Carolina Sauce Company

Sweet & Spicy Sweet Potato Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:33:00 +0000

Tired of that old, boring sweet potato casserole with marshmallows? Ready for a grown-up sweet potato casserole with a peppery kick and a delicious crunchy nut topping? Then this is the Thanksgiving recipe for you! This recipe serves 6, and it freezes well, too.

Ingredients
3 cups cooked, peeled & mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbs lightly salted butter
1/2 cup evaporated skim (fat-free) milk
1 tsp pepper sherry, such as Busha Browne's Spicy Hot Pepper Sherry
2 beaten eggs, OR the equivalent in egg substitute such as Egg Beaters brand

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Mix together all of the above and pour into a greased casserole dish. Prepare the the topping, below:

Topping Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Tbs lightly salted butter, softened
1/2 cup oats
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix together the topping ingredients until crumbly, and sprinkle evenly over the unbaked sweet potato casserole. Bake at 350F degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Tortuga Caribbean Sauces Gift Packs

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:09:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:59:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:41:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:05:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:26:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:11:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:53:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:14:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:58:00 +0000

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

Outta The Park BBQ Sauce Wins 1st Place Scovie Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Outta the Park BBQ Sauce is one of the newest products at the Carolina Sauce Company, and quickly has become one of our best-sellers as well as one of my favorite sauces. And now, it's also the winner of a prestigious international award! Outta the Park BBQ Sauce won First Place at the 2010 Scovie Awards competition, in the All-Natural Mild BBQ Sauce category -- and as anyone who has tasted this barbecue sauce can tell you, the award is well-deserved. Made with organic ketchup, brown sugar, real butter, savory garlic, zippy ginger and just a touch of spicy jalapenos, this all-natural barbecue sauce is sublimely delicious on everything from ribs, chicken, pork, shrimp and burgers, to recipes like meatloaf and even pizza. The flavor is rich and pleasantly sweet, and finishes with a bit of a peppery kick (but still mild enough for kids and other sensitive folks to enjoy). Even vegetarians love this sauce, on veggie burgers, grilled tofu, roasted veggies, in baked beans and more. And if you are a hunter or otherwise have access to venison, Outta the Park BBQ Sauce makes a terrific tenderizing marinade for venison and other tougher meats: Simply place the meat in a resealable plastic bag or container with enough sauce to coat & cover, marinate overnight in the fridge, and then grill, broil, bake or slow-cook in a crockpot. I guarantee the results will be mouthwatering!

If you haven't tried Outta the Park BBQ Sauce yet and want a proven winner, order some today from Carolina Sauce while it's on sale!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

FREE Hot Sauce, BBQ Sauce for saying "Trick or Treat"

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:58:00 +0000

Want FREE samples of hot sauce, BBQ sauce, and other zesty products? Simply say "trick or treat" when you order from the Carolina Sauce Company! Find out more by reading our Halloween Newsletter. But don't delay: The free giveaway ends this Saturday, October 31st!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Want to cash in on other special sales, discount coupons and FREE stuff? Then sign up for our free eNewsletter! Simply click on the Newsletter link on the Carolina Sauce Company home page, found in the middle column down towards the middle.

Conquering Lion Hot Sauces Are Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Hot Sauce fans, rejoice! Conquering Lion Hot Sauces are back in stock, and they're on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store! Made in West Virginia from all-natural, mostly organic ingredients, these rich and smoky hot sauces are lovingly hand-crafted in small batches using local produce grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The tomatoes and hot peppers (including habaneros and cayennes) are picked at peak ripeness and then smoked using 100% Appalachian hickory wood. The process takes 3 days and the end result is a deliciously complex and robust hot sauce that delivers layers of earthy, smoky flavor and plenty of peppery firepower.

The original Conquering Lion Hickory-Smoked Hot Sauce has a good hot heat level, thanks to the use of habanero peppers and cayenne peppers as primary ingredients, blended with sweet red bell peppers, carrots and onions in a rich tomato base to help tame the fiery habaneros. But this isn't a wimpy, watery vinegar hot sauce: The hickory smoked flavor is fantastic, and nicely balances the peppery heat. This is a terrific all-purpose hot sauce when you want to add smoky heat to a dish, and makes a nice accompaniment to grilled, roasted or broiled meats (including game), veggies and poultry. It's also great on hamburgers, veggie burgers and in chili recipes. If you are a serious chilehead and crave extremely hot foods, then Conquering Lion Hickory-Smoked XXX Hot Sauce is for you. This is about as hot as you can get without adding capsaicin extract to artificially raise the heat level of a hot sauce. However, this super-hot sauce still delivers the delicious multi-dimensional rich flavor that makes Conquering Lion Hot Sauces among my favorites. Just be sure to use the XXX sauce with discretion.

