What prep item can I buy at "Cracker Barrel Old Country store" with a $25 gift card?

[Anne in TN]

We recieved a gift card as a Christmas gift worth $25.00 to be used at the "Cracker Barrel Restaurant and Old Country Store". Once before, we were given a gift certificate from the restaurant itself and we bought a standard kerosene lamp with it. I was so proud! Unfortunately they do not sell those standard lamps any more. What kerosene lamps they do have are more for novelty. Anyway, we have enough of them now!

Those of you who are familiar with the "Cracker Barrel," do you have any suggestions as to what prep item I might get with the card other than standing outside the front door of the restaurant and selling the card outright for $5 bucks less than it is worth!

Here is a link for their online store but I would rather just go in person because I don't want to waste money on shipping charges: http://shop.crackerbarrel.com/online/shopping/default.asp

They do carry Lodge kitchenware which might be a possibility, but the only thing we really need there is a large covered pot without the legs and I didn't see one. We already have a 12 inch Lodge frying pan but without the lid so just buying a lid is a possiblility although I have an idea that it would have to be purchased on-line. I doubt the store would just carry the lid by itself.

As far as their goodies, I am guessing that those are set at a premium price. I really have no desire to get them anyway. We have all the candy, syrup, and pancake mix that we need!

Thanks for your help.

 

[RC]

Do they by any chance have little stands set up in shopping malls, etc.? They don't around here, but Hickory Farms sells a lot of the same kind of stuff, and they do.

If so, they might be closing out their cheese, crackers, sausage, etc. I went to Hickory Farms yesterday, and everything was 75% off. For example, a half pound of sausage, a little package of cheese, and a little jar of mustard was $2.50. We spent $30, and our sausage needs for the next six months are pretty well taken care of. (Some of the items have an expiration date of April '06, but I assume they'll be good a few months past that if we keep them in the fridge).

 

[LilRose8]

How about spackle ware for if you were camping?

A washboard?

Rainy day toys for the kiddies?

 

[night driver]

1) Cracker barrel is purely an instore thing.

2) your Hickory Farms Sausages, if frozen will last out to a full year. the Hickory Farms Folks SHOULD have told you that....though having been there and sold at 75% off they prolly had NO time to answer ANYTHING.



NB: I said FROZEN.....

 

[RC]

1) Cracker barrel is purely an instore thing.

2) your Hickory Farms Sausages, if frozen will last out to a full year. the Hickory Farms Folks SHOULD have told you that....though having been there and sold at 75% off they prolly had NO time to answer ANYTHING.



NB: I said FROZEN.....

Thanks for the information. I kind of guessed that. I assume we'll eat most of it before they expire or shortly thereafter, so I think the fridge will work. But I might keep that in mind for next year.

Yes, they were pretty busy just ringing up sales. They were fairly well picked over by the time I got there, but all of the boxes are essentially the same thing (some sausage, some cheese, and some crackers) so it doesn't make a lot of difference which boxes you buy.

 

['plain o joe']

Puzzles...

they have those horseshoe - chain and ring puzzles.... hide the answers


plus the usual triangle puzzle...

 

[Shooting Star]

candles....

 

[amarilla]

Cracker Barrel also has clothes, sometimes nice sweatshirts. I think they have blankets too. Been a while since I stopped at one with the prep intention. They'd have jam.

A

 

[Ta-wo-di]

We were in one of the stores about a week ago and saw some nice cast iron cookware, especially a dutch oven. IRCC it wa a Lodge brand.

 

[theoutlands]

When faced with the daunting task of adequately dispensing with a Cracker Barrel gift-card, I can think of only three things from there which I would want.....



.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

breakfast
lunch
dinner

 

[Anne in TN]

amarilla,

Yes, I had thought of checking out their sweatshirts. I did buy two of the same design from there once. They are an excellent quality but a bit high on price. I am very pleased with them though, and glad I bought them.


Ta-wo-di,

If our store had a cast iron dutch oven without the legs, I would buy it right up. Last time I was there, though, they did not have any cast ironware. They don't show the dutch oven on their on-line store even though they do carry other Lodge ironware.


Shooting Star,

I like the idea of candles although I have never seen any there.


plain o joe,

good suggestion with puzzles but we don't enjoy them. I can see, however, if one is bored stiff without electricity, one might just resort to fiddling with them to keep from going mad!


