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!