For folks who enjoy a little splash of tropical flavor with their intense heat, Conquering Lion Hickory Smoked Mango Hot Sauce starts off with the XXX Hot Sauce as the base and then adds fresh Florida organic mangoes for just a hint of subtle sweetness. This hot sauce is especially nice in baked beans, sloppy joes, meatloaf, and added to tomato-based BBQ sauces that need some extra punch. All three flavors are 100% natural, mostly organic (the manufacturer is working on getting official organic certification for his products), non-GMO, have less than 1 mg sodium per serving, and have no more than 1 carb per serving. Try them now, while they're in stock and on sale at Carolina Sauce!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Dave's Gourmet Discontinues Garlic Chile Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:39:00 +0000

First, it was "downsized" from a 10 oz bottle to a 5 oz bottle. Now, it's gone for good. We learned today that Dave's Gourmet has discontinued its Sriracha-style Garlic Chile Sauce, and we are unable to get any more. We sold out this weekend, and none of our suppliers has any left in stock. I guess all good things must come to an end eventually.

If you are a fan of Dave's Garlic Chile Sauce and are now looking for a replacement, I recommend A Taste of Thai Garlic Chile Sauce, which is actually made in Thailand and adds just the right zesty kick to pretty much any savory dish (not just Thai or other Asian cuisines). This is an authentic Thai Sriracha sauce with peppery fire and plenty of pungent garlic. Try it on pizza instead of using red pepper flakes, or on scrambled eggs instead of ordinary hot sauce, and wake up your palate to new possibilities!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Final Food Finds at the NC State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:52:00 +0000

We spent the morning and early afternoon today at the State Fair, sampling a few more foods and visiting with friends, including the nice folks who make Lilly's Gourmet Maple Butter, who were sampling their decadently delicious maple butter at the Got to be NC tent. That's one of my favorite sweet treats spread on toast or a bagel, or stirred into hot oatmeal on a cold morning, or drizzled over a baked sweet potato with dinner.

Speaking of sweet stuff, I had to try the deep-fried cookie dough after reading a mouthwatering description on a local blog. I'm pleased to report that the original reviewer did not exaggerate in praising this temptation! A little larger than a golf ball, the outside breading is similar in texture and taste to fried dough or elephant ears, while the inside is warm, gooey cookie dough with melted chocolate chips. MMMMMmmmmmmm, heavenly!! I don't usually care for deep-fried foods, but this was worth every calorie and fat gram.

We went back to the Ragin Cajun for lunch, and the friends we were with enjoyed the chicken & shrimp gumbo and the fried shrimp, while Greg and I split an order of crawfish tails (lightly battered & fried) and Cajun fries. Our food had a nice medium spicy heat and good Cajun flavor, and their homemade "special sauce" (creamy with Cajun spices) was a nice counterpoint.

One of our friends had never had kettle corn before, so we got some at the booth near the blacksmith. She agreed that it was addictively good, and we enjoyed our snack as we walked back up to the livestock and poultry exhibits.

I was craving one last ham biscuit from the Cary United Methodist Church restaurant, but the line was very long and also not moving at all, so we gave up after standing around for about 10 minutes without any signs of progress. Instead, we walked back down to the bake shop by the pig races and I chowed down on a gigantic strawberry strudel. It was very good, but the blueberry one from last week was a bit better. Although I was still craving something salty, I felt rather full and it was time to head home. Maybe I'll cook something up for dinner tonight with some smoked sausage or bacon to satisfy that craving.... and start counting down the days to next year's State Fair!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy & Crunchy Cranberry Coleslaw

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Here's a zesty coleslaw recipe that's perfect for cooler weather and Fall or Winter dishes.

Ingredients
1 16oz package of shredded cabbage or shredded broccoli for slaw
1 cup dried cranberries
1/3 to 1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I use low fat)
1 Tbs sugar (you can use a sugar substitute like Splenda or Equal)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp ground cayenne
2 Tbs red wine vinegar

In a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sugar, salt, black pepper, cayenne and vinegar. Add the slaw mix and toss gently to coat thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, stir in the cranberries and walnut pieces.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you love cranberries and enjoy spicy foods, check out Toad Sweat Cranberry Dessert Hot Sauce, a deliciously unique sweet & spicy cranberry hot sauce that's terrific with turkey, pork, chicken, cheesecake, ice cream and even oatmeal!

