Carolina Sauce Company

Zesty Buffalo Chicken Dip with Blue Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:58:00 +0000

If you love Buffalo style hot wings, you'll love this easy party dip!

Ingredients
2 cans (9 to 10 oz each) chunk chicken breast packed in water, drained (I like Swanson brand)*
1 box (8 oz) cream cheese, softened (you can use low fat or regular)
1/2 cup traditional Buffalo style wing sauce, such as Anchor Bar Wing Sauce or Burning Asphalt Wing Sauce
1/2 cup Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce or other blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese divided

Crackers, carrot sticks and/or celery sticks, for dipping

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place the cream cheese in a deep baking dish and stir until smooth, then stir in the chicken, wing sauce, and 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles. Make sure everything is combined well, then bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Stir again, top with remaining 1/4 blue cheese crumbles, and serve while hot with veggies and crackers.

*Variation: For zesty Buffalo shrimp dip, simply substitute about 18 oz. precooked & peeled salad shrimp for the chicken!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

A Quick "Organics" Primer

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:30:00 +0000

I found this useful summary regarding the meaning of "organic" in some materials from Publix GreenWise Market. According to their literature, a food can be labeled "organic" if it is "produced without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, added antibiotics and hormones, genetic engineering and irradiation." Organic foods are also minimally processed and must not have any artificial ingredients or preservatives. When it comes to organic poultry and cattle, it's my understanding that the feed those animals consume must also adhere to organic standards, and that includes grazing land. The term "organic" is very strictly defined and regulated by the US Department of Agriculture, especially when it comes to product labels. Here are the three USDA categories for "organic" food:

"Made with Organic Ingredients" means that a product includes 70% to 95% organic ingredients.

"USDA Certified Organic" means that a product includes at least 95% organic ingredients.

"100% Organic" means the product contains ONLY organically produced ingredients, excluding water and salt.

If you're looking for sauces and condiments made with organic ingredients, the Carolina Sauce Company offers some excellent organic sauces and condiments.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Greg's Zesty Bacon-Jalapeno Slaw

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:09:00 +0000

Greg came up with this recipe for dinner tonight, and it was phenomenally good. He used Splenda brand sugar substitute, but you can use regular sugar if you prefer. He made it with a bagged broccoli slaw mix (basically shredded broccoli, cabbage & carrots) but you can make it with regular shredded cabbage. Feel free to play around with the ingredient quantities to adjust to your taste & texture preferences - some folks like a creamier slaw with more mayo, while others prefer a thinner, more tangy slaw with more of the vinegar BBQ sauce.

Ingredients
1 bag shredded slaw cabbage or broccoli slaw
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 to 1/3 cup diced jalapenos
2 Tbs white sugar OR Splenda brand sugar substitute
3 Tbs NC vinegar-based BBQ sauce such as Wells Hog Heaven or Carolina Sauce Co. Eastern NC BBQ Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or low-fat)
5 slices bacon

Cook the bacon in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat until evenly browned. Place on paper towels to drain & cool. When cool enough to handle, crumble the bacon into fairly large pieces and set aside in a large bowl. Pour off most of the bacon grease from the skillet (we save it in a jar in the fridge for future use), leaving just enough in the skillet to fry the onions & jalapenos. Fry the onions & jalapenos over medium high heat until the onions are translucent and barely starting to turn golden. Remove the onions & jalapenos from the skillet and place in the bowl with the bacon. Add the slaw to the bowl and combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar (or Splenda), vinegar-based BBQ sauce, and mayonnaise to make the dressing. If the dressing seems too creamy or thick, you can add more BBQ sauce until it reaches the consistency you like. Pour the dressing over the slaw mixture and toss to mix and coat thoroughly. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. When ready to serve, stir it well one last time.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Couscous & Garbanzo Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Here is my variation on a flavor-packed salad recipe by Pam Anderson that I found in the paper a little while back. You can serve it as a side salad for 6, or as a main course for 3 to 4 people. You'll want to make this ahead of time because the salad needs to chill in the fridge until cooled through -- plus, the flavors will meld better if it chills for several hours or overnight.

