Chicken and Dumplings, Fried Apples, and
Biscuits . . . Oh My!!
By Merry Vincent
What comes to mind when
you hear the term "comfort food?" Do you think of your
grandma's homemade bread, fresh out of the oven? Maybe it's Aunt
Bertha's macaroni and cheese or Cousin Susie's beefy pot pie?
When I think of comfort food, the first thing that comes to mind
is the chicken and dumplings my own grandma used to make. Imagine
my surprise when I tasted that same familiar goodness at a well-known
road-side restaurant.
I was 38 the first time
I ate at a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. I have no idea why
I waited so long. Maybe it was because I had always thought it
to be more of a gift shop than an eatery. I formed my opinion
earlier in life, as that explanation is what my parents would
always tell my vacationing siblings and I when we asked to eat
there.
Yes, they have a rather
large gift shop. Nostalgia buffs of all ages will, no doubt, find
items of interest lining the shelves. But, a large number of repeat
customers, myself included, go there for the food. On my first
visit, taking the advice of my husband, I ordered chicken
and dumplings. I also decided to try the fried
apples and biscuits.
Everything was delicious.
As I was complaining that I ate too much, I realized how much
I really did miss Grandma's version.
The first Cracker Barrel
opened in Lebanon, Tennessee in 1969. It was the brain-child of
Dan Evins, who wanted to better serve the dining needs of travelers
stopping at his family's gas station, along Interstate 40. He
had always believed that mealtime was family time. The problem,
as he saw it, was that the popularity of newly emerging fast-food
establishments was making it more difficult to find a restaurant
that served made-from-scratch meals.
To date, there are over
400 stores in 40 states. Although the company has had to "adjust"
to the size of the business, the majority of the menu is still
homemade. I suggest that everyone visit Cracker Barrel. The smell
of fried apples upon entering the store is worth the trip in itself.
(If you visit in the fall, it will probably be pumpkin pie that
you smell.)
The next best thing to an
on-site visit is re-creating the meal at home. Clicking on the
links above will take you to the recipe pages. I have been told
that you can obtain actual recipes from Cracker Barrel management,
but I have not verified that fact. These recipes come from different
Internet sources, but have received favorable reviews.
Merry Vincent is a work-at-home
mom who maintains the web site, http://www.workfromhomemoms.net.
She also enjoys cooking, reading and traveling.
Originally posted on tastealikes.com.