Pomegranate Sweet & Sour Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:16:00 +0000

Here is my adaptation of traditional sweet & sour sauce, using Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce instead of ordinary teriyaki sauce.

Ingredients
1 cup Olio & Spices Pomegranate Teriyaki Sauce
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups sugar
1/2 Tbs minced garlic
1/2 Tbs minced ginger
1/2 Tbs chopped green onions (including some of the green part)
1/4 cup cold water
2 Tbs cornstarch
1/2 cup ketchup

Combine the Pomegranate Teriyaki sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger and green onions in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Whisk together the water and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth. Pour this mixture into the saucepan, stir and bring back to a boil. Cook for about 1 minute or until the sauce thickens. Stir in the ketchup and combine well. That's it!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

More Food Finds at the NC State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:31:00 +0000

We went back to the State Fair today and tried some new food items, several of which were surprisingly good. We also visited with some old friends at the Got To Be NC tent, where you can sample and purchase tasty NC sauces, seasonings, ice cream and more. The folks who make Zing Sauce were there as usual, and we sampled a delicious new salmon & cream cheese spread made with their sauce. They were kind enough to share the recipe with me, and you can get a copy when you order Zing Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company. We also said hi to the folks who make Durn Good Hot Sauce and Seasonings, who were sampling their zesty products. Down past the Durn Good table, Greg tried the Brightleaf Hot Dogs and raved about their "red hots" (bright red hot dogs with a pleasant spiciness) and smoked sausage.

We were too late for the Neomonde bread baking demo across from the Village of Yesteryear, but the enticing smell of baking bread was still wafting from the tent opening, making me yearn for some freshly baked bread. Maybe we can visit there on Sunday when we go back for our final fair trip.

Back at the Ragin' Cajun booth, Greg tried the Sausage Po'boy, which turned out to be more of a sausage sandwich rather than a traditional po'boy. While the sausage was authentically flavorful and spicy, the sandwich came with non-po'boy toppings including American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onion, and no remoulade. It was still good anyway, Greg said, although it was huge and quite messy to eat - don't forget to grab plenty of napkins and a fork!

Speaking of messy foods, there is no neat & tidy way to enjoy roast corn dripping in butter, with the husks pulled back and wrapped around the end to make a handle. But boy, is it good!

I had to try a muscadine cider slushy, made with NC's famous muscadine grapes (no, it doesn't have alcohol in it), and I was pleasantly surprised at how amazingly good it was: Intensely grape-y with real muscadine flavor and none of that sickly-sweet artificial flavor of regular convenience store slushies. I bet it would make an amazing muscadine frozen daquiri with a splash of rum (or a muscadine margarita with tequila). You can find muscadine slushies at the Ragin Cajun, but I think they might be available at other vendors as well. And they were giving out free mini samples in one of the exhibit halls, in case you want to try before you buy.

I had to have one of the few fried foods I really like: Fried okra from the State Farmer's Market truck near the grandstand. As always, the okra was freshly fried to perfection, with golden crispy breading that wasn't soggy and the okra had NO slime at all. Definitely a taste of Southern heaven, and for only $1.50 it's a steal. I've never had any of the other fare from the NC State Farmer's Market truck, but their biscuits look huge and smell great, and they also have cobbler, banana pudding and other traditional NC foods.

The biggest surprise of the night was the chocolate covered bacon, from the strawberry shortcake vendor with the giant inflatable strawberry on top (up from the lake & before the Village of Yesteryear). It was remarkably good! The bacon comes "woven" onto a skewer and is coated with an excellent dark chocolate "shell". The flavor contrast of the salty, smoky bacon and the sweet but intensely chocolate coating is quite appealing, and the texture was not bad: Though not exactly crispy, the bacon was definitely not limp (more "toothy") and the chocolate coating was similar to the shell on ice cream popsicles (yes, the chocolate covered bacon is served chilled). Because it comes on a skewer and the chocolate shell is solid, this isn't messy. I can't imagine eating a whole bunch of this since the flavors are so rich, but the single piece on the skewer was a nice big piece, plenty for Greg & me to share after having indulged in other fair food. Would I have chocolate covered bacon again? Yes, I think so. Heck, I might even try making it at home!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Sauteed Collards with Bacon

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:34:00 +0000

Cold weather means fresh collard greens and other dark leafy greens like turnip greens and kale are readily available. Here is a zesty and simple recipe inspired by traditional Southern cooking. You can make this with any dark leafy greens, including spinach. The quantities are flexible, so don't fret about imprecise amounts.