Ingredients
1 cup couscous
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 cup boiling water
2 Tbs olive oil
1 red bell pepper (or yellow or orange), diced (but not too small)
1 red onion, sliced into very thin rings
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
1 16oz can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained & rinsed
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro OR fresh parsley
3 Tbs slivered almonds
3 Tbs apple cider vinegar
3 Tbs olive oil (extra virgin if available)
3 Tbs frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Place the couscous and cranberries in a large bowl (preferably glass or metal), add the boiling water and then immediately cover the bowl with plastic wrap to seal. Let this sit until the water is completely absorbed, about 5 minutes. In the meantime, in a large skillet heat 2 Tbs olive oil at medium-high, then add the peppers & onions, cumin, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, salt & pepper. Saute until the peppers & onions are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes, careful not to overcook. When done, add this mix to the couscous bowl, then add the garbanzos, almonds and cilantro (or parsley). Set aside. To make the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together the 3 Tbs olive oil, vinegar and orange juice. Pour over the salad and stir to mix well. Cover and refrigerate until cooled through and ready to serve.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company

Sauce For A Cause: Eat Good Food while Doing Good

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Now you can enjoy mouthwatering BBQ sauces, zesty condiments, the best apple sauce in the world, and other delicious foods, all while helping to support worthy charitable causes, thanks to Sauce For A Cause from the Carolina Sauce Company. Whenever you purchase any of the zesty products listed under "Sauce for a Cause" at the Carolina Sauce Company online store, the manufacturers donate a portion of the proceeds to various charities and nonprofit efforts including breast cancer research, protection of endangered species, children's charities, and more. Among the manufacturers participating are Carolina Sauce Company (offering BBQ sauces and chow chow relishes to help support Operation Sauce Drop, a nonprofit program that sends free sauces to deployed troops), Santo & Josie gourmet Sicilian sauces (supporting children's charities), J.T. Pappy's Gator Sauces (supporting breast cancer research), Mullen's Apple Sauce (supporting families of fallen Chicago police officers), and more.

Especially these days when money is tight for many folks, Sauce For A Cause helps you treat yourself to some really good food without feeling guilty, because you know you're helping out a good cause in the process!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Support Our Troops When You Buy These Sauces & Seasonings

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:08:00 +0000

If you love zesty foods and if you want to support our troops serving abroad, you can treat yourself to these zesty products while also helping to send free gift boxes of sauce to our deployed troops. For each bottle or jar sold of the following Carolina Sauce Company brand products, the Carolina Sauce Company will contribute a dollar to Operation Sauce Drop, its nonprofit program that sends free sauce to US troops stationed abroad. Here are the products that qualify:

*Carolina Sauce Company Eastern NC BBQ Sauce, an authentic vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's available in Mild and Hot

*Carolina Sauce Company Chow Chow Relish, old-fashioned cabbage chow chows made in the rural NC Piedmont, and available in Mild and Hot

*Carolina Sauce Company Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauce, a western NC barbecue sauce (vinegar and tomatoes) that features sweet Vidalia(R) onions, and is available in Mild and Hot

For every bottle or jar sold of the above products, the Carolina Sauce Company will contribute $1 to Operation Sauce Drop, so the more you buy, the more money that's raised for Operation Sauce Drop.

You can also purchase Pepper Dog Salsa (in Mild, Medium or Hot), Pepper Dog Salsa Verde, or the spicy Pepper Dog Dry Rub, and the entire purchase price is contributed to Operation Sauce Drop, thanks to the generosity of the good folks who make these delicious all-natural salsas and seasonings.

The average cost to purchase and ship a free gift box of sauce for a deployed serviceperson is around $20. We currently have a waiting list of over 200 troops who have signed up for a free gift box of sauce. When you shop to support Operation Sauce Drop, or when you make a donation using a credit card or PayPal (Carolina Sauce matches 100% of ALL donations), you're sending a free taste of home to a soldier far away and letting him or her know that they're remembered back home. The troops really appreciate the sauces, as you can see from the photos and thank you notes that they've sent.

So the next time you're looking for some zesty BBQ sauce or flavorful salsa and seasonings, please shop to support Operation Sauce Drop. We hope to be able to add more products in the future that you can purchase to support our troops, so make sure to bookmark the page and check it frequently!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Mid-Year Best-Selling Sauces & Zesty Products

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:39:00 +0000

The numbers are in as of July 1 for each product category (BBQ sauce, hot sauce, etc.), and all Top Ten Best Sellers lists have been updated at the Carolina Sauce Company online store. Check out the most popular sauces and seasonings for 2009 as of the midyear point - you'll find some old favorites, and some new rising stars! For your convenience, here are quick links to each category-specific top ten list, together with the top seller for each and some other interesting highlights:

*Best-Selling Hot Sauces: As usual, the ubiquitous Busha Browne's Pukka Sauce from Jamaica is our best-selling hot sauce so far for 2009 -- and, in fact, it's also our all-time best-selling hot sauce!

*Best-Selling BBQ Sauces: No surprise here either, as our all-time best-selling barbecue sauce, Wells Hog Heaven Barbecue Sauce, is in first place for the year. But it's getting stiff competition from our very own Carolina Sauce Co. Eastern NC BBQ Sauce, especially the Mild version!

