An Ode to Cracker Barrel

I remember the first time I ever went to Cracker Barrel.

It was 1996 and we went on a family vacation to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
It was the first time this California girl had been to the South.
Our first meal we had on that trip was at this place called Cracker Barrel.
It was love at first sight. And, love at first bite.
We were in the South for a week & I think we went to Cracker Barrel for at least once a day.
When my family finds something we like, we stick to it!
Overkill? I think not. It's just how we roll.

We do not have restaurants/stores like it in California.
So, every time I travel to the South, my #1 priority is to make sure I get to go to Cracker Barrel.
I am not kidding.
When I was playing college soccer my sophomore year we had games at University of Alabama and so before the trip, I told my coach that we had to have one of our meals at Cracker Barrel, and we did!

When I went to New Orleans/Mississippi in 2006 for Hurricane Katrina relief, you better believe we drove out of our way for dinner one night for Cracker Barrel.

When Kevin and I went to a wedding in Florida 3 years ago, I made Kevin go there for at least 1 meal every day we were there.

When we went on the Disney Cruise & Disney World last year, I made sure our hotel was within walking distance of a Cracker Barrel (since we didn't have a rental car, I needed to make sure I could have Cracker Barrel while I was in the South!)

Told you, I am obsessed with Cracker Barrel!

The first thing you notice it all the rocking chairs on the porch surrounding it.
Then, you go inside and before you go to the restaurant, there is an adorable country store with fun nick-knacks, candies & fun vintage-y finds.
Each Cracker Barrel has the exact same layout!!!
(These pictures are from my last visit to Cracker Barrel, which was a year ago, the day we arrived in Florida for our Disney Cruise)
Love the vintage feel to the store:

Vintage Soda:
Love all the old fashioned candy.

Such cute things!

Gumballs in Mason Jars? Love it.

And, you can buy some pre-packaged Cracker Barrel goodies!

The dining room/restaurant area has eclectic decorations:

While you wait for your food, you can play this peg game. (I bought one years ago)

Also while you wait, you can snack on warm biscuits that they bring to your table.
My favorite breakfast to order at Cracker Barrel is the French Toast or the blueberry pancakes:

If I go during lunch/dinner, I always order the grilled chicken tenderloin sandwich on sourdough. With their hashbrown casserole as a side.
Cracker Barrel also has amazing desserts, like fudge brownie sundaes & cobblers.

I am passing on the love of Cracker Barrel to my girls. There was a Cracker Barrel commercial on Nick Jr the other day & Kate got so excited and said, "This is making me miss Cracker Barrel. I just can't stop thinking about it now." Me too Kate, me too. Ha!
And, I think it is mean they had a commerical about Cracker Barrel when the nearest one is over 1000 miles away! Boo.

My other favorite thing about Cracker Barrel is the Sweet Tea. We don't have Sweet Tea here in California at restaruants. Boo. But, I did find a Sweet Tea that is now sold in stores & it is SO good:
A few months ago, I saw a few Cracker Barrel recipes on Pinterest that I pinned right away. But, because I was battling major morning sickness, I didn't make them, until this week!
And, they didn't dissapoint!
Here is what I pinned & made:
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole

1 bag of frozen Shredded Hash Browns
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup diced onions
1/2 cup butter, melted
Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, setting aside 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.
After all ingredients are mixed, spread in a greased 9x13 pan.
Use remaining 1/2 cup of cheese on the top.

Bake at 350 (uncovered) for 45 minutes.

Yum, yum, yum. Total comfort food.

I also pinned & made:
Cracker Barrel Biscuits

2 1/4 cups Bisquick
2/3 cup Buttermilk
1 t sugar
1 T melted butter (plus additional melted butter for brushing on the tops)
Mix bisquick, buttermilk, sugar & melted butter in a bowl.
Stir until a soft dough forms.
On a well floured surface, knead the dough.
Once dough is kneaded, roll out 1/2 inch thick.
Use a biscuit cutter (or drinking glass) to cut out your biscuits.

Place on a cookie sheet & brush melted butter on the tops.

Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes.
When you take them out of the oven, you can brush more melted butter on the tops if you want!
My favorite way to eat them is warm out of the oven with my Homemade Strawberry Jam.

I also love Honey on biscuits!
This recipe makes 8 biscuits & they were delicious & easy to make!

The final recipe I tested out was:
Cracker Barrel Peach Cobbler with Almond Crumble

For the bottom:
1 cup Cracker Barrel Pancake Mix (which I didn't have so I used Bisquick)
1 cup milk
1 stick melted butter
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Whisk together in a bowl & then spread in an 8x8 baking dish:

Then, drain your 29 oz can of sliced peaches into a bowl, reserve 1-2 T of the heavy syrup & add that to the bowl also. Add 1/4 c sugar to the peaches, stir & then pour over the batter:

You are going to bake that at 375 for 45 minutes.
While it is baking, make the crumble topping.
For the topping you mix:
1/2 c brown sugar
1/8 c flour
1/2 t cinammon
1 T softened butter
1/4 c sliced almonds (or if you don't like almonds, leave them out!)
Mix in a bowl with a fork.

After the cobbler has finished baking for 45 minutes, add the crumble & bake for an additional 10 minutes.

I let it cool for about 10-15 minutes & then I serve it warm with vanilla bean ice cream.

It was SO good. The almond crumble was delicious! The sliced almonds really add a fun flavor to the cobbler.
When I make this again, I am going to use more peaches, because I wish it had more peaches! Instead of one 29 oz can of peaches, I am going use that, plus an additional 15 oz can of peaches (drained).

I am so happy to have found these Cracker Barrel recipes, it will help tide me over until my next trip to the South. Who knows when that will be!
I wish they would build one here in California.
If you haven't been to Cracker Barrel, you are missing out!!!
Anyone else obsessed with Cracker Barrel or am I the only crazy one?

Linking up with: