Our Quiet Christmas, Full of Love and Snacks

 When things get difficult, wrap yourself with the love of the people who love you. Even if those people are suffering just as badly as you, it's better to suffer together than to suffer alone. 

Clover's Final Christmas

Our cat Clover was diagnosed with Lung Cancer just a few days after Thanksgiving, and we lost her on December 13. After her diagnosis, the vet gave her just a few days. I had a hole in my heart, and I told Hubby that I didn't even want to put up anything for Christmas - no tree, no candles, nothing. I wasn't feeling all that jolly. I sat with that idea for a day or so, but I knew that Clover truly loved Christmas, all the colors and flickering lights and cozy blankets and pillows to lay upon, and Hubby talked me into giving her one more bright and cozy Christmas before she left. She ended up spending the majority of her time laying on the shelf facing the tree, just content to look at the tree.  

After she passed, I thanked Hubby for talking me into decorating for Christmas, and both of us kind of realized that Christmas was less than two weeks away and neither one of us had done any shopping. I told him that I'd think of something, and that we just shouldn't do presents; he thought that was a good idea. We'd have a very quiet, reflective Christmas Eve, maybe just snuggle in bed all day watching Christmas movies and being supportive of each other when we randomly started to cry because we remembered something silly that Clover would do. 

But this got me going, and me being me, I started having some ideas in my head, playing off another idea that I'd already had for Mom's gift. I mean, if you were planning on staying in bed all day, wouldn't you want some snacks? So, what if I made each of us a little gift bag of our favorite snacks? Maybe our favorite drinks, too? And for a few days, I sat on that idea, nursing it, letting it grow. I tried to think of what is most favorite snacks are and where I could get them, or where to find some specific item. 

And then I went balls to the wall, lol. Because if you're gonna do it, you better do it BIG. 

I popped into Dollar Tree and picked up a few different containers to hold the snacks, and some supplies to wrap the basket. I picked up a few different options, but The Bucket ended up being what I needed! I used a piece of tape to hang a large Dollar Tree ornament on the outside of the bucket, to spruce it up a little bit. 

$2.50 for a 3-4 gallon bucket and decor

I went over to Hobby Lobby for other supplies (I was doing this idea for mom's gift, too; I'll share her basket at the bottom). I went to the grocery store. I went to Rural King for bottles of root beer. I hit up Circle K for giant Christmas Tree cakes and his favorite flavor of Mtn Dew. I went to Dollar General for a specific candy that I like, and another that Mom likes. I did a Wal-Mart grocery pick up for way too many more snacks. I even ordered more snacks online to be delivered, when I couldn't find them online! I'm sure I have receipts somewhere, but I must have spent $200 on these three baskets! 

Behold the immense pile of snacks!!!!

His Basket

Holy moly! Let's see if I can capture everything shown in that photo! Frito-Lay chips variety pack, Pringles, Famous Amos Cookies, Planter's Peanuts, Nabisco variety pack, Wonderful Pistachios, Emerald Cashews, Utz Snowballs, Ghirardelli Minis, Drake Devil Dogs, Giant Hershey Bars, Hershey Candy Cane Kisses, York Peppermint Patties, Banana Laffy Taffy, Cow Tales, Tootsie Rolls, Andes Mints, cookie cups, Combos, Cheetos variety pack (specifically to get the Snowflake-shaped puffs), Combos, Milk Duds, Sprecher's and Frostie Root Beer, Purple Thunder Mtn Dew, Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, Hershey Kisses, Special Dark Kisses, Reese Thins, Hershey Hugs, Baby Ruth, Cinnamon Mentos, Milky Way Midnight, Golden Double Stuf Oreos, Nutter Butters, Powdered Donuts, Beef Jerky, and Rolos!

I proceeded to fill this bucket to the brim, almost overflowing! Heavy stuff (like bottles of root beer) on the bottom, and lighter stuff (like chips) on top. At first, I thought I was going to need filler (like crumpled up paper) at the bottom, but nope... this girl is stuffed from bottom to top! And once all the big stuff was in there, I sprinkled individual candies (like Kisses) across the top.

My Basket

I left them on the dining room table and just covered them with a blanket for the next day or so, because there was nowhere else to put them! I certainly couldn't put them under our tiny table tree, and since they were pretty see-through, I didn't want him peeping. 

So, Christmas Eve night comes around, and I ask him if we should do gifts tonight or tomorrow. He exclaimed we said we weren't gonna do presents! and I reminded him that I said I was going to come up with something. We decided to do them then, and I brought them over. I explained why I made them, we had a good little cry, and then bless his heart, he said... Go get your stocking. 

Huh? We said no presents!

This man, I swear. I love him dearly. Inside my stocking, I found two rolls of Rolos and a box of Milk Duds! 

His basket turned out better,
mine needed more cellophane overwrap

He said that he couldn't bear to let Christmas go by without getting me something. Because he loved me. 

We left our snack buckets (lol) on the table, cleaned up the house, and went to bed. We were able to sleep in and snuggle on Christmas Day (no toddlers to stare me awake anymore), until it was time to get up and start cooking. Mom came up around 11am for the day. She got both of us fuzzy jammies and some candy and a gift card. We gave her her Goodie Box, and she loved it! I had reached out to her sister and asked her to give me some ideas of what mom really loved to snack on, or what things she puts off buying because they're too expensive, or extravagant, or can't find. Mom's gift idea was borne out of the idea of treating her to an expensive type of protein shake she likes (about $5 a bottle), and I built the gift around that idea.

There's so much more in there than you can imagine!

Her basket included delicious treats like Bel-Vita, Orville Redenbacher Pour-Over popcorn, Drake's Devil Dogs, Emerald Cashews, Core Power Protein Shakes, Necco Wafers, Good & Plenty, Reese Big Cups, Pepperidge Farms Chessmen, a Whitman's Sampler (family tradition), Candy Cane Kisses, York Peppermint Patties, Ghirardelli Minis, and Diet Coke. All in a sturdy box from Hobby Lobby that can be reused (seriously, don't sleep on Hobby Lobby structured boxes!) 

Her oooohs and aaaahs when she looked at all the goodies made my heart grow two sizes... It's rare when I can surprise her with a really good gift anymore, so this was a big win! I'm sure she went home and shared it with her sister (they're roommates), and it'd be well-deserved, since she was so helpful for me. 

We had a great afternoon full of delicious food and fellowship, and I was sad when it was time for her to go home, because the house always feels a little quieter when guests leave, and now, with no kiddo and no kitty, it felt much quieter and much emptier. For the rest of the night, we relaxed in our own spaces, nibbling on leftover ham and candy and cookies and chips. 

It wasn't the best Christmas I've ever had, but it was the Christmas I needed, I think. I felt embraced and loved, both by my husband, and also by my mother just with her presence. My home felt warm and full of love, right when I needed it most. 

Gee, Honey, How Did I Gain Five Pounds? - All of our Snacks

So, if you read the entire multi-post thread about our recent trip to Wisconsin and back, you'll notice that there were a lot of snacks that got purchased, but never eaten. After I picked up either the second or third bag, we thought it would be fun to save them all and try them once we got home. After that decision, it became a quest to find snacks we'd never heard of down here in Florida, or at least to get snacks we've never tried. Hindsight being what it is, I love that we did this, but I sure wish we made a note of where we bought these things! 

It's a lot of snacks! The drinks will be in a separate post.
(Bonus Ziti recipe if you can read it!)

I think we succeeded.

Without further ado, take me to the snacks!!!!! 

 

Rap Snacks Sour Cream with a Dab of Ranch

This was the purchase that really started the whole thing. We found them at the Florida/Alabama state line when I used the bathroom and wanted to pay the Tinkle Tax™. Unfortunately, neither of us liked these chips. We felt they were too sweet, and Hubby called them "Crap Snacks." They were bad enough that neither one of us wanted to finish the bag. 

Hubby - 1 Star

Me - 2 Star

Average - 1.5 Star

 

They could have been a lot better

Grippo’s Bar-B-Q Potato Chips

This brand of chips started in Cincinnati, Ohio, so chances are we bought them somewhere in that area, either when we were nearer to Metropolis, or up by Lake Erie. 

My first thought is that they are very brown. But it didn't seem like it was the seasoning that made them brown. The texture felt natural, like a less-processed chip. And there was a weird flavor at the end I couldn't ascribe to BBQ; possibly the type of oil it was fried in? I liked them enough to finish them with lunch a few days later. 

Hubby - 3 Star

Me - 3 Star

Average - 3 Star

 

Brown doesn't always equal more flavor

Old Dutch Onion & Garlic Potato Chips

I'm about 95% sure we picked these up at a Kwik Trip while still in Wisconsin. They sounded good, because it was similar, but different, from Sour Cream & Onion type potato chips. Unfortunately, it's very garlic forward and light on the onion. Ironically, it needs sour cream or something similar to lend a "creamy" flavor. Neither one of us wanted to finish the bag. 