Ingredients
8 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large bunch of fresh collards or other dark winter greens, thoroughly washed & cut into 1-inch strips (you will want to remove any tough stems)
1/2 large onion (sweet onion if available)
3 to 5 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
Vinegar-based hot sauce, to taste (a cayenne hot sauce works well)
Salt & pepper to taste

In a large skillet (preferably cast iron), cook the bacon over medium heat until done. Add the onion & garlic, stir & cook until onion is soft and translucent. Add the collards or other greens, stir to coat the greens with the bacon fat. Cook, stirring from time to time, until the greens have wilted and are cooked down. Add the vinegar and a few splashes of hot sauce and stir to deglaze the skillet. Season with salt & pepper to taste, and serve hot.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Newsletter: Trick or Treat for Free Sauce!

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Say "Trick or Treat" and Get FREE Sauce!
Who said trick or treating was just for kids? Now grown-ups can trick or treat for FREE sauce gifts! Simply place an order with the Carolina Sauce Company in any amount, now through Halloween (October 31st), and enter the words "Trick or Treat" in the comment section, and we'll send you a FREE mini-sample of sauce! Every order is guaranteed at least 1 free mini-sample, but the bigger your order, the more different free samples you'll get:

*Get 2 different free mini-samples for orders of over $20 in products
*Get 3 different free mini-samples for orders of over $30 in products
*Get 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $40 in products
*Get 1 full-size free sample AND 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $50 in products
*Get 2 full-size free samples AND 4 different free mini-samples for orders of over $100 in products

(Note: If your order is a gift to be shipped to a different person, please specify if you want the gift recipient to receive the free sample(s), OR if you want us to email you a special coupon so that you can receive the free sample(s) the next time you place an order to be shipped to yourself)

Just remember to include the words "Trick or Treat" in the comment section of your online order (or say "trick or treat" when ordering by phone) between now and October 31st. If you don't say "Trick or Treat", we won't know to send your free sauce, so don't forget! And don't delay - this special ends on Halloween, October 31st.

To help you get in the Halloween spirit, our Scary Sauces Gift Set is frightfully hot, and the bottles look pretty scary too! Say "trick or treat" with your order and you'll get 3 free mini-samples just for ordering this gift set! We also have 4 different varieties of Blair's Death Sauces each with the famous skull keychain, Black Widow Hot Sauce with a realistic plastic spider stuck on the bottle, You Can't Handle This Hot Sauce with a creepy demon on the label, and Satan's Blood Hot Sauce in a vial that might have come from a witch's workshop...

Fall Flavors On Sale & Latest New Products
We've recently added a few new products that we think are especially delicious -- and we also have some gourmet treats on sale that perfectly capture the flavors of Fall:

New BBQ Sauces & Marinades
*Carolina Sauce Company Apple Butter BBQ Sauce: Made with real apples, molasses, and sweet & savory spices, this all-natural BBQ sauce is wonderful on ribs, chicken, meatloaf, kabobs & more. And for every jar sold, we donate $1 to Operation Sauce Drop to send free sauce to our troops!
*Nando's Hot Peri Peri Marinade from South Africa, made with the fiery Peri-Peri pepper in a rich, lemony tomato base

New Relishes & Sweets
*Our very own Sweet Pepper Relish featuring farm-fresh mild red and green bell peppers, and our hot & spicy, tangy-sweet & crunchy Habanero Pepper Relish, both hand-made for us in the North Carolina mountains using all-natural ingredients. We donate $1 to Operation Sauce Drop for every jar sold of either pepper relish!
*Red and Green Pepper Jellies in Mild and Hot, also made in the NC mountains especially for us using old family recipes. These beautiful pepper jellies make lovely gifts and are delicious with pork, poultry, beef, cheese & crackers, biscuits, etc., and they're on sale, too!

