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Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
The 8 Best Things To Order At Cracker Barrel, According To Regulars
Pro tip: Don't skimp on the Country Sides. You could say that Cracker Barrel and I have had a long love affair. When I was a kid, my family took a few weeks every summer to road trip down South to see my grandparents in the Henson Cove of Canton, North Carolina. Though those car rides were long, there was always one thing I looked forward to: It was the only time we got to go to Cracker Barrel. To young me, Cracker Barrel was the equivalent of an amusement park. There were so many things to see and touch. We ogled at the old-fashioned candy sticks and played checkers on the jumbo mat. We gawked at the sweater collection and begged for Necco wafers. Sometimes, we even got to select a special road trip activity—my favorite was Wooly Willy and his magnetic beard. As we filled our bellies with kid-sized portions of chicken and dumplings, all was right in the world. (It's worth noting that, in 2009, my family was stranded in our car overnight after a blizzard closed a stretch of interstate in Virginia. That next-morning Cracker Barrel breakfast still stakes claim as one of the best meals of my life.) So please believe me when I say that I'm no stranger to Cracker Barrel's menu, nor to its welcoming walls of nostalgic decor and expansive, rocker-lined porch. (To me, that gleam of yellow and brown means a really good day.) It's no wonder that the affordable down-home chain continues to come out on top in restaurant rankings. Here, I've polled friends, family, former employees, and self-proclaimed Cracker Barrel aficionados to round up some of the best meals and menu items to order at this classically Southern spot. Momma's Pancake Breakfast Fans and employees agree—the pancake breakfasts at Cracker Barrel are bar none. Momma's version (widely considered to be the chain's most popular meal) has three Buttermilk Pancakes, two eggs, and bacon or sausage, while Grandma's Sampler Pancake Breakfast adds on a sampling of bacon, sausage, and ham, plus a side. Whether you like an array of Southern meats on the side or consider yourself a pancake purist, regulars agree that you won't regret asking for blueberry syrup or adding pecans to your pancakes. Old Timer's Breakfast If someone asks you to make them a big Southern breakfast, the Old Timer's Breakfast is essentially the meal you're trying to replicate. Now, it's not my beloved bit-of-everything Sunrise Sampler (which left the menu some time ago), but it'll scratch the itch just fine. You get two eggs fixed just the way you like 'em with your choice of meat and a side, plus Biscuits & Gravy. Now, when you pick a side—and I'll wax poetic about this later—you should really go with Hashbrown Casserole or Fried Apples. Just trust me on this. Apple Cider (In A Frosty Mug) And Apple Butter Neither of these apple-themed items themselves constitute a meal, but boy can they round out a breakfast. When the fall menu rolls around and you're surrounded by warm spices like cinnamon and clove, you cannot beat a frosty mug full of apple cider or a side of Cracker Barrel's apple butter spread thickly across a warm, buttered biscuit. You'll have to ask politely for both. (You can take a jar of Apple Butter home from the Old Country Store, too.) Chicken & Dumplins Chicken & Dumplins are Cracker Barrel's ultimate old-fashioned comfort food and one of their most popular menu items. With chewy bits of homemade dumpling and juicy chicken in a savory sauce—all slow-simmered in the Cracker Barrel kitchen, mind you—a bowl of these plus a couple of Country Sides and biscuits or muffins mean that not much else will be getting done that day. And while folks have their own opinions on which 'bread' you should choose, I personally think the Corn Muffins (which are slightly less sweet than you'd hope they would be) don't hold a candle to the chain's Buttermilk Biscuits. Country Vegetable Plate If you're not from around these parts, you might think a vegetable plate to be some kind of raw crudité situation. And if you're going in with health in mind, by golly, you're barking up the wrong tree. Cracker Barrel's fan-favorite Country Vegetable Plate comes with your choice of four Country Sides plus biscuits or muffins. These Southern side options include everything from seasoned rice, cole slaw, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and fried apples to steak fries and pinto beans. The hashbrown casserole is one of Cracker Barrel's most prized recipes (there are whole sleuthing threads on Reddit devoted to copycat recipes), and includes Colby cheese, chopped onions, and a special seasoning blend. Then there's dessert-for-dinner, Fried Apples—remiscent of pie filling. This platter will make eating your 'vegetables' worth every bite. Chicken & Rice—Only Available On Mondays Absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say. You can't always get what you want at Cracker Barrel, which is why there's a dedicated crew who keeps track of their favorite daily menu items and sticks to the schedule. (Saturday Ribs are especially popular.) For a comfort-food dinner like no other, you'll want to show up on Mondays for a plate of baked chicken breast smothered in mushroom sauce over seasoned rice plus two sides and biscuits. Country Fried Steak Country Fried Steak has its own cult following, and one bite might just convince you of the reason. It's a crispy, golden-fried dinner smothered in creamy white