Hubby 2.5 Stars

Me 2 Stars

Average - 2.25 Stars

 

Maybe dipped into Dean's French Onion dip?

Urge Barbeque Potato Chips  

These are Kwik Trip's store brand of chips, so obviously we picked them up at a KT in Wisconsin (maybe on the way back to snow tubing?) They were okay, but had an odd aftertaste we couldn't get over. Texture was also good. 

Hubby 3 Stars

Me 3 Stars

Average 3 Stars

 

If meh could be summed up in a photo

Casey’s Cheddar & Sour Cream Ridged Potato Chips

Another store brand, from Casey's convenience stores. Of the states they're located in, these could have been picked up in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, or Wisconsin... As for the snack itself, it's hard to describe. There was too much chip and not enough flavor. The chip itself is bright orange, but it's extremely under-seasoned, and very potato-ey. Neither one of us finished the bag. 

Hubby - 2 Stars

Me - 2.5 Stars

Average - 2.25 Stars

 

Looks can be deceiving

Utz Kettle Classics Smokin' Sweet Potato Chips

Surprisingly, these kettle chips were not teeth-breakingly crunchy, and I am so happy about that! I love a crunchy chip, but I've put $10,000 worth of dental work in my face over the years, and I don't want to jeopardize any of that! It was too sweet, and neither smokin' nor spicy. The label promises "Spicy Heat with a Kiss of Sweet," but all we got was the sweet. I'd pass on these and stick with Utz Red Hot chips if I'm craving something hot. 

Hubby - 2.5 Stars

Me - 2 Stars

Average - 2.25 Stars

Easy to eat, for a kettle chip

Uncle Ray’s Chipotle & Jack Cheese Chips

These were amazing. So yummy and different from other spicy or BBQ chips. The Jack cheese gives it a creamy quality that I've never gotten in another chip. There is no spiciness to the chip, despite the chipotle (Hubby could eat it, and he's a notorious Spicy Wuss). I devoured these with lunch the next day. 

Hubby - 3 Stars

Me - 3.5 Stars

Average - 3.25 Stars

 

Can I have more of these, please?

Slim Jim Fire Fries Inferno

Per the Slim Jim website: On the prowl for a spicy snack full of sass? Then you'll love the bold flavor of these... Toss one back and yell 'Fire in the hole!' 

How about we just toss them all out? They were TERRIBLE!!! Hubby literally spit his out in the trash can. I finished mine... somehow. I get that they're trying to enter the Hot Fries market, but all I could think of was what the actual fuck IS this??? while I ate it. The flavor was horrendous - we wondered if there was supposed to be meat in it (there's not), the texture was indescribable. For being described as "Inferno" and supposedly the hotter of the two options, it was only mildly spicy. I was so offended by how disgusting they actually were that I threw the entire bag and plate directly into the trash can. 

Hubby - 0 Stars

Me - 0 Stars

Average - Negative One Million Stars

 

No, nuh-uh, never, no thanks, no way

Martin’s Red Hot Potato Chips

This is another snack with roots in Pennsylvania, so we most likely purchased these after we left Niagara Falls on our way home. The bag reminded me of a Hot chip I used to eat as a kid (like in the early 80s) while I was at Dance Camp (yeah, dance camp, what of it). But I think those were Tom's... If it was Tom's, they don't make hot chips anymore, and I can't find anything about them online... Oh well. The nostalgia factor is what made me pick up this bag, plus the fact that I'm always on the lookout for good Hot Chips. Sadly, these weren't even a little bit spicy, when compared to other hot chips. They also tasted bitter, and had an odd aftertaste. I didn't finish the bag. 

Hubby - 2 Stars

Me - 2 Stars

Average - 2 Stars 

 

Hot, but not red hot

Route 11 Mama Zuma’s Revenge Hot Habanero

Route 11 is a relatively newcomer to the world of chips, only starting in 1992. I was stoked to find these because I could have sworn that Rhett & Link (from Good Mythical Morning) tried and loved these, but I can't find that video anywhere. I was looking forward to these because I could have sworn that Rhett & Link did a show of spicy stuff, and he was blown away with these, but I can’t find it anywhere… Anyway, when we did our snack testing, Hubby was most worried about these, but they weren't too bad for him. They were too kettle for me (way too crunchy) and disappointing in their spiciness level... I mean, if they aren't too bad for Hubby, then they definitely aren't spicy! Neither one of us planned on finishing the bag, but I think I ended up eating them later in the week with my lunch. 