*Best-Selling Steak Sauce & Pasta Sauce: A local favorite for generations and also our all-time best-selling product across ALL categories, the classic steak sauce called Castle Sauce is at the top of this list -- and rounding out the list is Santo & Josie's Tomato Eggplant Pasta Sauce, a thick and hearty old-world Sicilian style spaghetti sauce that is fabulous in all Italian dishes (and it's on sale!)

*Best-Selling Marinades & Dressings: Made in North Carolina and with a rapidly growing fanbase around the country, the versatile and flavorful Big Daddy's Marinade is presently our best selling marinade - and it comes with recipes!

*Best-Selling Dry Rubs & Seasonings: The best-seller so far has been Calhoun's Charcoal Grill Seasoning, which is made with real charcoal and adds great "char-grilled" flavor to steaks cooked on a gas grill -- and making the best-seller list for the first time is the feisty and tasty Dinosaur BBQ Cajun Foreplay Spice Rub from the famous Dinosaur Bar in upstate NY, currently in 9th place for 2009

*Best-Selling Gift Sets: The ever popular mild version of our NC BBQ Sauce Gift Set is our most popular gift set so far this year, and rounding out this list is our amazingly delicious Kosher Sauces Gift Set featuring 5 all-natural gourmet sauces created by an Israeli chef

*Best-Selling North Carolina Products: No surprise here - the number one best-selling NC product continues to be Castle Sauce, an old-fashioned steak sauce inspired by the original from the old Boar & Castle Restaurant in Greensboro, NC

*Best-Selling Wing Sauces: The mother of all wing sauces (literally!), Anchor Bar Original Buffalo Wing Sauce is the best-selling wing sauce so far for 2009

*Best-Selling Jerk & Curry Products: Regularly featured as our best-selling Jamaican jerk product, Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning continues to hold the top spot on this list - and all 3 of Pluto's Certified Organic Jamaican Sauces are also among the top ten best-selling jerk & curry products this year!

*Best-Selling Snacks & Sweets: An Australian original that's made with real ginger and is my favorite candy, Buderim Ginger Bears are our best-selling snack/sweet - and making the list for the first time is the exotic and delicious Thomas Gourmet Peach Chutney, currently in 9th place for the year (and it's on sale!)

*Best-Selling Mustards: Our top-selling mustard is the sweet & spicy Bone Suckin' Mustard from NC - and for folks who prefer a mild but rich flavor, there's the elegantly delicious and versatile Burning Asphalt White Wine Dijon Dipping Mustard rounding out the list

*Best-Selling Salsa & Relish: The unique Pepper's Original Blue Crab Salsa (made with real Maryland crab!) is currently the best-selling salsa this year - and making the top ten for the first time is the velvety-rich and zesty Thomas Gourmet Crab Cake Sauce, the perfect accompaniment for crab cakes and all other sorts of fish and seafood (and it's on sale!)

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Carolina Sauce Closed for Vacation July 3 thru July 13

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:12:00 +0000

Beginning tomorrow, Friday July 3rd, through Monday, July 13th, the Carolina Sauce Company will be closed to give its hardworking employees some vacation time with their families -- and also for some offsite creative planning on new features for our site, plus evaluating potential new products for the Carolina Sauce Company online store, and additional fundraising for Operation Sauce Drop, our non-profit program that sends free hot sauce and BBQ sauce to US troops stationed abroad. You can still place orders online while we are closed, but those orders will be shipped after we re-open on Tuesday July 14th. Although no one will be available to answer the phone while we are closed, you can leave us voicemail or send us email (I will have sporadic access to email while away), and we will reply after we reopen on the 14th. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements next week while we're on the road....

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Top 10 Best-Selling Zesty Sauces & Seasonings for June 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Here are June's Top 10 best-selling sauces and seasonings across all product categories at the Carolina Sauce Company. Although the top 3 finishers stayed the same from May, there are some surprises in the rest of the list, so keep reading!

1. Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning: This authentic Jamaican jerk paste can be hard to find, but we've been able to keep it in stock pretty consistently, to the joy of jerk fans around the country

2. Castle Sauce is an old-fashioned mustard & tomato based steak sauce from Greensboro, NC, and it's delicious with burgers, fries, onion rings & more

3. Wells Hog Heaven BBQ Sauce is an authentic eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue sauce from Burgaw, NC that's perfect for pulled pork BBQ

4. Matouk's West Indian Hot Sauce comes from Trinidad & Tobago in the West Indies and features fiery scotch bonnet peppers and sweet tropical papayas in a thick, Caribbean mustard base

5. Southern Twang Dry Rub: Making its debut on our overall top 10 best seller list, this sweet and savory North Carolina dry rub features tomatoes, paprika, bell peppers and other zesty ingredients for a feisty flavor with a citrusy twist

6. Scorned Woman Hot Sauce is a classic vinegar-based hot sauce that gets its fire from a blend of hot chile peppers plus red and black pepper

7. Carolina Sauce Co. Eastern NC BBQ Sauce, Mild: Made on an eastern NC farm, this authentic vinegar based barbecue sauce features a hint of apples and just a smidge of tomatoes for a tangy yet smooth flavor that's ideal for pulled pork barbecue -- and it comes with a free recipe flyer for making real NC BBQ!

