above, Carolina Sauce covers all incidental expenses and overhead, so your entire donation goes towards the cost of the gift box and shipping). You can also shop to support Operation Sauce Drop by purchasing select sauces and other zesty products, and either a portion or the entire purchase price is donated directly to Operation Sauce Drop.

It would be great if we could fulfill new gift box requests from the troops in time for the holidays, so please consider a donation in any amount, or shop to support Operation Sauce Drop. The troops will thank you for your generosity!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

October's Top 10 Best-Selling Sauces & Seasonings

Here are the top 10 best-selling sauces and seasonings across all categories at the Carolina Sauce Company for October - and any of these would make great Christmas gifts for folks who enjoy zesty foods!

1. Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning was our best-selling product last month, and this authentic jerk paste (wet rub) from Jamaica is a favorite among people who love real jerk flavor and fire

2. Castle Sauce is a regular on our list of best-selling products, and the whole family is sure to enjoy this flavorful classic steak & burger sauce from Greensboro NC

3. Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce also regularly finishes in the top 10, and this Jamaican table sauce delivers food-friendly, versatile flavor (it's not a jerk sauce!) and fiery heat

4. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce comes to us from Trinidad & Tobago and is made with sweet papaya and spicy scotch bonnet peppers for a deliciously rich, medium-hot tropical flavor

5. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce is an authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's ideal for Carolina style pulled pork BBQ

6. Buderim Ginger Bears are grown-up gummy bear candies with a gingery "bite," and they're made in Australia using real ginger

7. Outta The Park BBQ Sauce is an award-winning gourmet tomato BBQ sauce that starts off a little sweet and finishes with a zesty ginger-pepper kick, and has quickly become one of our best-selling products!

8. Georgia Peach & Vidalia Onion Hot Sauce features ripe peaches and sweet-savory vidalia onions with just a touch of peppery heat, for a deliciously flavorful and mildly spicy table sauce

9. Scorned Woman Hot Sauce: This classic vinegar-based hot sauce is made with several different peppers for seriously hot heat

10. Matouk's Hot Pepper Sauce is a thick and fiery Caribbean hot sauce with a savory mustard-vinegar base and plenty of aged pickled scotch bonnet peppers

We'll soon update the best-seller lists for each product category, so stay tuned to this blog for more late-breaking spicy news!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Tortuga Sweet Heat Pepper Sauce

The sunny island of Barbados sends us Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce, a pleasantly spicy, sweet-tangy gem of a hot sauce. While this tasty hot sauce is made with a tradtional mustard base and Caribbean Scotch Bonnet peppers, the addition of tropical Carambola (star fruit) provides a uniquely delicious fruity twist. The texture is thick and rich, the color is a beautiful deep orange-red, and the heat level is on the medium side of hot, all of which makes Tortuga Sweet Heat Pepper Sauce a very approachable and enjoyable table sauce and condiment. I like it on burgers, grilled meats and seafood, and it's also terrific on hot dogs and grilled sausages. You can also add Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce to recipes like meat loaf, raw ground meat for burgers, and gravies for roast chicken or turkey. And of course, it's fabulous on Caribbean fare. If you want to try a fruit hot sauce that's out of the ordinary and won't scorch off your taste buds, get some Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce while it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Pumpkin-Pie Party Mix

Need a quick recipe for a Halloween party? Looking for a seasonal spicy snack to take to your tailgate this weekend? Try this crunchy snack mix, seasoned with pumpkin pie spices and a bit of pepper! This recipe makes 4 cups and can be doubled or halved as needed

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups corn, rice or wheat Chex cereal (or some of each)
2/3 cup mini-pretzels
2/3 cups broken walnuts
4 Tbs butter or margarine
4 tsp honey
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice*
1/4 tsp cracked black pepper (or more to taste)

Combine the cereal, mini-pretzels and walnuts in a large baking pan or in two 8x8x2 inch baking pans. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Stir together the butter or margarine, honey, pumpkin spice mix and pepper in a saucepan. Heat on the stove, stirring, until the butter or margarine is melted. Drizzle over the cereal and carefully toss to mix well. Bake at 350F degrees about 12 to 15 minutes, stirring once. Place the pan(s) on a cooling rack to allow the snack mix to cool. Store in an airtight container.

*You can use a commercial pumpkin pie spice blend, or try this recipe from Rodale's Natural Foods Cookbook, which makes 2 Tablespoons and can be stored for future use.

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground mace
1/2 tsp ground cloves

Combine together all ingredients and mix to blend thoroughly -- I place the ingredients in a small plastic container with a tight-sealing lid or in a clean & dry glass spice bottle with a lid, and then shake the container until everything is mixed uniformly. Store in a tightly covered container.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company