Hubby - 1 Star

Me - 2 Star

Average - 1.5 Star

+5 Points for awesome package artwork though!

Middleswarth Bar-B-Q Potato Chips

Another Pennsylvania snack chip, sold only in Pennsylvania, too, this chip had a very light texture and a good generic BBQ flavor. Like, remember back in the day when BBQ chips were just BBQ, not Hickory, or Sweet Heat, or Kentucky, or anything... just BBQ? The orange bag of Lay's BBQ is what I grew up on. This was reminiscent of generic BBQ chips. Hubby called them "LaCroix" spicy - if you close your eyes and think spicy, they might evoke the idea of being spicy, without actually being spicy. I thought that was the best description, because they certainly weren't heavy on actual flavor. However, I did eat them with lunch a few days later. 

Hubby - 3 Star

Me - 3 Star

Average - 3 Star

 

Might as well have been plain

Martin’s Bar-B-Q Waffle Potato Chips

Oh, you lied to me, Martin's! I was looking forward to a cool looking, waffle-cut potato chip, lookin' like a Chick-fil-a Waffle Fry, and all I got were some basic ruffled chips! Unevenly coated, some darker than others, they were again the LaCroix of BBQ chips. I told hubby that if I was blindfolded, I would have no idea what flavor it was supposed to be! They were tasty, but I wouldn't call them BBQ. And I certainly wouldn't call them waffle, either.

Hubby 2.5 Stars

Me 2.5 Stars

Average 2.5 Stars 

 

Waffle-Cut means there's HOLES, people

Buc-ee's Chees-ee Puffs Smokin' Nacho

We got a lot of stuff at Buc-ee's, because we didn't know what would be good and what would be not-so-good. These have a good texture, and we discovered they're baked, instead of fried. However, fried adds a level of flavor that these lack. The nacho seasoning gave them a lingering burn, and a good flavor. Hubby had to drink a little milk to abate the heat (remember, he's a Spice Wuss). 

Hubby - 2 Stars

Me - 3.5 Stars

Average - 2.75 Stars

 

These were good with my ham sandwich

Buc-ee's Chees-ee Curls Double Cheese

These also had great texture and flavor, and we both liked these as much, if not more, than a typical crunchy Cheeto. One of the two cheeses was Blue Cheese, which gave a nice bit of tang to the curl. Hubby finished the bag with his lunch.

Hubby - 5 Stars

Me - 5 Stars

Average - 5 Stars

 

I prefer Cheetos Crunchy, but these are 99% as good

Tip Top Pop Popcorn White Cheddar
It wasn't super-crunchy, and while not terribly stale, Hubby said it tasted stale. Lance's White Cheddar Popcorn is the popcorn against which I measure all WCP. This was not even in the same league as Lance. I would maybe say it's comparable to Smartfood (but then again, I'm not much of a fan of them either...). If I saw this on the shelf, I probably would never grab it at the store. 

Hubby - 1 Star

Me - 2 Stars

Average - 1.5 Stars

If I was desperate for a popcorn...

Buc-ee's Bold n Sorta Spicy Nuggets

These are a savory, unglazed version of their famous Beaver Nuggets. After a bite, we nailed down the flavor to be the love child of a Chili Cheese Frito and a BBQ Frito (awww, remember those...). The texture was like a puffy Cheeto with a slightly sweet "underflavor" from the corn puff. I think that "Bold and Sorta Spicy" is dead on... they have a lot of flavor, but no heat. I look forward to eating these with lunch over the next few days (it's a big bag). 

Hubby - 3 Stars

Me - 4 Stars

Average - 3.5 Stars

 

They're no BBQ Frito, but it'll be okay

Buc-ee’s Chees-ee Puffs Cheddar
These are your basic puff, comparable to a Cheetos Puff. They are a great alternative to Cheetos because they are much less expensive and, dare I say it, more flavorful. Both of us would definitely eat again. 

Hubby - 3 Stars

Me - 3 Stars

Average - 3 Stars
 

Yeah, I like these more than regular Cheetos!

