By ChinRes 
Nicholas Sparks, the guy who is responsible for many of your tears, is introduced to you. In light of the fact that this does not seem pleasant, let us take a step back. Sparks is arguably most known for an abundance of top-selling novels that he has written. Many of his novels have been made into films that have been just as popular, if not more so. And a great number of them are able to bring tears to you.
Sparks’ films, which include “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember” as well as “Dear John” and “The Longest Ride,” have no doubt been responsible for more tears shed by the general public than onions ever were.
This week, it is not his movies or novels that are causing people to share their thoughts and opinions. There is a dish that he has created that has gone viral, and not for the reasons that you may expect.
Recipe for the Delectable Chicken Salad Developed by Nicholas Sparks
Sparks spoke up about the recipe for the chicken salad that he enjoys making in a recent article that was published in the New York Times. On the surface, it seemed quite typical:
“Earlier in the day, before a cameraman and reporter arrived at his home, Mr. Sparks spent the day at his kitchen’s granite countertop preparing two skinless, boneless rotisserie laying hens a few stalks of celery and a Vidalia onion.”
However, things went from bad to worse after that:
“He then whipped together a dressing with mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, jalapeño relish, apple cider vinegar, but also salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and 16 packets of Splenda.”
Here’s the thing: there are some entertaining aspects that are at play here. I am a major lover of adding pickle relish to just about any sandwich, and I also adore the concept of incorporating jalapeño relish or pickled jalapeños into chicken salad as a means of adding zest and acidity to the dish. I am a person who dislikes mayonnaise, and I believe that a chicken salad should include as many diversions as possible. However, Splenda is a distracting factor that should be avoided.
In addition, two thirds of a cup of Splenda is equal to sixteen packets of the sweetener. A couple of pinches of sugar or a sweet item such as grapes, sweet relish, or even Miracle Whip can be added to chicken salad. This is a frequent practice. Even Dolly Parton might be okay with a little sugar being added to salad, but two thirds of a cup of Splenda may be considered excessive. That is so rare that it is almost unheard of.
“You can use real sugar, but why throw sugar in if you can use Splenda?” Sparks emphasized in the interview that he uses Splenda instead of sugar since he prefers to consume low-carbohydrate foods on a regular basis.
When I was listening to my favorite podcast on pop culture, “Who? Weekly,” I was first made aware of this unfortunate addition. Even going so far as to upload a taste test of the chicken salad on Instagram, the hosts of the show stated that it was “pretty good” and that the flavor of Splenda was not overpowering, despite the fact that they still preferred the salad made before the inclusion of Splenda.
I am not a stranger to attempting recipes provided by literary titans; but, I will not be attempting this particular dish. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy Sparks’s work is with a box of Kleenex, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, and some popcorn before beginning.