8. Matouk's Calypso Sauce: Similar to the Matouk's West Indian Sauce but without the papaya, this rich and savory mustard-based hot sauce features aged pickled scotch bonnet peppers in all their fiery glory

9. Buderim Ginger Bears are grown-up gummy bear candies from Australia that are made with real ginger and deliver a not-too-sweet gingery bite

10. Walkerswood Jonkanoo Pepper Sauce is named after a Jamaican street festival and its spirited blend of fiery hot peppers and tropical spices lives up to its sunny name

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Stay tuned, as we'll soon update our category-specific lists of best-selling sauces & products to reflect the 2009 standings as of the middle of the year

Walkerswood Jerk Seasoning is Back in Stock!

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:08:00 +0000

The 10oz jars of Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning are once again back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company, after another relatively brief interruption in supply. We're doing all we can to keep this product on our shelves, but as anyone familiar with the Jamaican side of things, production back on the island isn't always up to demand (and this hot and spicy authentic jerk paste is always in high demand). We received our first shipment today and are in the process of filling back-orders from patient customers. The good news is that we have a second shipment due to arrive later this week before we close for vacation. So go ahead and order it now if you want to make sure you have some Walkerswood jerk seasoning on hand for your enjoyment in the near future, as who knows what its availability will be like once we re-open in mid-July....

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Burning Asphalt Buffalo Wing Sauce & Dutch Apple BBQ Sauce: In Stock & Lower Price!

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:16:00 +0000

Hailing from Amish country in upstate New York, Burning Asphalt Dutch Apple BBQ Sauce is a rich, sweet homestyle barbecue sauce made with farm-fresh apples, ripe tomatoes and savory spices. The "Burning Asphalt" name pays homage to the sauce's creator's love of auto racing. This old-fashioned BBQ sauce is fabulous with pork and other meats, as well as chicken, veggies and seafood. It's finally back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company, and now available at a new lower price!

Also back in stock is Burning Asphalt Buffalo Wing Sauce, a traditional tangy & spicy Buffalo style chicken wing sauce that's made with aged cayenne peppers and a touch of garlic. In addition to being the perfect complement to chicken wings, this medium-hot wing sauce is also terrific as a marinade or grilling sauce for chicken and shrimp, a dipping sauce for fries, and even as an alternative to ketchup on burgers. It's also back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company, and also available at a new lower price!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Vanilla: An Unsung Zesty Ingredient?

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:37:00 +0000

Vanilla gets a bum rap as being "plain" or boring. Not true! There's a reason -- actually, there are many reasons -- why vanilla is generally considered the world's most popular flavor, and I'll gladly share a few of my reasons for loving this unsung hero or "character actor" of the zesty world. If you've only had imitation vanilla flavoring, or have never used a real vanilla bean, you don't know what you're missing!

Just as with coffee beans and wine grapes, the origins of a vanilla bean will affect its flavor and fragrance. Vanilla can brighten or enhance the spicy flavors in chili pepper dishes, add complexity and richness of flavor by reducing acidity in savory tomato dishes, and can complement citrus and other fruit flavors in desserts and in sauces. Here are the 3 major types of vanilla and how they differ:

Mexican: Vanilla beans from Mexico tend to be somewhat thick, with a creamy flavor and spicy notes that make them especially well-suited for savory dishes -- Mexican vanilla will help round out the sharpness of acidic foods like tomatoes.

Madagascar: This is the ideal vanilla for everyday desserts and sweets, with a naturally sweet and creamy flavor. Madagascar vanilla has the thinnest beans, and is also called Bourbon Vanilla.

Tahitian: This is the darkest and thickest of the vanilla types, and is actually a different species from Mexican or Madagascar vanilla. Its exotic flavor is brigher, with fruity and floral notes that make it perfect for fruit-based desserts, and also for homemade vanilla ice cream.

When buying whole vanilla beans or pods, take a sniff and select beans that have a strong vanilla scent. Also look for beans that are long and have a powdery white dusting over the shriveled black skin. Store the beans in an airtight glass jar or plastic bag at room temperature. To use the beans, split down the middle and scrape out the seeds with the dull edge of a knife for use in recipes. Save the pod for steeping in milk or for making vanilla sugar, or chop it for use in homemade potpourri. You can steep a bean in milk to flavor the milk, and the bean can then be removed, rinsed well and dried thoroughly for future use (you can get several uses out of 1 bean if you take care to rinse well and dry thoroughly before storing). To make vanilla sugar, simply place a whole vanilla bean in a jar of sugar, and shake every few days. One bean can flavor the entire sugar jar for a good year or more.

Zesty cooking tip: Add a tablespoon of Mexican vanilla extract to homemade spaghetti sauce or to a pot of chili to take the acidic edge off tomatoes and to enhance the spiciness of peppers. You'll love the enriched depth of flavor, and your guests will never guess what the "secret ingredient" is!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
Carolina Sauce Company, Inc.

Ginger-Spiced Lemonade & Limeade

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:33:00 +0000

This refreshing, zippy citrus drink can be made with sparkling water as well as "still" water, and with your choice of lemons or limes (or both combined). You'll want to make the lemon or lime "base" ahead of time and allow it to chill in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve. This recipe makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
One 4-inch piece of fresh ginger
1 1/2 cups freshly-squeezed lemon juice or lime juice (or both to total 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 cups superfine sugar
2 1/2 cups water (NOT sparkling)

3 cups (24 oz) ice-cold water OR sparkling water
6 lemon or lime wedges for garnish

Peel the ginger and use a very sharp knife to slice into thin coins. Combine the ginger with the 2 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool. Remove and discard the ginger pieces. In a serving pitcher, mix together the cooled ginger liquid, sugar and lemon or lime juice. Stir well until sugar is completely dissolved, then store this "base" in the refrigerator until ready to serve. To serve, fill glasses half-full with the "base" and then finish filling with ice-cold water or sparkling water. Serve each glass with a lemon or lime wedge.

Note: In really hot weather, like to "frost" my serving glasses by storing in the freezer for several hours or overnight, and then pulling them out just before filling with lemonade.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
www.carolinasauce.com

Zesty Independence Day Specials For Your Cookout

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:05:00 +0000

If you're planning a cookout, BBQ, picnic or party to celebrate the 4th of July, the Carolina Sauce Company has what you need for deliciously zesty to flavorful & fiery good eats. Best of all, many of these mouthwatering sauces and seasonings are on sale at specially discounted prices, just in time for the 4th of July! To take advantage of this Independence Day sale, simply look for the red sale prices, or look for the words "On Sale", when you click on a product category tab in the online store. You can also search the Carolina Sauce Company store for the words "on sale" and that will show you a list of all the products currently on sale.

There's barbecue sauce from North Carolina, Memphis, Texas and other locales famous for their 'que, marinades and seasoning rubs for meats, poultry and seafood, relish and salsa from mild to insanely hot, mustard of several different varieties and heat levels, snacks and pickles for munching and garnishing, a huge selection of hot sauce from around the world, and more.

But don't delay, as these special sale prices are good only while supplies last!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Hot Dill Pickle Chips

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Tart, crunchy, and packed with fiery flavor, these hot dill pickle chips are made especially for the Carolina Sauce Company using all-natural ingredients including farm-fresh cucumbers from the NC mountains. The heat comes from plenty of red pepper flakes - you can see clearly see them at the bottom of the jar in the photo -- and these spicy pickle chips won't disappoint folks who enjoy hot & spicy foods. They come tightly packed in an old-fashioned 16 oz Mason jar, so you get plenty of pickles for your money. The obvious way to enjoy these hot dill pickle chips is on burgers and in sandwiches or straight from the jar, just as you would ordinary dill chips. And of course they're also good in wraps and salads. But here are some other ways I like to eat them:

*Finely chopped and added to tuna salad or egg salad - I also add a drained half-teaspoon of the red pepper flakes from the jar for added heat

*Coarsely chopped and stirred into mayonnaise for a simple and spicy alternative to tartar sauce -- sometimes I also add a little grated Parmesan cheese and mustard for added depth of flavor

*With sliced cheese on crackers as a quick zesty snack

*On a toasted bagel with cream cheese -- because plain cream cheese is sometimes too boring!

And for any of you pregnant readers out there, I assume you can enjoy these hot pickle chips with ice cream...

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Our hot dill chips are currently on sale as part of the Carolina Sauce Company's Independence Day Sale, so order them today for your 4th of July cookout or picnic!

Spicy Blueberry Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:15:00 +0000

Here's my spicy twist on traditional blueberry sauce. Try it on biscuits, pancakes, crepes, blintzes, ice cream, and even as a deliciously unusual sauce for grilled chicken!