New Gift Boxes
*Two new gift boxes are now available, just in time for Christmas: Pepper Dog Salsa Sampler with 3 full-size jars of Pepper Dog Salsa in Mild, Medium and Hot; and the Pepper Dog Salsa & Rub Gift Box featuring full-size jars of Pepper Dog Hot Salsa & Salsa Verde plus a bottle of the savory-smoky Pepper Dog Dry Rub Seasoning. Both gift boxes come in sturdy, reusable wooden crates and feature a red and green color scheme that's perfect for the holidays!

Fall Flavors on Sale!
Apples are in season in the Fall, and we have several wonderful apple products currently on sale, including the Blue Ribbon winning, savory-sweet & mildly spicy Apple Peach Chutney and the sublimely delicious Apple Pie MmmMarmalade from North Carolina's own Mrs. Picky Fanicky; and the exquisite Mullen's Apple Sauce which is fabulous with everything from ice cream to hot oatmeal to pork chops and even straight from the jar. Another favorite fall flavor is maple syrup, and Lilly's Gourmet Maple Butter is an irresistible old-fashioned spreadable treat that's wonderful on toast or biscuits and in hot cereal as well as on baked sweet potatoes and drizzled over ice cream. Also perfect for heartier autumn fare are Thomas Gourmet Chutneys, available in Apple, Peach, Mango and Green Tomato, and all 4 flavors are on sale. And if you have a hunter in the family or enjoy venison and other game, you'll love Ann's Marinade from Durn Good, created by a hunter and with a mouthwatering savory-spicy flavor that will penetrate and tenderize the toughest cuts of meat. All of these delicious Fall Flavors are on sale!

New Sauces in "Shop to Support Operation Sauce Drop"
Operation Sauce Drop is our non-profit program that sends free gift boxes of sauce to US military personnel stationed abroad. Thanks to the generosity of the good folks at Jodeco Foods, each time you order Hot Southern Twang sauce from us, the ENTIRE purchase price goes straight to Operation Sauce Drop! This feisty, citrusy & spicy tomato-based sauce is thick and rich, and is wonderful on meats, chicken, veggies, pasta & more -- and it comes with beautiful full-color recipe cards. We've added several other products you can purchase to support Operation Sauce Drop: Just click on Shop to Support OSD to see all our offerings.

To date, we've shipped over 700 free gift boxes to our deployed military, and once we're finished with our long waiting list we'll resume accepting new gift box requests from our troops. It costs us around $20 to purchase and ship each gift box. The troops really appreciate the free sauce, as you can see from the thank-you notes to donors and photos they've sent in. Want to send a soldier a taste of home, and bring a smile to his or her face? Then please shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, where some or all of the purchase price of the listed products goes straight into Operation Sauce Drop (you get the products you order, and the money you pay is used to send free sauce to the troops). You can also support Operation Sauce Drop by making a donation.

Lobster, Steak, Gourmet Coffee, Fresh Flowers & Gourmet Gift Baskets

Treat yourself or a special someone to lobster so fresh and sweet, it could only have come from Lobster Gram! In the mood for mouthwatering gourmet steaks? We have those, too, from La Cense Beef! You can also try the world-renowned Gevalia coffees and get your FREE Coffeemaker today! For a special gourmet gift, select from bountiful gourmet gift baskets loaded with fabulous foods, delightful snacks and candy confections, specialty teas, and more. Need to send flowers? Order fresh flower bouquets direct from the grower, and send florist-arranged flowers of the highest quality, all at a reasonable price. Next-day and even same-day delivery options available! Personalize your floral gift with your own digital photo and card by selecting a "PhotoBlooms" gift. Simply click on the boxes above to browse our offerings and select that special gift that says "I love you," "I'm sorry," "Thanks so much," "Congratulations," or anything else you want to express.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Spicy Venison & Pumpkin Stew

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:35:00 +0000

This is my version of a savory beef & pumpkin stew from Rodale's Basic Natural Foods Cookbook. You can use beef instead of the venison, if you prefer. This recipe makes 4 hearty servings.

