Our taste tester found that the tart crust baked up perfectly flaky and golden, without that frustrating sogginess that can plague pie doughs, especially frozen versions. Infused with cream cheese and cinnamon, the apple filling is rich in taste and texture, and a sliced almond topping adds crunch and an extra dash of visual appeal. The overall flavor profile is buttery and fruity with just the right amount of sweetness.
It's easy to be drawn in by fancy bottles, or to grab something from the top shelf with a hefty price tag and assume that the cost means it will be delicious. Sometimes this is true, but there are also plenty of bottom-shelf bourbons worth drinking. And when it comes to overall value - the best quality bourbon in its price range - it is tough to argue with Evan Williams Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
My husband and I have never been big on chain restaurants, but our teenagers love visiting them, so we've tried quite a few in recent years. Luckily, plenty have pleasantly surprised us, from upscale steakhouses like Ruth's Chris to surprisingly affordable spots like Waffle House. Now, we sometimes even look forward to checking out different chains - especially on double dates with our son and his girlfriend. The four of us regularly go to see a movie and get dinner at a restaurant near the theater.
In fact, my husband, our friends, and I visited the steakhouse on a date night a few years ago and were overall pretty unimpressed, especially considering the phenomenal experiences I'd had at other similarly-priced chains like Outback and LongHorn. But recently, I've seen Instagram reels posted by moms who swear by Texas Roadhouse's "family pack" menu, describing it as a great dinnertime hack for feeding your family affordably and fast at home.
I generally like using the Peak Design backpack, except that bringing it on vacations means that I have to leave my handheld(s) at home. It's not wide enough to accommodate even the original Switch once things are stuffed into its side pockets. The Vortex 1.0, on the other hand, let me bring both my Switch 2 and Steam Deck, thanks to its two dedicated handheld sleeves. It's also wider and taller, which means its top zipper compartment can hold a 16-inch laptop and a tablet.