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tbs cornstarch
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp coarsely ground black pepper (preferrably freshly-ground)
Pinch kosher salt
1 pint blueberries

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT the blueberries in a saucepan and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat until thickened. Add the blueberries and continue to cook, stirring, until heated through.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: If you like spicy-sweet fruit sauces, or are interested in unique hot sauces for desserts and more, then check out the award-winning Toad Sweat Dessert Hot Sauces, which come in zippy Lemon Vanilla (the mildest), exotic Chocolate Orange, sweet-tart and spicy Cranberry Hot Sauce, and fiery Key Lime Hot Sauce (the hottest). Not sure which to try? Then the Toad Sweat mini-bottle 4-pack is for you!

Hot Pickled Garlic

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:50:00 +0000

These fiery hot pickled garlic cloves come from a small family farm in the North Carolina mountains and are made especially for the Carolina Sauce Company using all-natural ingredients. Packed in an old-fashioned 16 oz Mason jar that includes a couple of whole pickled hot peppers along with a generous bunch of garlic cloves, this zesty and pungent pickle is perfect for snacking straight from the jar, or for using in any recipe that calls for garlic (and could use a bit of heat). You can chop, mince or slice the hot pickled garlic cloves just as you would fresh garlic for recipes, salads, soups, chili, pasta and more. And of course you can also cook with and eat the pickled jalapeno and habanero peppers in the jar! Here are some ways I enjoy hot pickled garlic:

*Sliced paper-thin for use as a pizza topping

*Coarsely chopped together with the pickled hot peppers for use in chili

*Minced and mixed into raw ground beef for hamburgers, meatballs, meatloaf and other ground meat recipes

*Chopped with sun-dried tomatoes, parsley and olive oil, then tossed with cooked spaghetti or other pasta

*Sliced for use in sandwiches

*Whole, with olives and other pickles on a party relish tray

Best of all, the Carolina Sauce Company's hot pickled garlic is currently on sale!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Father's Day Blue Cheese Buffalo Burgers

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:42:00 +0000

If Dad loves grilled burgers, and if he enjoys tangy Buffalo style chicken wings, treat him to the best of both worlds with this easy recipe (or let him grill it himself if his ideal Father's Day is spent manning the grill). This recipe makes 4 hearty burgers. Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there!

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
salt & pepper to taste
Dad's favorite Buffalo style wing sauce
4 hamburger buns
8 oz crumbled blue cheese
Chunky blue cheese dressing - I recommend Anchor Bar Bleu Cheese Sauce

Preheat your grill to medium-high. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beeth, salt and pepper, and a splash of Buffalo wing sauce. Shape the meat into 4 half-inch thick patties, with the middle less thick than the edges (this will prevent the burgers from puffing up while they grill). Grill the burgers over medium-hot coals to desired doneness (well-done is recommended for food safety). Just before the burgers are done, carefully place some blue cheese crumbles on top and let the cheese melt a little as the burgers finish cooking - you may want to close the lid on the grill for a little bit. As the burgers finish cooking, toast the inside of each bun over indirect heat on the grill, careful not to burn. Remove the buns onto a platter and smear a little wing sauce on the toasted inside of each bun. When burgers are done, remove from grill and place a burger in each bun. Top with remaining blue cheese, carefully spoon a little blue cheese dressing on top. Enjoy!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Firehouse Nuts and Hot Honeys are back in stock!

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Firehouse Nuts are crunchy premium peanuts boldly seasoned with smoked habanero pepper powder and other fiery spices. Their medium-hot to hot burn is sure to please palates that crave hot & spicy snacking. Made in North Carolina using all-natural ingredients, Firehouse Nuts are attractively packaged in a generous 12 oz tin decorated with fire trucks and firefighting equipment, making them a great gift for firefighters and other emergency response personnel. You can buy Firehouse Nuts and other zesty snacks from the Carolina Sauce Company.

If you prefer a more gently-spiced snack, Hot Honeys are for you. Hot Honeys are honey-roasted peanuts seasoned with a light dusting of chipotle powder for a seductively sweet, spicy and subtly smoky flavorful crunch. Made in North Carolina with all-natural ingredients, Hot Honeys are deliciously addictive and come in a romantically "kissed" 12oz tin -- and they're finally back in stock at the Carolina Sauce Company.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:08:00 +0000

North Carolina is known for its vinegar-based barbecue sauce that's used on smoked pulled pork barbeque. East of I-95, the BBQ sauce is usually a mixture of vinegar with peppery seasonings and little or no tomato. West of I-95 and especially in the Piedmont region -- home of the fabled Lexington barbecue -- sauces start including some tomato along with the vinegar, although still relying primarily on vinegar for the base. These western or Piedmont style barbecue sauces allow for a little more creativity, both in terms of sauce ingredients and also uses for the sauce. We recently discovered a delicious all-natural barbecue sauce from the Piedmont that featured sweet Vidalia(R) onions mixed in with the tomato & vinegar base. We liked it so much that we decided to offer it under the Carolina Sauce Company name, and now our Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauce is available online for your enjoyment at home.

Made by a small family-run enterprise, our Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauce comes in savory Mild and peppery Hot. Both varieties deliver the traditional tangy vinegar-tomato flavor that put Piedmont style barbecue on the map. These sauces are full-flavored and robust without any discernible sweetness, and there are lots of little pieces of Vidalia onion for terrific flavor and mouthfeel. While the Mild has just enough pepper to perk things up without burning, the hot delivers a nice medium-hot fire that's perfect for folks who enjoy hot & spicy food but like to taste the flavors without getting scorched. In addition to using these barbeque sauces on pulled pork, you can use them for marinating, grilling and basting all sorts of meats and chicken, fish and seafood, and "absorbent" veggies like portobello mushrooms and summer squash -- just be sure to mix in a little bit of oil if using as a marinade with anything other than meats or poultry, to protect the food from burning or sticking on the grill.

Speaking of adding oil to these Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauces, I made a zesty salad vinaigrette by whisking together equal parts of sauce with olive oil. In addition to drizzling on a green salad, you can use the sauce either "straight" or with some olive oil on all sorts of steamed or grilled vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, etc.) To make the traditional "red slaw" that's often served in the Piedmont with pulled pork barbecue, simply stir in some of our Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauce into regular cole slaw. You can also splash our Vidalia Onion BBQ Sauce on collards and turnip greens or add a bit to your baked beans for depth of flavor. Both varieties come with our free instructions for making authentic NC pulled pork barbecue, and they're both on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company online store!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Five Creatively Delicious Ways to Enjoy Joe Bud's Everything Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:26:00 +0000

Joe Bud's Everything Sauce is a South Carolina or "low country" style mustard-based barbecue sauce that's thick, tangy, savory, and packed with robust meat-loving flavor. The fact that this delicious, all natural sauce has been around since the 1950s is a testament to its enduring goodness. Joe Bud's uncle created the original in Greenwood, SC, and now Joe Bud and his wife Vivian keep the tradition alive in Raleigh NC. The obvious way to use Joe Bud's Everything Sauce is on ribs, chicken and other meat as a basting sauce during the last 10 minutes of grilling over indirect heat. However, as the name of the sauce suggests, Joe Bud's sauce is good on just about everything else, too! Here are 5 creative ways to enjoy either the original Joe Bud's Everything Sauce or Joe Bud's Hot Everything Sauce (currently on sale):

1. As a wing sauce: Simply cook up a batch of chicken wings as you normally would (fried, baked, broiled or grilled, battered or "naked"), then toss the wings while still hot in a bowl with Joe Bud's Everything Sauce to coat well. If you love mustardy sauces and wings, this will thrill your tastebuds!

2. Marinate salmon steaks or fillets in Joe Bud's Everything Sauce for 30 minutes in your fridge, then bake or grill. The rich flavor of salmon is complemented nicely by the sauce.

3. Top your baked potato with Joe Bud's Everything Sauce for a low-fat and zesty alternative to butter or sour cream.

4. Use Joe Bud's Everything Sauce in place of regular mustard in your deviled eggs recipe, for a bold change of pace.

5. Use as a dipping sauce for pineapple, pears and apples. Yep, it's good. Trust me!

When you get Joe Bud's Everything Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company, we'll send you a free card with more tasty ways to enjoy this fine barbecue sauce.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Old-Fashioned Corn Fritters with Maple Butter

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Fresh sweet corn is perfect for this recipe. Corn fritters are best when served piping-hot, so that the maple butter melts on top. You can multiply the ingredients if feeding more mouths.

Ingredients
1 cup corn kernels freshly cut from the cob
1 1/2 cup self-rising flour
1 Tbs sugar
1/2 cup milk (you can use low-fat or skim)
1 large egg, beaten

Vegetable oil or corn oil for frying
Maple butter for topping - I use Lilly's Gourmet Maple Butter

Combine all ingredients (except the maple butter and oil) in a bowl and let stand in refrigerator for 20 minutes. Heat oil in a large skillet to medium-high (about 350 degrees F). Using a tablespoon, drop spoonfuls of the corn batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, turning once. Drain fritters on paper towels, then transfer to serving plate while still hot and spread some maple butter on top of each fritter.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: Lilly's Gourmet Maple Butter is currently on sale at the Carolina Sauce Company!

Five Zesty Last-Minute Father's Day Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:50:00 +0000

If Dad loves to grill or barbecue, or is always looking for a hotter hot sauce, or simply enjoys good food with zesty flavors, there's still time to give him a Father's Day gift that he's sure to savor and enjoy. Here are 5 zesty Father's Day gift ideas that can arrive by Father's Day, all well under $50 (plus shipping & handling):

1. Grilling Pary Gift Sets, in Hot and Mild, each featuring a variety of 9 different BBQ sauces, seasonings, condiments and snacks for enjoying on the grill or with your favorite grilled foods -- only $45!

2. If Dad likes to hunt and enjoys venison and other game, this Hunter's Gift Set is the perfect gift, featuring 3 sauces that are especially good for marinating, grilling and cooking game, plus a flavorful dry rub developed by a hunter for tenderizing and seasoning wild game and other hearty fare -- only $21.99!

3. For the Dad who likes to brag that nothing's hot enough for him, there's the Dave's Insanity Sauce Deluxe Gift Set, featuring all 4 heat levels of Dave's Gourmet Insanity Sauce (including the original AND Dave's Ultimate Insanity Sauce), plus Dave's Insanity Salsa, Dave's Insanity Mustard, and Dave's Insanity Popcorn -- only $39!

4. Authentic NC barbecue sauce, the type that's vinegar-based and tangy, can be virtually impossible to find outside of North Carolina. If Dad misses his Carolina barbeque, or if he's always wanted to give it a try, then give him one of these NC Barbecue Sauce Gift Sets, in either Mild or Hot. Each gift set has 6 different bottles of real NC barbecue sauces covering the 2 main regional styles of Carolina BBQ, Eastern and Western (Piedmont), AND comes with free recipes PLUS step by step instructions for making authentic NC pulled pork BBQ -- only $29.99!

5. Still not sure what to get Dad? Or don't want to worry about shipping costs or delivery times? Then how about a Carolina Sauce Company Gift Certificate, available from $15 to $100 and redeemable by Dad on anything he wants from the Carolina Sauce Company online store. These electronic Gift Certificates never expire!

As always, you can call (919-286-1080) or email (salesATcarolinasauceDOTcom) the Carolina Sauce Company if you have any questions or concerns, or would like assistance placing an order. Don't wait too long, as Father's Day is this coming Sunday, June 21st!

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

Jones'en BBQ Ribs

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Chef Craig Jones, the creator of Jones'en Espresso BBQ Sauce, was kind enough to share the following recipe and allow me to post it here. This recipe produces tender, fall-off-the-bones ribs slathered in a robust, rich sauce that's not too sweet and that complements, rather than overpowers, the meaty flavor of the ribs. Your friends and family are guaranteed to ask for seconds (and thirds) and to beg you to make these ribs as often as possible!

Ingredients
2 pounds pork baby back ribs (separated into 4 portions)
1 (20 ounce) bottle of Jones’en Espresso Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients for rib rub:
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Hungarian sweet paprika
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

Tear off 4 pieces of aluminum foil big enough to enclose each portion of ribs. Spray each piece of foil with vegetable cooking spray. Coat every inch of ribs with the rub mixture, then Bush the ribs with Jones’en Espresso Barbecue Sauce and place each portion in its own piece of foil. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
Bake ribs wrapped tightly in the foil at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Open foil to expose the meat and add more sauce, bake an additional 15 minutes at 400 degrees F.
EAT

Zestfully yours,
Gloria

PS: We'll send you a free printed copy of this recipe when you order Craig's Jones'en Espresso BBQ Sauce from the Carolina Sauce Company

Iced Masala Chai (Spiced Tea)

noreply@blogger.com (Gloria) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:58:00 +0000

I love the exotic flavors in masala chai, or Indian spiced tea. I drink it hot in the winter, and enjoy it iced in the summer. Although you can certainly make this refreshing beverage using a sugar substitute and skim milk, nothing compares to the richness and flavor of honey and whole or even low fat rather than fat-free milk. This recipe makes 2 tall drinks or 4 small drinks -- or one super-sized iced masala chai.

Ingredients
2/3 cup water
1 teabag OR 2 tsp loose tea leaves
4 cloves
1 inch cinnamon stick
4 whole green cardamoms* OR 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
2 Tbs honey
2 cups cold milk
Crushed ice

*If using whole cardamoms, crack them open and remove the seeds, discarding the hulls. Crush or grind the seeds as finely as possible -- I use a marble mortar & pestle.

Place the teabag (or loose tea), cloves, cinnamon stick and cardamom into a dry teapot. In a separate saucepan (or using your microwave), bring the water to a boil and then pour the boiling water over the tea and spices in the teapot. Allow to steep for 3 to 5 minutes to desired strength. Stir in the honey until dissolved. Place crushed ice into the serving glasses. Stir the milk into the tea, strain, and pour over the crushed ice in the glasses.

Zestfully yours,
Gloria
www.carolinasauce.com