Ingredients
1/2 Tbs vegetable or canola oil
1/2 Tbs bacon grease (if you prefer a lower fat stew, simply use 1 full Tbs of oil and omit the bacon grease)
1 1/2 lbs venison cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, chopped
1 celery stalk with leaves, chopped
1 small bell pepper, diced
1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, diced (you can de-seed to reduce the heat)
1 1/2 cups boiling water (you can substitute up to 1/2 cup with beef broth for richer flavor)
2 lbs pumpkin, peeled & cut into large chunks (the weight of the pumpkin chunks should be 2 lbs, so the original whole pumpkin needs to weigh more)
2 Tbs dry white wine
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp ground red pepper or cayenne pepper
Dash (or more) of hot sauce (a simple pepper sauce works better than one with many ingredients)
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground mace (if you don't have mace, simply increase the amount of nutmeg to 1/2 tsp)
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
Salt to taste
1 Tbs cornstarch, dissolved in 1/4 cup cold water
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
Optional: 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
Optional: 1/2 to 3/4 cup cooked rice (white or brown) or cooked barley

Heat the oil and bacon grease in a large deep skillet (cast iron is perfect) or in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and brown the venison or beef on all sides. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper and jalapeno pepper, stir and keep sauteeing until the onions are golden brown. Add the boiling water and cover, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the pumpkin, wine, hot sauce and spices, stir well and bring back to a simmer. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the meat and pumpkin are tender. Add the cornstarch mixture and parsley, continue cooking while stirring constantly until the stew thickens and bubbles, then simmer 3 more minutes. Add pumpkin seeds and/or rice or barley if using, stir well, then add salt to taste. Serve hot.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Food Finds at the NC State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Despite the dreary weather today, we had "a whole lotta happy" at the NC State Fair today, and enjoyed the exhibits, crafts, animals, sights, sounds & smells, and of course the FOOD (or at least some of it). Here are some tasty food finds, and some disappointments, and some stuff we didn't try but thought deserved mention.

*The apple "shacks" by the bluegrass bandstand & blacksmith exhibition: The one closest to the blacksmith has fresh apple cider, hot and cold. The apple place closest to the bandstand & the John Deere Tractor ice cream (which is pretty good) has old-fashioned fried apple pies (the ones that look like half-moons), apple dumplings, apple fritters and fresh apple "chips" (fresh apple wedges served with caramel dipping sauce). There's another apple stand near the livestock barns that serves fried apple fritters, and those are also quite good.

*The gumbo at the Ragin' Cajun wasn't spicy hot, but it was surprisingly flavorful and definitely filling, served over white rice with a hunk of bread. Definitely hit the spot on a cold, rainy day.

*The San Francisco Bread Bowl soups are excellent on a cold day, and are served in large a sourdough bread bowl. I had the New England clam chowder, but you can also get beef vegetable, broccoli cheese, chicken soup, chili, pinto beans, etc.

*The homemade ham biscuits at the Cary United Methodist Church restaurant are delicious. Soft, tender, buttery biscuits with plenty of savory country ham that's NOT dried out or overly salty.

*The strudel from the bakery stand near the pig races is sweet & flaky, oozing with fruit filling, and big enough to share. We had blueberry, and they also have apple & cherry. I've heard the eclairs are phenomenal, but I didn't try one.

*The fried tilapia sandwich from the "Fresh Fish" stand across from the Dorton Arena waterfall is cooked to order, always fresh & flaky, perfectly cooked so that the breading is crunchy but not greasy. I like it with lots of Texas Pete Hot Sauce and tartar sauce. Their sweet potato fries are also good, served with a sprinkling of salt and cinnamon sugar.

*The ice cream from the NC State booth is worth the wait in line. The new Java Bean flavor is awesome: Coffee ice cream with chocolate covered espresso beans, 3 huge scoops!

*Every year I get a blooming onion (or collossal blossom or whatever the vendor calls their version). And every year, regardless of which stand I get it from, it never lives up to expectations. Lots of grease, not enough flavor in the breading (and usually the breading falls off the onion).

*Al's Fries are overhyped, IMHO. The batch we got was undercooked and greasy. Admittedly, there are two Al's Fries stands. Maybe we stopped at the wrong one...

*The coffee everywhere is generally flavorless and weak -- EXCEPT at the cinnamon roll stand by the Jim Graham building. That was full-flavored, freshly brewed and appropriately strong without being harsh.

*Fudge. Can't go wrong with any of it, methinks! I'm partial to the all-natural Amish fudge.

*Roast corn from the stand near the Village of Yesteryear. The best I've tried at the fair.

*Lots of weird deep-fried stuff, including: Deep-fried oreos, twinkies, Ho-Hos, pecan pie, cheesecake, candy bars, cheese, fruits, veggies, bacon (yes, breaded & deep-fried), even corn on the cob is battered & deep-fried. Couldn't find any deep-fried butter, however, and no fried Coke this year.