gravy—what could be better? At Cracker Barrel, they fry up a USDA Choice steak and top it with Sawmill Gravy, served with your choice of Country Sides and biscuits or muffins. In case you're wondering what the difference is between Country Fried Steak and Chicken Fried Steak, we've got your back. Spicy Grilled Catfish If you're a fan of catfish, you've probably already had a chance to check out the affordable seafood options at your local Cracker Barrel. The restaurant's U.S. Farm-Raised Grilled Catfish certainly deserves a spot on this list for its spicy fillets plus Country Sides and biscuits or corn muffins. (In this case, alongside a fish dinner, you might just catch me giving the Corn Muffins another go.) The catfish is perfectly flaky and amply seasoned—well beyond what you'd expect from a casual chain. If you're more of a fried fish kind of Southerner, you can also order cornmeal-crusted fillets that come with hushpuppies and plenty of tartar sauce. It's no surprise that this Tennessee-born chain—founded in Lebanon in 1969—has found itself with some diehard diners throughout the years. And if you've never been to a Cracker Barrel, well, now you'll know just where to start. Here's a little pre-reading before you go. Read the original article on Southern Living Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Dum Dums lollipops stands by bright dyes, despite RFK Jr.'s push
The U.S. government is pushing food companies to switch their bright synthetic dyes to natural colors - but the maker of Dum Dums lollipops and Sweethearts candy hearts is in no rush. Kirk Vashaw, chief executive officer of Spangler Candy Company, said a key problem with changing ingredients is taste. Take beet juice: "That's a nice red, but it tastes like beets," he said. Then there's carmine, which makes some consumers queasy because the reddish pigment comes from cochineal insects. "People said, 'I'd rather get cancer than eat the bug,' " Vashaw said, referring to an instance when his company used the coloring. Spangler, which employs about 550 workers in Bryan, Ohio, also makes Bit-O-Honey candy, Necco Wafers and Circus Peanuts. The 119-year-old company already uses some natural colors and is testing other natural dyes. But a number of its confections include artificial colors such as Yellow 5 and Red 40. Spangler pulls in an estimated $200 million in annual retail sales, and it produces roughly 12 million Dum Dums a day. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said last month that it will work with the packaged-food industry to phase out artificial dyes by early 2027. Kennedy and other officials have linked the ingredients to diseases such as obesity and diabetes while calling for "real and transformative change" to get "the worst ingredients out of food." Health advocates have said for years that synthetic colors add no taste or nutritional value but make unhealthy foods more visually appealing. Red No. 3, which has been linked to cancer and is used in products such as candy and cold medicine, will be banned in the U.S. starting in early 2027. Spangler doesn't use the ingredient. Food-industry lobbyists have said that there's no official agreement in place with the government, at least for now. The industry says artificial food dyes are safe, and Vashaw's comments underscore how some companies aren't on board with Kennedy's time line and perspective. Vashaw said his company has used artificial dyes for around 50 years and "we believe they're safe." He added Spangler hasn't reached an agreement "with anybody" on discontinuing their use. There aren't any regulations currently saying companies will have to stop using the dyes, he said. "There's talk, but actual regulations are another thing," he said during an interview at the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis last week and a subsequent phone conversation. "It's likely that when we get to the end of 2026 that we will still have products that will still have these artificial colors," Vashaw said. "One, there might not even be the supply for these natural colors, and two, we have to do what the consumers want, and it's not clear to us that these consumers want these natural colors." Spangler has made dye-free variants of some of its products with natural flavorings for more than 30 years, including candy canes and, at times, a line of Dum Dums. But Vashaw's experience is that these products aren't what consumers actually want. "We have natural items now," Vashaw said. "They're just not bought in any meaningful way." In the case of the candy canes, "some people think it tastes like dirt," he said. Natural candy canes make up less than 2% of Spangler's total candy cane sales, and the firm ended up pulling its natural Dum Dums after they proved a flop. Allergy concerns Vashaw also expressed concern about new colors that the FDA approved this month, such as Galdieria extract blue, which is derived from algae, and butterfly pea flower extract, made from dried flower petals, saying the ingredients could potentially be allergenic for some people. In their regulations approving the dyes, the FDA concluded that both colors pose little risk for allergic reactions. Some companies are expanding their tests of natural dyes as government pressure for a change increases. PepsiCo Inc., for example, has come out with Simply Ruffles Hot & Spicy, which uses tomato powder and red chile pepper instead of the artificial dyes that give other chips their vibrant color. Vashaw said his company will continue to test natural ingredients, but the lack of regulatory clarity is creating confusion about what will happen. "Right now, it's more of a guideline," he said. "Is it really going to get enforced? Is it going to get pushed back? When their Doritos are a dull orange, are people going to accept that?" Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Pope Leo played being a priest as a child with ironing board as altar & cookies as communion wafers, brother reveals