LilRose,

Spackleware sounds like it could be a good investment although we don't camp out. Could make good "Bug out" utensils though. As far as a washboard goes, that is an excellent idea but we have one already. Now where did we put that darn thing?j I honestly can't remember and neither can my husband. Oops!


RC,

As far as I know, they do not have any stands at shopping malls. I like your idea about the sausage but all they would have is fresh from the kitchen. It is very very good though and could be worth buying for the freezer. However, I think I want to stick to a non-food item.


theoutlands,

You are very funny! LOL You do have a very good point though!


Everybody,

Thank you all for your suggestions. This is definitely helping!

 

[AnnCats]

Look at the books - they have some recipe books and other ones that have info about the early years of the century - might be some info you can use

 

[okie medicvet]

I would go with the 'family travel games' normally used for the back seats of cars for the kiddies..

they can help time pass in a bomb shelter..

also, don't they sell cast iron skillets?

 

[cin]

Anne you crack me up.

 

[momof23goats]

cracker barrel, has great cast iron also. you can get a pan or skillet, or some towels, or a nice heavy sweatshirt, or a sweater, and they have laterns also. wow, that is a nice gift.

 

[Tesss]

Here's a thought

Cracker Barrel has nice hand crank pop corn poppers.

Hope that helps..

Tess

 

[okie medicvet]

Have to add this..every time my folks drive anywhere for any long distance..they will continue going until they find a cracker barrel to eat in wherever possible.

I like them myself, but really wish they would have more fridge magnets to sell..I collect them..

and here is a tip..when you want to get cheap souvenirs and you are in a city..go to your nearest chain drugstore! Thrifty's/Right Aid, etc..they tend to have really cheap local souvenirs if you go to them and don't go to whatever 'tourist trap' the city has.

 

[A.T.Hagan]

I'd buy a dry cured ham and as much dry cured bacon as the card allowed myself, but then I already have all the cast iron I want.

They sell a lot of old-fashioned kids toys fairly cheap that you might stock a possibles kit with. I'm particularly fond of the rubber band powered balsa wood airplane and the gyroscopes.

.....Alan.

 

[Dosh]

Jelly, Jelly and more Jelly.

Theirs are great!!!

They have Fried Apples in a jar ....... those are to die for.

Then more Jelly.

 

[FireDance]

You might call and ask them if they would order the cast iron that you need. It might take awhile, but who cares? You never know until you ask. Let us know what you decide on!

 

[Anne in TN]

FireDance,

I can't wait to go there and browse and see what I can come up with! I will definitely let you all know what we find to buy.

All the suggestions I have gotten thus far are really helping and I appreciate it! Will, you all kill me if we give in and take up "theoutlands" suggestion and blow it all on a breakfast? Oh, no, I wouldn't dare!

 

[FireDance]

I vote breakfast personally!! You probably won't spend the entire thing if it's just the 2 of you and you can buy a Christmas gift for someone with the rest - Go for it girl - how often does someone cook breakfast for YOU!

 

[mule skinner]

Lodge cast iron ware factory is in South Pittsburgh, Tn. That is about ten miles West of Chattanooga on I-24. They have a factory outlet store where the prices are much cheaper. Go there and get whatever cast iron you want and then eat at the Cracker Barrel in the nearby Kimbal Crossing shopping center with your gift certificate. Have fun.

 

[wasabell]

Their grits are nasty

 

[LilRose8]

The most MEMORABLE thing I ever got at a Cracker Barrel was a hideous case of food poisoning.

It'll be a long time before I can face their food again, if ever!

 

[BH]

nobody has mentioned a rockin' chair....

 

[mapwife]

Rock candy.

 

[Lilbitsnana]

nobody has mentioned a rockin' chair....

not with a $25 gift card.

I haven't had their ChowChow, but, it has to be better than what you can get in a grocery store. Wish I had the old recipe my ex-father in law used to make it from.

 

[data junkie]

For prep, I'd consider the Burt's Bees and Badger products to add to my first aid kit.

 

[Vere My Sone]

our local cb has a cream seperator over the cash register

so far, I haven't found an employee interested in pocketing some extra cash
I find so many more things hanging from the ceiling that I want than what they sell

I thought of asking if they could order what cast iron you were looking for also, you never know, if they sell Lodge, they probably could order anything Lodge makes

 

[rafter]

Their grits are nasty

I thought that was the way grits were suppose to be???