Welcome Spring Fling: Scuppernong Giveaway!

Welcome SITS ladies! What a great kick off to the "Spring Fling" for The Secrets In the Sauce. A new giveaway each hour and hundreds of links to giveaways from our SITS girls! Go check it out.

I was totally oblivious to what to give away this week. Then the interest in my Spicy Scuppernong fudge and what exactly a scuppernong was hit the mark! I wanted to give away a beautiful bottle of scuppernong wine for you to make your own, but after reading the shipping details state to state even for a gift certificate had me rethinking my idea. 

How about a drool worthy Scuppernong Wine Jelly from one of my favorites North Carolina wine makers, Duplin Winery. The culinary ideas will be over flowing with my foodies friends I'm sure!

But that's not all! Since I love cooking with wine, how about this hysterical book by Bonnie Jesseph, W.I.N.O.S (Women In Need Of Sanity)...don't you just love the cover! Jam packed full of recipes for the wine enthusiast!

All you need to do is comment on this post to get your name in once...For an additional 5 entries become a follower! No linking or re posting...I'm a simple gal. 

Good Luck ladies and happy Spring Fling!

The winner will be announced March 15th.

Those Old Familiars: Scuppernongs and fudge

North Carolina. There is no better place on earth in my opinion. The beautiful beaches, the Outerbanks, wild horses on the Ocracoke Islands, breathtaking mountains, and gentle rolling foothills. 

We have it all, including some of the best vineyards. When explorers first set foot upon these shores they discovered that North Carolina had more grapes than Italy, Europe, and all alike at that day and age.  Our grapes are the oldest cultivated grapes in the world. There is still an original vine called the Mothervine on Roanoke Island that continues to grow and has since the 1500's. And it only grows wild in North Carolina. Ahh, that lovely sweet scuppernong.

 As a child I remember eating hordes of them until we were all sick with its fruity sweetness. Now as an adult I love it even more. Scuppernog wines are my favorite. A sweet wine. It's crisp and slightly sweet. Like plucking a grape from the vine and revelling in all its flavor.  

I've stocked up on my favorite local vintage and have big plans for the up and coming week. 

Here is a sneak peak. What a better why to experiment with my favorite familiar than with another familiar...chocolate. Spicy chocolate scuppernong fudge. A chocolate lovers delight. A smooth, rich and creamy texture with the perfect tangy sweet taste of chocolate and the slight wow of spice. 

Spicy Chocolate Scuppernong Fudge

1/4 lb Oleo

12 oz package chocolate chips

1 lb powdered sugar

1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/3 cup Scuppernong wine

Butter a rectangular 1 inch deep dish thoroughly. 

In a medium saucepan melt Oleo and chocolate chips together. Set aside. Mix powdered sugar, cayenne pepper and wine together until smooth. Combine both mixtures together. Spoon mixture into buttered dish. Refrigerate fudge for 1 hour. Cut into 1 inch squares using a non serrated  knife. Enjoy!