Buc-ee’s Chees-ee Curls Barbecue
We both really liked these, and even more than the Double Cheese flavor. They're also baked. The seasoning is very reminiscent of a generic BBQ Pork Patty, like the generic McRib patty you'd get in middle school. That's not a slam; I love those things!

Hubby - 4 Stars

Me - 4 Stars

Average - 4 Stars

Crunchy and porky

Buc-ee's Ranchin' Saltines and Sizzlin' Saltines

Both varieties of these are supposed to be like the "crack" crackers that Southern meemaws make for potlucks and fellowship dinners, and I've never had any, but always heard how yummy they are. Well... we weren't impressed. But on the upside, I don't have to lie to anyone's meemaw about how much we liked them!

First up, the Ranch version reminded me of crouton flavors. The cracker was very thick, and kind of hard. I bet it would be good with chicken noodle soup, though? It'd stand up to the hot broth, and still have lots of flavor. 

Hubby - 2.5 Stars

Me - 2 Stars

Average - 2.25 Stars

The Sizzlin' version was worse. They were very spicy, but not in a flavorful way - Hubby wussed out and spit it in the trash. Again, the texture of the cracker is just so off-putting. 

Hubby - 1 Star

Me - 2 Stars

Average 1.5 Stars 

 

Ranchin' (for soup) and Sizzlin' (for trash)

Buc-ee’s Meat & Cheese Cup AND Cheese Cubes Cup

I am a hard devotee of Wawa's Pepperoni & Cheese Cups, but recently they've changed the set up (thicker pepperoni, less product for more money), so I was interested to see what Buc-ee's could offer. They have a few different options, and I picked up Peppered Turkey. Unfortunately, the meat was dry and kind of hard. The cubed cheese - Monterey Jack and Cheddar - was good and fresh. But for the price I paid, I wasn't impressed with the Meat Cup. Also, the pretzels were too hard for me. I think I'll be sticking with my Wawa cup if I want meat with my cheese. 

Me - 2 Stars (Meat Cup)

Me - 3 Stars (Cheese Cup)

(Hubby didn't try)
 

Pretzels on top; Cheddar & Jack Cheese, Peppered Turkey

+5 Points for the OCD Preparation of this container

Sheetz Hot & Spicy Peanuts

This tube is huge, more than double the size of the Lance nuts I usually get from the gas station. Two Lance tubes equals the same cost as these, so this tube is a better value, too! The nuts are nice and firm in my hand, not squishy like some other nuts I've handled. They're spicy and salty and a good size (nobody likes small nuts). I would definitely pick up a few of these again if I were in a Sheetz in the future. 
Hubby - 3 Stars

Me - 5 Stars

Average - 4 Stars

 

Baby, let me hold these nuts in my hand

Clark Cups

This is my first time trying anything from Clark's, and I'm glad we only spent a buck on these. The chocolate was very viscous; I didn't like it. It tasted like a Butterfinger inside of a peanut butter cup (and looking at the label, well, that's pretty much what it is...) Not a huge fan, but if someone put one inside my trick-or-treat bag, I'd eat it. From the fridge, I liked them more, but they'd be too hard to eat if frozen. 

Hubby - 3.5 Stars

Me - 3 Stars

Average - 3.25 Stars
 

Glad we only got 6

Butterscotch Smoothie Peanut Butter Cups
Whoa, Nellie! These were very sweet, almost cloying! Hubby loved these. I wasn't a fan, but again, if they were in my trick-or-treat bag, I'd eat it. 

Hubby - 5 Stars

Me - 3 Stars

Average - 4 Stars

 

You wouldn't think Butterscotch and Peanut Butter would go together...
and you'd be right

Mallo Cup

These have a weird cult-like following, and I've never had them before. All I knew was that it was a chocolate cup (like a Reese's cup) but with marshmallow instead of peanut butter. So I was expecting it to be like those marshmallow Easter eggs that come in a styrofoam egg container (I love those from the fridge, yummy). But color me surprised when the mallo in the middle was slightly runny, more like a "marshmallow fluf" style filling). But then I chewed two more times and almost puked - WHO THE FUCK PUTS COCONUT IN A MARSHMALLOW TREAT?!?!?! Show yourself! Come and get your flogging!
Ahem... Anyway, automatic fail. I despise coconut. I had to spit this out - I cannot handle the texture of coconut in my mouth. Suffice it to say, Hubby gets to eat the other 5 and a half cups. 

Hubby - 5 Stars

Me - Zero Stars

Average - 2.5 Stars
 

NOWHERE in the description does it say coconut (only in the ingredient list)

Buc-ee’s Banana Pudding Cup and Chocolate Pie Cup
The Banana Pudding Cup was tasty; it's definitely more of a "someone's meemaw's in the back makin' puddin'" type treat, than a "someone opened a can of pudding" type treat. It has Nilla Wafers, whipped topping, fresh sliced bananas layered parfait-like. For me, the pudding part was delicious; very smooth and tasted real. I am turned off by all of the 'extra' stuff, so I wouldn't enjoy eating more of it. Hubby loved it.

Hubby - 5 Stars

Me - 4 Stars

Average 4.5 Stars

The Chocolate Pudding Cup was my favorite of the two. It's delicious chocolate pudding layered with crushed Oreo and whipped topping. The pudding is nice and thick, but I hate having chunks in something smooth. If it were just a parfait of pudding/topping/pudding, I'd like it a lot more, but the chunks ruin it for me. 

We forgot to rate it, but I'd say it's at least 3 Stars (Hubby liked this one over the Banana Pudding, so he'd probably give it 5 Stars). 
 

Top: Banana Pudding Cup     Bottom: Chocolate Pie Cup

Buc-ee’s  Original Beaver Nuggets
The treat known 'round the world (or something), I was stoked to finally get to try these. First impressions? It's like someone dipped Cap'n Crunch into crunchy caramel coating. The first two or three bites were meh, but as I kept trying them, they got better and better, and I saw quickly how easy it is to just eat and eat and eat... Aesthetically, they're ugly, and reminded me like glazed popcorn shrimp. It's also a big bag, so there's a lot to eat. I might get tired of it before I finish the bag (spoiler alert: I did.)

Hubby - 5 Stars

Me - 5 Stars

Average - 5 Stars

Yes, they are crack. They live up to their reputation.

Buc-ee’s  Cinnamon Sweet Beaver Nuggets

These are like the more refined, high-falutin' cousin of Beaver Nuggets. They come in a much smaller bag, which is actually a win, because these were very sweet, and there's no way I could finish an entire bag in one sitting (it took me about 3 days to finish the small bag). Hubby loved these, as did I; the taste was like the crunchy edge of a Cinnabon roll (not the inside, but the little bits that bubbled at the bottom of the pan). 

Hubby - 5 Stars

Me - 5 Stars

Average - 5 Stars

Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate          Cinnamon Sweet Nuggets

Buc-ee’s Milk Chocolate Caramel with Sea Salt

There is an off flavor here, but I don't know if it was the caramel or the chocolate, but it wasn't good. The texture of the caramel was good - chewy like a Rolo, not runny like a Caramello. Unfortunately the sea salt completely overpowered this treat. 50% less salt and this would be much better. 

Hubby 2.5 Stars

Me - 2 Stars

Average - 2.25 Stars

Buc-ee’s Dark Chocolate Caramel with Sea Salt

OMG!! This one is even saltier than the Milk Chocolate one - it was so salty I had to spit it out because the flavor was so terrible. The chocolate and the caramel were both completely overpowered. 

Hubby - 1 Star

Me - 1 Star

Average - 1 Star

Bucee's Cheesecake Slice w/Strawberry Glaze

Hello, my name is Lazy, and I am a cheesecake Purist. I don't want anything on my cheesecake - no chocolate, no fruit, no whipped topping, no nothing. I don't even want a graham cracker crust! I am in love with Publix's NY Cheesecake, a beautiful round concoction of all cheesecake filling, and no crust. This cheesecake has a crust, and something I greatly appreciated - a tiny cup of strawberry glaze on the side, contained so that it won't in any way violate my cheesecake goodness. The texture of the cheesecake is on point, thick and creamy (not fluffy like a French-style cheesecake). Unfortunately, the cinnamon graham cracker flavor seeped into the cheesecake itself and gave the custard a weird flavor. I kind of picked at it, but eventually gave up; the weird flavor was too much for me to deal with. It's not bad; if you're a person who likes a graham cracker crust, you'll be fine with this. 

Me - 2 Stars

Cheesecake (with crust) with side of glaze

So there you have it! These are all the treats that we brought home*. I think I gained another five pounds just by writing all of these reviews!

Stick around; my next post is a review of the bottled sodas we picked up at Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha!

*We also brought home Cheese Spread, Cheese Curds, and a Kringle, but we forgot to rate them. They were good, though!

