Y'all. I've been trying to write this blog post for a few days now, but I literally cannot. stop. eating. this. chex mix.

Buckle's Cocktail Snacks is a brand-new product with an age-old recipe. This spicy, salty, crunchy mix from Tyler Jordan combines pretzels, cereal balls, corn chips, whole grain circles, rendered bacon fat, accent salt, celery salt, garlic salt, worcestershire sauce and tobasco to create an addicting snack. 

Many folks have a little spin on their own homemade chex mix, but Tyler's recipe originated with his grandmother who passed away a decade ago. Her recipe was legendary in the community, and Tyler has mastered it. Now, he has put his own twist on it and is adding additional flavors, too.



"When I learned how to make it years ago with my grandma, I didn’t use measurements. I go off of culinary instinct. I know what the sauce is supposed to look, smell and taste like. However, I’m working on creating exact recipes, potentially for a Medium, Spicy and Spicy BBQ," he said. 

Tyler was kind enough to not only bring some of the "Original" by for me to try out, but to also share with you all. Head over to his Etsy Store and use the code "CANDACEFOODWV" to get 10% off your order! (No, I don't get a cut of this, but yes I did get to sample for free - and I want to share with you!)

You can also get it at J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Work and Peace, Love and Little Donuts in Charleston.



And, if you take a close look at the label, you'll see that culinary genius runs in the family. This mix is made in a cottage kitchen by Hernshaw Farms - the folks bringing us delicious mushrooms grown on reclaimed mine land.

It's my favorite time of the month! Appalachian Mercantile Box day! I love all the little goodies each month. I'm excited to try those chips and salsa for a snack later, and those chopsticks came in handy for my delivery sushi last night! What's your favorite?

 Any time there is a new coffee roaster in West Virginia, I am excited to check them out. The same goes for the West Virginia Coffee Company.

"We are the West Virginia Coffee Company. We are a small company that focuses on roasting the best Arabica coffee beans, freshly to order. Your coffee will be roasted, and packaged (ground or whole) in a sealed foil bag with a fresh-lock valve, and promptly shipped, priority-class mail, so that you get the freshest coffee possible."

Not only do I love this name - simple, iconic, straight to the point - but this coffee is delish. And, this is just one of their varieties. But, it's the perfect way to wake up.

I've mentioned before that my favorite thing to receive in the mail is my JQ Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile Box. And, I love to give you all a sneak peek at some of the goodies I receive. Is anyone else loving these as much as I am?!

I know I just got around to sharing the June Appalachian Mercantile box ... but now it's time for July! So I don't forget. This one came complete with scone mix, berry jam, hot sauce, salt, a shrub, and an iron hook. Which have you tried?

It's almost time for my July box, and I realized I hadn't shared the June box! So far, I've tried that spicy honey peanut butter - which I think would be perfect for a Thai dish. And it's no joke spicy.

Hannahbug's Chocolates, based in Point Pleasant, can be found in other shops around the state. When I saw all of their beautiful chocolate creations on Facebook, I put an order in on their website and ended up picking it up here in Charleston. 



Because I have never tried these local chocolates before, I ordered a sample so I could get a taste of a few different things. The top photo is a Salted Caramel Pecan Cluster - so like a turtle. It's a few of my favorite things all wrapped up in one.



She makes these little baby peanut butter cups that have a thick chocolate layer with creamy peanut butter inside. So good.



This apple moonshine ganache has West Virginia written all over it, but wooo-weee. Be prepared to get a real taste of that moonshine.



Same for the cherry!



My favorite, though, was their take on a Snickers bar, which is JUST like that - but even better. Smoother, creamier, just overall better.



And, yet, the star of the show was this gigantic caramel apple, covered in milk chocolate, white chocolate and nuts. Just wow.

Grade: A

It's my favorite time of month - Appalachian Mercantile Box day!

This month includes Route 11 potato chips: Route 11 Potato Chips came knocking because they needed just the right salt for their newest flavored chip. Our salt was the perfect answer and a partnership was made. You won't want to eat any other potato chip after tasting this salty and spicy combo. Only 4 ingredients: potatoes, sunflower oil, JQD salt and cracked black pepper.

In a Jam Heirloom Tomato Jam: Andrea Duke, of Parkersburg, WV makes these delicious jams and jellies from local fruits and vegetables. The heirlom tomato jam is excellent on a hamburger or grilled salmon. Try the salted watermelon jelly on a cheese board with your favorite blue cheese. Paw paws are a local Appalachian fruit that taste like a combination of mango and banana, which makes this fruit butter perfect for toast. The wild ramp jelly is delicious on sandwiches, or poured over cream cheese as an appetizer. The mission fig jam is a great accompaniment to hard cheese such as Manchego and aged Gouda.

J.Q. Dickinson Spicy Dark Chocolate Caramel Sauce: J.Q. Dickinson's organic caramel sauces are a necessity in the pantry for a quick, delicious dessert. Heat gently in the microwave then pour over ice cream, pie, pound cake, or fresh fruit. Made with organic sugar, cream and butter. The bourbon caramel has the addition of Black Draft Distillery bourbon. The dark chocolate and spicy dark chocolate are made with Appalachian Chocolate Company's organic bean to bar dark Peruvian chocolate. The spicy dark chocolate caramel has the addition of a hint of ghost pepper.

Snake Oil Hot Sauce: Once you taste this hot sauce, made by Woodberry Pantry in Baltimore, it will become the only hot sauce you will use. Made from heirloom fish peppers, cider vinegar and JQD salt, it has the perfect heat level and rich flavor to compliment and enhance almost any dish.

Stone House Lavender Lip Balm: Stone House Lavender started growing lavender in central WV in 2017. This lip balm is soothing and refreshing. Great to always have on hand.

Durham Woodworking Cutting Board: This cutting board is made from WV oak and walnut. It is great in the kitchen for smaller projects or use to serve cheeses. 9" x 6". A great gift or addition to your own kitchen. Rub with mineral oil or beeswax to keep it seasoned.

Baker Cheese Company is this amazing little Morgantown-based business that is specializing in cheese boards. I stumbled across it on Instagram and immediately knew I needed to get one.



She does all kinds of large, elaborate displays. But I went for one of these smaller picnic-type of arrangements. It's perfectly portable and has so many delicious bites - grapes, manchego cheese, brie cheese, almonds, a delicious jam, raspberries, salami, olives, cookies and crackers. This is like my dream dinner, every evening.

The only monthly subscription box that I order is the Appalachian Mercantile Box from J.Q. Dickinson. I look forward to it every month. It includes a curated collection of Appalachian products - whether that's food, crafts, spices, soaps - you name it.

My most recent box included a cherry pinch cellar from Allegheny Treenware, a greeting card from Appalachia Press, some heirloom popping corn from Bluestone Mountain Farm, popcorn salt from J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, grapefruit drinking vinegar from Mother Shrub, Red Hot Sprinkle from Olde Virden's, and Black Beans from Shagbark Mill.

I can't wait to dig in and see what I can have fun with!

T-Mart in Elkins is a convenience store that also serves up some hot food.

The menu consists of options for all three meals in the day. From breakfast sandwiches and lunchtime specials, T-Mart has a little bit of everything.

That includes subs, sandwiches, salads, soups, hot dogs and more.

First, though, my eyes gravitated toward a basket of pepperoni rolls. The ones with a little red dot have hot pepper cheese, so I nabbed one of those.

And, the lunch special for the day was an Italian stromboli, so I got one of those too - plus an assortment of drinks, gummi lifesavers and Reeses. Hey, roadtrips call for snacks.

The stromboli was puffed up into a round ball of heaven. Buttery on the outside, the roll - once punctured - deflated a bit to reveal some some salami, cheese and peppers.

Not great for heartburn, but great for the tastebuds. I would love if this thing was filled to the brim. But tasty, nonetheless.

Grade: B

"FIRSTHAND Cooperative is a worker-owned coffee company located in the heart of Appalachia. Inspired by the principles of the fair trade movement, we connect producers and consumers in mountain communities through our fair share guarantee. This commitment to mutual aid and our vision for a sharing economy along coffee supply chains supports social enterprise development abroad and right here in our mountain home."

I just got some of this coffee to try! Have you had a taste yet?