Pope Leo, 69, the 267th pontiff, was one of three sons born to librarian Mildred and school principal Louis CHOSEN ONE Pope Leo played being a priest as a child with ironing board as altar & cookies as communion wafers, brother reveals POPE LEO XIV played at being a priest as a child and used the family's ironing board as an altar, his brother has revealed. Robert Prevost — as he was known before he became the first American-born pontiff this week — also handed out biscuits as communion wafers. Advertisement 4 Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV this week Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 4 Robert, left, with his brothers John and Louis, looked set for a spiritual calling from an early age Credit: John Prevost His brother John, 71, who still lives in their native Chicago, said: 'He wanted to play priest so he put a tablecloth over our mom's ironing board and we had to go to Mass.' He said young Robert also used an American biscuit called Necco Wafers, adding: 'These were the communion wafers. It was all taken very seriously, it was not a joke.' Pope Leo, 69, the 267th pontiff, was one of three sons born to librarian Mildred and school principal Louis. He studied maths at Villanova University in Philadelphia, then returned to Chicago to train as a priest. But John revealed his brother's calling started at a much younger age. Advertisement He told US TV show Good Morning America: 'From the time he was five or six years old he knew this was his fate — not that he would be Pope, but that he would be a priest. 'He had that from a very young age, and he never faltered.' His eldest brother Louis, who now lives in Florida, added: 'We used to tease him all the time, 'You're going to be the Pope one day'. 'We knew something was special about him.' Very emotional While maintaining his American roots — he supports the Chicago White Sox baseball team and is said to love deep-dish pizza — the then Robert made a life in the Peruvian city of Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023. Advertisement He also became a Peruvian citizen, and Catholic writer Austen Ivereigh said of his elevation to the papacy: 'That is the genius of this election — both the US and South America can claim him.' And the new Pope's goddaughter, Peruvian influencer Mildred Camacho Dioses — who was named after his mother — said her family 'jumped for joy' when this week's news broke. Robert Prevost elected as Pope Leo XIV - the first from North American She said: 'He's an excellent person and I still can't believe he's now the Pope. It's made me very emotional to know that he's the representative of God on Earth.' Speaking from her family home in Chulucanas, near Peru's border with Ecuador, Mildred added: 'When I heard the name Robert Prevost I rang my parents and my aunts and uncles. Advertisement 'It's something we're still processing, because we can't believe it. He has always been present in my life, writing to me and sending me greetings on my birthday and other important dates. 'I last saw him last August, when he came to Chulucanas and he met my daughters. 'He gave them his blessing, and blessed my home and sent greetings to my grandparents who he also has a close relationship with.' Asked if she had a message for the new Pope, Mildred said: 'Godfather, we're all so happy and so proud.' Advertisement 4 The new Pope is a keen rider Credit: Instagram/peandersongomes 4 John Prevost said: 'He wanted to play priest so he put a tablecloth over our mom's ironing board and we had to go to mass' Credit: AP The previous pope to take the name Leo, Pope Leo XIII, was an Italian whose baptismal name was Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci. He was elected in 1878 and led the Catholic Church until he died in 1903. Advertisement He is remembered for his dedication to social justice. The first Pope Leo — known as St Leo the Great — led the church between 440 and 461AD, and was known for his commitment to peace. While the new Pope Leo has yet to say why he chose the name, it has been suggested that the deep commitment to social issues that the name represents is in line with his beliefs. Notably, his first words as pope were: 'Peace be with you.' Advertisement These (biscuits) were the communion wafers. It was all taken very seriously. It was not a joke John Prevost And Edinson Edgardo Farfan Cordova, the current bishop of Chiclayo, where Pope Leo used to live and work, called him a 'shepherd among people'. He said: 'I am convinced Pope Leo XIV will continue the line of communion and closeness to the poor that marked the pontificate of Francis.' It has also been revealed that the new Pope watched the film Conclave before taking part in the real thing so he 'knew how to behave'. The award-winning Ralph Fiennes movie follows a cardinal organising the conclave who investigates secrets and scandals about the candidates. Advertisement John said he asked his brother if he had watched the film to 'laugh about something because this is now an awesome responsibility'. Of his sibling's new role leading the 1.4billion-strong Catholic Church, he added: 'We are so proud.'