I Gotta Get Outta This Place! If It's the Last Thing I EVAH Do!

 I'm losing my mind a little bit guys... I'm not meant to be a Work-from-Home kind of person. Not by force, anyway. If I were a freelance writer or photographer, it'd be one thing, but I'm not. I'm an Admin Assistant for the Government. So, I have to stay available "at work" all day. Monday through Friday. 8:30am to 5:00pm. If my phone rings, I answer it. If my email dings, I answer it. 

I've been working from home since March 20th. I'm just so fucking over this! I decided to get the heck out of town. 

First things first, I stopped off at a local bakery joint who makes potato donuts, called Halo Donuts. They've been in town for years, first as a food truck, then as a walk-up storefront in the newly revitalized South Main Street area. I always say I'm going to go try them, but I never remember until late in the day (when I get a hankering for a pastry), and by then they are either closed or completely sold out. Since I would be in their part of town, I made it my first stop (well, second, after a soda stop). 

The line was insanely long. And not just because of stupid social distancing. I think there were probably 20 people in line in front of me. For donuts. I was easily the oldest person there (at 40+), and also probably the fattest one. I was surrounded by 19-year-olds in yoga pants, tweeting and tiktokking and instagramming every single moment of their morning. 

I hated it. 

Once at the front, I decided on a Maple Glazed, an OG (Vanilla Glazed), and a Cinnamon Sugar (Tastes just like a churro! they said). 

(Whoops, OG and Maple Glaze are backwards)

These three donuts - that honest to God must have weighed a pound - cost ten bucks. TEN BUCKS! They better be fucking magical donuts. 

They weren't.

 

But before I tasted the donuts, I drove south to Paynes Prairie to take some photos. The Prairie is another local spot that I never go to, simply because I forget it's there, except for when I drive though it on the interstate! Paynes Prairie is designated as a National Natural Landmark and Florida State Park. 

 

This is a great place for sunsets

 Back in the 1770's it was called the Great Alachua Savannah. The park hosts 20 distinct biological communities, supporting the habitats of alligators, bison, horses, and up to 200 different types of birds. In the area I was in, there was a long boardwalk allowing an overlook into the Prairie. Short of getting lost one time in the actual park (long story), I've never stopped to check it out. 

 

The boardwalk extending into the Prairie

It's very pretty, especially right now, with it full of water because of the spring rain. Yes, a prairie... full of water. Back in the day, (like the 1700s and 1800s), it was more of a lake, and people could ride steamboats across it. Now, it's either a swamp or a prairie. But right now, it's full and it's beautiful.

 

Lots of swampy areas for birds, fish, insects, and .....

...gators, of course! This guy was probably about 13-feet long

After walking up and down the boardwalk, and then up and down the road, taking way too many photos, I headed back to the car and finally tried my donuts. 

The Cinnamon Sugar donut tasted like any other cinnamon sugar baked good I've tried. It was fried nicely. The Maple Glaze was not maple-y enough for me; I was hoping for a bigger punch. The OG was fine, too, just tasted like a basic donut. All in all, they were massive, heavy donuts (because of the potato) that were meh. I will probably give them one more shot, but I'm not impressed, especially for the amount they cost. 

My next reason for hitting the road was to get lunch. And lunch just happened to be an hour away in the next town, Ocala, at Long John Silver's (LJS). By this point, I was ready to eat inside a restaurant again, and even brought a stupid mask with me, just in case. 

Turns out, I didn't need a mask, because this place was still Drive-Thru only. Well, that puts a ding in the plans! I ended up ordering a special that they had (3 chicken + 5 Shrimp, for $6) and then drove over to a nearby park to eat. 

I was able to enjoy my impromptu picnic in the shade, near a cute pond that had old ducks, and one tiny baby duck, and old men racing remote-controlled boats! I spent half the time reading my book and the other time watching the pond.

The Duck Family wanted no part of me, and repeatedly 'circled the wagons' around the Chick

Go, Old Man, GO!

Once I finished my lunch (and packed up the leftovers for the Kiddo), I made my way toward the interstate, but passed a huge Dollar Tree, housed inside an old CVS/Walgreen's! It was massive! I, of course, had to go in and check it out! It was awesome, and of course, I spent $25 on random crap. 

Then I picked up soda and lemonade at Wawa and made my way home. 

Hopefully, between this and going to Disney next week, my wanderlust will be sated for a while and I can get out of this funk I'm in. 

I miss people.