*Maple cotton candy. Much better than the little-kid pink or blue sugar stuff.

*Free hushpuppies, from the grist mill or in the exhibit hall. Always fresh, but often long lines.

*For serious chileheads, try the habanero beef jerky at the end of one of the exhibit halls. The less-fiery sweet & spicy jerky is pretty good, and the savory Western beef jerky has a nice black-pepper bite. Not much other hot & spicy food at the fair, but hey, they have chocolate covered bacon (and no, I didn't try it).

*Party In A Pita (yes, that's the name) has decent Lebanese food, although I haven't had it this year yet. If you want to eat healthy, that's the place. Will probably get it on Wednesday night when we go back to the fair, for the fireworks and more fair food.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

New Pepper Dog Salsa & Rub Gift Boxes

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:58:00 +0000

If you enjoy spicy, smoky Southwestern and Tex-Mex cuisine, or if you need a gift for someone who does, you're in luck: The Carolina Sauce Company now has two new gift boxes from the makers of Pepper Dog Salsa and Dry Rub! The Pepper Dog Salsa Sampler Gift Box comes with three full-size jars of all-natural Pepper Dog Salsa: zesty Mild with just a touch of pepper, spicy Medium with tangy jalapenos, and fiery Hot with serious habanero heat. All three salsas are thick and smooth (not chunky and not watery), with subtly smoky, tomato-rich flavor that's great in recipes or as a chip dip. The jars come nicely packed in a sturdy wooden gift crate that's perfect for storing CDs or DVDs.

The Pepper Dog Salsa & Rub Gift Set is ideal for folks who love hot & spicy foods. This gift box comes with two full-size jars of the spiciest two varieties of Pepper Dog Salsa: The fiery Hot salsa, and the tangy, medium-hot Salsa Verde that's made with green tomatillos, jalapenos, cilantro and lime. The third treat in this gift box is a bottle of Pepper Dog Dry Rub, a robust and savory seasoning made with chili powder, cumin, cayenne and other Southwestern spices. This all-natural dry rub is wonderful with meat, poultry, seafood, rice and more. Both of the Pepper Dog gift boxes make terrific host or hostess gifts, housewarming gifts or party gifts -- and with their red & green color scheme, they're also perfect as a gourmet Christmas gift!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Quick Tips for Perfect Fried Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:17:00 +0000

You can make finger-lickin' GREAT fried chicken at home if you follow these tried & true tips gathered from some of the best Southern cooks (and not just famous ones, but also from beloved grandmas):

*Cast iron is by far the best type of cookware. If you have a cast iron Dutch oven, kettle or skillet, now is the time to use it!

*Frying in lard is ideal for best flavor, but unhealthy - for a healthier dish that still delivers delicious flavor, use peanut oil and mix in 3 Tablespoons of bacon grease

*For pan-frying, the oil or grease should be about 1 1/2 inches deep before adding the chicken, and for deep-frying, the depth should be about 3 inches. In any event, DON'T fill the pan more than half-way with grease or else it might spill over the sides when you add the chicken, and this could start a grease fire

*Use a deep-frying or candy thermometer to make sure the oil or grease gets to (and stays at!) the right temperature: 325F degrees for pan-frying and 350F degrees for deep-frying. Don't let the oil or grease get too hot - keep below 375F degrees, and between 325 and 350F for best results (this may mean turning up the heat after you add the cold chicken because it may drop the temperature of the oil or grease at first)

*Add the legs & thighs first, because dark meat takes longer to cook

*Insert a meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer into the plumpest part of a chicken piece to test for doneness, and don't let the thermometer touch the bone. Dark meat is done when it reaches 170F degrees, and white meat when it reaches 160F

*For super-moist chicken, some folks swear by brining the chicken parts or soaking them in salted buttermilk (with or without adding hot sauce!) for an hour, before dredging or breading or otherwise seasoning the chicken for frying

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Carolina Sauce Co. Will Be Closed on Fri 10/16

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:52:00 +0000

The Carolina Sauce Company will be closed on Friday, October 16th. You can still shop and place orders on the Carolina Sauce online store, and orders will resume shipping out on Monday, October 19th. Although no one will be available to answer the phone or reply to emails while we are closed, please feel free to leave us a message and we will reply once we are back at the warehouse and office. We will reopen for business on Monday, October 19th. Thank you for your patience and understanding, and have a great weekend!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria