Easy Pork and Sauerkraut - Crock Pot Recipe

Greg came up with this effortless and easy crockpot recipe for pork with sauerkraut. Start it the evening before and let it cook through the next day until the pork falls apart. Serve with a green salad, a side of potato (mashed, baked, boiled or french-fried) or rice, and a side of apple sauce: I recommend Mullen's Apple Sauce, an old-fashioned, all-natural apple sauce that tastes like apple pie without the crust. Enjoy!

Ingredients
3 lbs pork loin
36 oz sauerkraut (3 bags' worth)
2 apples, peeled, cored & chopped into small pieces
1 bottle beer (regular or dark - we like to use Sam Adams Boston Lager)
Big Daddy’s Superb Herb Seasoning

Place the pork, apples, kraut and beer in the crock pot. Add 4 or 5 healthy shakes (approx. 1 or 2 Tbs or more) of Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning. Cook 4 hours on High, then set the crockpot to Low and continue cooking for about 20 hours or until the pork is falling apart. Stir from time to time towards the end of the cooking time to break up the pork. Serve with a side of applesauce, and your favorite starch such as potatoes or rice.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Mullen's Apple Sauce and Big Daddy's Superb Herb Seasoning are both on sale now at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Thank a Soldier for their Service

Operation Sauce Drop is a non-profit program of the Carolina Sauce Company that sends free gift boxes of hot sauce and BBQ sauce to US troops serving abroad. The mission of Operation Sauce Drop is to deliver a little taste of home to our brave servicemen and women, at no charge to them, to let them know we're thinking of them back home and to say Thank You for their service and their sacrifice. The average cost to purchase (at wholesale, no markup) and ship a gift box of sauce is around $20, and this is made possible by donations from individuals, which are matched 100% by the Carolina Sauce Company. Operation Sauce Drop is also funded through the sale of products donated by manufacturers, where 100% of the purchase price of the product goes straight into the Operation Sauce Drop account - the Carolina Sauce Company does not make a single penny from the sale of these donated products.

To date, Operation Sauce Drop has shipped 498 free gift boxes of sauce to our military personnel stationed abroad. The troops greatly appreciate the gift boxes, as you can see from their thank you notes to donors and the photos on our Operation Sauce Drop Feedback & Photos page. Unfortunately, the program has a waiting list of over 320 troops who have signed up for a free gift box (or a loved one has submitted their name and requested that their serviceman or woman receive a free gift box). We haven't been able to send out any more free gift boxes since early March because Operation Sauce Drop is out of money (we haven't received a donation since early March).

Despite these tough economic times, the Carolina Sauce Company will continue to match 100% of all donations, and to cover all incidental expenses and donate the labor involved in order to keep sending our brave servicemen and women a free gift of zesty sauces to add some flavor – and a taste of home – to their chow. As mentioned above, the average cost to purchase and ship a free gift box of sauce to a deployed soldier is about $20. Because we match all donations, a mere $10 donation is all it takes to say thank you to our troops, and let a soldier know you care. And just $5 gets us halfway to sending a free gift box, which is also a big help. Another way to support Operation Sauce Drop while treating yourself to something delicious is to Shop to Support Operation Sauce Drop, where *the entire price* of the product you purchase for yourself is donated directly to Operation Sauce Drop. Need another reason to support Operation Sauce Drop? How about the following thank-you note from the mother of a sailor on the USS San Antonio:

"Hey, Gloria, I just wanted to let you know the box of hot sauce arrived safely and on Valentine's Day, no less! Great timing, huh? Here is the email I got from Nicholas [her son] this morning:

I got some hot sauces in the mail today? Lol did you get me some? They said there was no charge, but it had your email on it… lol habenero? :D that’s gonna be some spicy meatballs… Thank you mom J.

That boy loves his hot sauce. I told him that Habanero is Spanish for " you laugh while my hair is on fire" so that one should be a good one. Thank you again for going to so much effort to send the box to him. He loves getting mail and he needed to be cheered up a little. One of his friends was lost at sea during a training accident on February 4th. This was the first email since that happened in which he sounded like he was feeling better. Your company is doing a really nice thing by sending hot sauce to the military. They need our support more that you can imagine.

Thanks again,
T.H."

Please consider making a donation to Operation Sauce Drop, or ordering yourself some delicious Pepper Dog Salsas and Dry Rub and knowing that the entire purchase price will go towards thanking a soldier with a free gift box of sauce.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Thomas Marinade

Back in the old days, the word "marinade" wasn't usually used by regular folks and country cooks -- but that doesn't mean that they didn't know about the benefits (and delicious results!) of soaking a piece of meat in a blend of vinegar or lemon juice to tenderize and get rid of any "gamey" off-flavors, oil to keep the meat moist while it cooks, and herbs and spices that enhance the meat's natural flavors. As any oldtimer will tell you, they knew about marinades -- they just called them "soaks" instead.

Thomas Marinade, from Thomas Gourmet Foods in Greensboro, NC, is an old-fashioned "soak" or marinade that's made with all-natural ingredients, just like grandma used to make. The secret blend of herbs and spices is perfectly balanced to enhance, rather than overpower, the natural flavors of your meat or anything else you marinade in Thomas Marinade. Soy sauce is used not only because of its complementary flavors, but also because it helps to tenderize even the toughest cut of meat. The cider vinegar also helps in the same way, and because it can penetrate the meat it helps to infuse it with the seasonings in this marinade. And canola oil helps to keep your meat or poultry tender by sealing in the natural juices while you grill, broil, bake or roast after marinading.

Thomas Marinade is excellent for all sorts of meat, pork and poultry, and is especially good for tenderizing venison, flank steaks, and roasts. It's also a wonderful addition to raw ground beef or ground venison when you're making burgers, and you can drizzle it over (or brush it on) fish and other seafood just before cooking. I love putting some raw veggies in a baggie and then pouring some Thomas Marinade in, shaking the sealed baggie to coat the veggies evenly, and then grilling or broiling the veggies. This is especially good with sliced onions and peppers, raw broccoli florets or spears, sliced mushrooms and summer squash like zucchini or yellow squash. Just make sure you shake the bottle first -- like any high-quality, all-natural vinaigrette or oil/vinegar marinade, Thomas Sauce naturally separates since it doesn't contain any artificial emulsifiers.

If you're looking for an all-purpose old-fashioned marinade or "soak" to tenderize and complement your food without overpowering or masking its natural flavors, then Thomas Marinade is for you. And if you're watching your carbs, you'll be thrilled to know that Thomas Marinade is a low carb marinade, with only 1 carb per tablespoon. Get it today from the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and enjoy a taste of the good ol' days.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Race City Sauce Works Bootleggers Bounty Whisky Barrel Wing Sauce

Race City Sauce Works is a small gourmet sauce manufacturer based in the heart of North Carolina's NASCAR country. This up-and-coming producer of high-quality sauces is making quite a name for itself with its racing-themed sauces, some of which are flavored with a splash of bourbon (hence the references to bootleggers, moonshine, and whisky in their sauce names), and all of which are made with all-natural ingredients and locally grown chile peppers. One of my favorite products they offer is called Race City Sauce Works Bootleggers Bounty Whisky Barrel Wing Sauce. Made with eight different kinds of chile peppers which are smoked for a richer, more robust flavor, plus their trademark splash of bourbon, and a buttery base that's laced with pungent garlic and savory onion, Bootleggers Bounty Wing Sauce delivers a glorious harmony of smokiness, subtle sweetness, creamy richness and medium-hot peppery heat.

The obvious use for this wing sauce is chicken wings: breaded or unbreaded, fried, broiled, baked or grilled. But I also like to use Race City Sauce Works Bootleggers Bounty Whisky Barrel Wing Sauce as a dipping sauce for fried appetizers like onion rings, fries, and jalapeno poppers. I've even been known to pour it on burgers in place of ketchup, and it ain't half-bad as a steak sauce, either! Although the manufacturer hasn't yet updated their labels to show the nutritional info, they were kind enough to provide it to us and we've posted it on the Race City Sauce Works Bootleggers Bounty Whisky Barrel Wing Sauce page for our customers. As you'll see, this wing sauce is healthy as well as delicious, with all-natural ingredients, only 1.5 grams of fat and 100mg of sodium per serving, and zero carbs. So now you can have your hot wings, and eat them guilt-free! Race City Sauce Works Bootleggers Bounty Whisky Barrel Wing Sauce is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Thomas Gourmet Foods Chutneys

Chutneys are luxuriously exotic but food-friendly and approachable fruit-based condiments that are spoonably thick like jam, intriguingly spiced, and provide a richly-flavored counterpoint to meats, poultry and seafood. Often associated with Indian and Caribbean cuisine, where chutneys are often intensely flavored and densely packed with chunks of fruits and vegetables, chutneys are also used in the cuisine of the American South, where they are mellower in flavor, playing a gentler complementary role to main dishes like roast pork, chicken or lamb.

True to its mission of making delicious sauces and condiments that spark the imagination, Thomas Gourmet Foods has created a line of North Carolina chutneys that blend farm-fresh Southern fruits with just enough exotic spice to bring out the best in your food. Their Apple Chutney starts with sweet ripe apples and combines them with refreshingly zippy ginger, sweet raisins and tart lime juice for a zestily sweet-savory accompaniment for pork, beef or chicken, either as a table condiment or a glaze. It also pairs nicely with cheese and crackers, and serves as a grown-up substitute for jelly or jam on your bagel or croissant. For folks craving more of an old-fashioned Southern flavor, Thomas Gourmet Foods Green Tomato Chutney is a blast from the past. This tasty chutney begins with naturally tart green tomatoes and combines them with just enough onions, apples and golden raisins for a tangy, well-balanced savory condiment that's not too sweet. I like to pair this green tomato chutney with hamburgers and other robust meats, grilled tuna steaks, and even with omelets, or cream cheese and crackers.

If you enjoy Indian food and curry dishes, you'll love Thomas Gourment Foods Mango Chutney. Similar to traditional Indian chutneys but with a more delicate flavor for more universal appeal, this mango chutney is made with sweet mangoes and raisins plus fresh ginger and pungent garlic to temper the sweetness. Of course, you can use this mango chutney with curry dishes, but it's also a fantastic accent for simple seafood, poultry and meat dishes, and it makes a delicious condiment for sandwiches and burgers. If a sweeter, more jam-like chutney is your preference, then the Peach Chutney from Thomas Gourmet Foods is for you. Made with sun-ripened southern peaches and just a touch of garlic and exotic spices, this mouthwatering chutney is an ideal table condiment or cooking glaze for chicken, seafood and pork. I like to stir a little peach chutney into chicken salad, or use it instead of tartar sauce or cocktail sauce with fried seafood.

All four flavors of Thomas Gourmet Foods Chutneys are all-natural, made in North Carolina, and on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Co. Closed March 26-30

Newsflash: The Carolina Sauce Company is closed from Thursday, March 26th through Monday, March 30th, while we're up in the Rochester NY area (I'm looking forward to checking out some of the restaurants whose sauces we sell, and hopefully discovering some great new products). Although no one is available to answer the phone or reply to email while we are closed, you can still order online at the Carolina Sauce Company online store while we are closed. Orders received during this time will be processed and shipped in the order received when we re-open for business on Tuesday, March 31st. We'll also be able to return phone calls and reply to emails once we re-open next Tuesday.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Race City Sauce Works Moonshiners Run Whisky Barrel Hot Sauce

North Carolina is much better known for its legendary vinegar-based barbecue sauce than it is for its hot sauce. But that doesn't mean that there aren't any flavor-packed, fiery-hot hot sauces made in North Carolina -- it just means you need to know where to look for them! Luckily, I recently had the opportunity to try a new hot sauce that's made in the heart of North Carolina NASCAR country, with the colorful (and long) name of Race City Sauce Works Moonshiners Run Whisky Barrel Hot Sauce. As you might guess, "Race City Sauce Works" is the name of the company that makes this feisty hot sauce. The reference to moonshiners and whisky barrels comes from one of the unique ingredients in this all-natural hot sauce: a splash of bourbon, which adds a deep richness and hints of toasted caramel. Other ingredients in this gourmet hot sauce include a selection of eight different kinds of locally grown chile peppers, which are wood-smoked for an earthy smokiness that complements their layers of fiery spice. All of this is blended with a secret combination of herbs and spices in a tangy tomato and vinegar base, with a pinch of brown sugar and a touch of raisins and NC sweet potatoes for a subtle sweetness that rounds out any harsh edges without turning this robust hot sauce into a "sweet" hot sauce.

You can really taste the quality ingredients and the care that goes into making Race City Sauce Works Moonshiners Run Whisky Barrel Hot Sauce. Unlike thin, vinegary grocery store hot sauces, Moonshiners Run Whisky Barrel Hot Sauce has substance to its body, so that it will stick to your food instead of just running off it or making your sandwich bread or hamburger bun soggy. The heat level is a peppery medium-hot that builds to a nice fiery level without ever scorching or hurting, which means you can still taste the flavors in the sauce (and in your food) even after several bites. In short, this is a food-friendly hot sauce that you can use on just about anything except maybe dessert. And if you're trying to eat healthy, you'll be glad to know that this hot sauce is very low sodium and also low carb (although the manufacturer doesn't yet have the nutritional info on his labels, he was kind enough to send us the information so that we could post it on our Race City Sauce Works Moonshiners Run Whisky Barrel Hot Sauce product page). Treat yourself to a bottle today, while it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce

The good folks at Thomas Gourmet Foods in Greensboro, North Carolina have been making delicious sauces and condiments for many years, and their latest is a real winner. Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce is THE sauce that you want to spoon onto your crabcakes -- but this velvety-rich, full-bodied and savory sauce is for oh, so much more! If you enjoy softshell crabs -- either in a sandwich or served on their own, breaded and fried or sauteed -- then Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce is the perfect accompaniment. Likewise with fried fish or shrimp, and even grilled or broiled seafood. Kids absolutely love dipping fish sticks, chicken nuggets, tater tots and french fries in this tasty condiment, and adults love the subtle layers of flavor that it imparts.

Lately, I've been using Thomas Crab Cake Sauce in place of mayonnaise in my sandwiches and wraps. One of my favorite lunch meals is a wrap made with imitation crabmeat, thinly sliced onions & pickles, slivers of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, and a few leaves of baby spinach all wrapped up in a multigrain flatbread wrap that's been slathered with Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce. This past weekend, Greg made us some killer BLT's that used the Crab Cake Sauce instead of mayonnaise, and they were heavenly. This sauce is so versatile -- and so delicious -- that you can substitute it for mayo in your potato salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, slaw, and other prepared salads. It can even be used in place of hollandaise for a change of pace, and as a dip for carrot sticks, celery and other raw vegetables. It also has zero trans fat, which is a good thing! Try a jar of Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce while it's on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company, but be careful: This baby's addictive!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Thomas Gourmet Foods also makes an old-fashioned, homestyle Tartar Sauce, and a bold and zesty Cocktail Sauce, both of which are out of this world, and also on sale!

Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC BBQ Sauce

Eastern North Carolina barbecue sauce is famous for its thin (not thick), tart vinegar base and spicy, peppery tang. Used primarily on pulled pork barbecue (a North Carolina delicacy that's unlike any other kind of BBQ, with the sauce added after the pork is smoked and then pulled off the bone), a good eastern NC barbecue sauce can also be used as a marinade for chicken and meat, and even as a table sauce to splash on collards, hushpuppies, french fries, and fried fish. After much searching and sauce-tasting, I'm pleased to announce that I've finally found an authentic eastern NC barbecue sauce that's worthy of bearing the Carolina Sauce Company name: our very own Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC Barbecue Sauce!

Hand-made and hand-bottled in the little eastern town of Nashville, NC using an old family recipe, Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC BBQ Sauce is the real deal, made with the traditional vinegar base that's spiced with just enough red pepper for a pleasant tang that will please without "biting" more sensitive palates. What makes our eastern NC barbeque sauce stand out is that there's just a touch of apples and tomato to smooth out the tartness of the vinegar but without thickening the sauce or turning it into a "sweet" sauce. We have both a Mild eastern NC BBQ Sauce that's great for the whole family, and a Hot eastern NC barbecue sauce that adds a heftier dose of red peppers for folks who prefer their BBQ with a fiery kick. Ideal for traditional pulled pork barbecue, Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC BBQ Sauce also tenderizes and adds tangy flavor to meats and poultry when used as a marinade. You can mix it into recipes, too, especially for vinegar-based prepared salads like slaw. I personally love to add it to collard greens, turnip greens and even steamed spinach, and I splash it on all sorts of fried foods including fries, onion rings, hushpuppies, popcorn shrimp, and more.

If you've never made authentic North Carolina pulled pork barbecue, you need to try this sauce, especially since it comes with a FREE recipe flyer with instructions for how to make real NC BBQ. And if you're an old pro at smoking a pork shoulder (or a whole pig) to perfection, you'll be quite pleased at the results the next time you make barbecue and use Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC Barbecue Sauce. Don't have a smoker, or don't have the time to use it? Don't worry: our free recipe flyer also includes "cheater's instructions" for making NC-style pulled pork barbecue without a smoker that's pretty darn good even though it's not truly authentic. Best of all, both flavors of Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC Barbecue Sauce are currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Our brand-new Carolina Sauce Company Chow Chow Relish is getting rave reviews! It also comes in Mild and Hot, and is a delicious sweet-tangy alternative to slaw or ordinary pickle relish. Stock up now on this old-fashioned condiment that's perfect for cookouts and picnics as well as for homestyle dinners. It's also currently on sale!