My Exclamation Point Eating Continues!

Sorry to keep you waiting so long. I haven't shared all my invaluable secrets with you yet, though, so I am back. 

This all started with my expertise at what I called "GATHERING." One year I hosted seven parties during the Christmas season and the next year "cut back" to six. Now there was no way I could prepare all that food and still be a jolly hostess. So I gathered. If you have ever been here for one of those parties at my home, you have likely had some variety of these gathered items! This is where it all began: 

Chicken salad from The Lunch Box and petit fours from Swiss Pastry Shop, both in Fort Worth. I did assemble the English pea salad and the black cherry Jello salad! Every time, until...

This version of Lunch Box chicken salad served in avocado halves with a lime Jello salad and David's Barbecue's potato salad over there on the right.

I varied the menu to include Costco tortilla roll up sandwiches, and a frozen salad, which I again "cooked."

The Lunch Box is at 6333 Camp Bowie, and Swiss Pastry  at 3936 W. Vickery. Now we have Chicken Salad Chick closer, but not as good IMHO! I have ordered petit fours for over 40 years from Swiss Pastry, but they don't much like to make them any more! One would have to call way in advance for sure--if then. They freeze well, so I'm going to try to order me some this Christmas! I may call in November!

Now as to my everyday gathering...Jack used to joke that the people at the local drive throughs knew him by name. With me, it is not a joke. I love "Taco" anything--Bell, Bueno, Cabana. Taco Bell is my favorite, but I am on a real kick of getting these delicious salads from Taco Bueno.

It is the beef taco salad. I used the regular salsa as dressing. Bueno!

Speaking of salads, have you tried Salad and Go? They have a cult-like following of which my Susan and Rob are part! Their containers are amazing and their prices bargains!

This is a barbecue ranch salad, which is my favorite. You just put the dressing on then shake real well to distribute.

This is their some-sort-of Greek salad--unusual dressing but good. Their drinks are bargains, too, and soooo good. This one is a frozen strawberry lemonade--almost like a dessert!

My friend Linda Gipson introduced me to Jersey Mike's subs.

I am addicted. I just wish they had a drive through! 

The #13 is my favorite--all kinds of bad-for-you
Italian meat and cheese.
The tuna is almost as good but not as bad for you! On second thought, I'm glad JM doesn't have a drive-through! I might get too many #13's.

I don't have a picture, but Colter's is my favorite drive through for barbecue. Their chopped beef is the leanest, best in town. 

I prefer David's Barbecue's potato salad and beans so I just cut a wide swath and gather both.

I discovered something that so far none of my friends have known. Chicken Express has wonderful fried catfish! I either drive through the Kennedale location and pick it up or have it Doordashed to me. Since french fries do not travel or last well, I bake one of the pre wrapped potatoes to go with it and a side of 

cole slaw! CE also has a delicious cherry pie for dessert and added fluffiness to my figure!

I have my most frequent order from Chick Fil A memorized, but I don't have a picture. "I'll have a kid's meal with 5 nuggets, fruit substituted for the fries, a small mac and cheese, diet lemonade, and a cup of ice dream substituted for the toy."

This might not be enough for most, but for someone who eats like a bird as I do, it is perfect!

"Please pass the chocolate sauce, the pecans, the whipped cream, and the cherry to go on my ice cream."

Another thing Chick Fil A has which occasionally comes in handy is a very nice side salad. If I have a meal with nothing

green, I can pick one of these up to round it out. I have also ordered a kid's meal and added the 5 nuggets to their side salad for a meal for me. With fruit for dessert!

I really, really like KFC! Their original is my favorite, but several times when I've driven there they haven't had any available. They also have a pretty good chicken pot pie. If I lived closer I would definitely frequent more!

I also like Golden Chick, especially the fried shrimp they have periodically. I've never tried the chicken!

Whew! I gotta go...I'm hungry!

 

My Exclamation Point Eating!!

So far I have talked about great $5 take home meals, etc. from Cracker Barrel and some of the ins and outs of food delivery. Today:

"These are a few of my favorite things" to have in my pantry or freezer! I know it's kind of a wacky variety, with nary a health food included. There have to be some advantages to being old!

This is a photo from AOL's home page recently featuring unusually good products. But I, Linda Jane Lynn Stovall, on my very own had discovered Blake's! This pot pie has the best crust, which is even flaky and delicious if microwaved.

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I am not very good at planning my meals ahead, so these pre wrapped potatoes are great for me. They bake WELL in less than ten minutes in the microwave.

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This is really good--either as a meal or as part of a "vegetable plate." Especially if you add some ketchup!!!

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Yes, I can't believe I bought the whole box just for me. Have you discovered Dot's Pretzels? The mustard ones are the best but will turn your fingers yellow! Definitely a better pretzel!

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My fabulous neighbor, Coral, got me started on this fab idea! Homemade tostadas for snacks or meals! Taco Bell also has good refried beans. Both are tastier than canned. I top with extra grated cheese and warm them in the oven. (In other words, this one requires cooking.)

Right, Mary $?

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Does everyone know about this pizza except me? I usually order pizza from Papa John's if I'm cravin' it, but this is dee-licious to have in my back pocket (a.k.a. freezer.) Different and amazing!

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I know I have already told you about my green beans, but just in case anyone missed it...Put a can of Del Monte French style green beans in a small sauce pan. Add one teaspoon of sugar (no more) and one teaspoon of olive oil. Let them simmer til all the liquid is gone and the beans caramelize a bit. You will be surprised at how good they taste! It's worth washing the pan! 

And repeating here!

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I had forgotten how much I like fruit and cottage cheese. I really liked canned freestone peaches that I bought, too. Very nice with a Blake's pot pie!

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Another fruity favorite of mine. This one requires 4 ounces

of Philadelphia cream cheese, softened and thinned with a little of the juice drained from fruit cocktail. 

Love the "Very Cherry."

But the "softening and creaming" elevate it to the cooking level.

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Far be it from me to fail to list dessert! I have served these to my family for YEARS, so I guess they may not be new to any of you. However, I think the peach flavor may be newer, and it is just like eating a really difficult-to-make homemade pastry! Especially with some Bluebell vanilla!

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I'm crazy about soup, but I'm going to do a special blog just devoted to that! I know--you can hardly wait!

After composing all of this, I'm going to go reheat my leftover Abuelo's which I had delivered yesterday!