Author Nicholas Sparks has sold millions of books and seen his work turned into tearjerker blockbusters, but if you’re seeing him crop up in your social media feed this week, it’s probably for a different reason. The ’ stunning riverside home in New Bern, North Carolina (in an area largely unscathed by , unlike much of the western part of the state — find out how you can help ). As the reporter and photographer arrived, he was making his signature chicken salad, consisting of two rotisserie chickens, celery, onion, mayo, dill relish, jalapeños, cider vinegar, spices and a rather alarming secret ingredient: 16 packets of Splenda.
That’s one packet for every time he’s been at the top of the Times’ bestseller list, plus one to grow on, and it’s caused a little bit of hubbub online. “You can use real sugar, but why throw sugar in if you can use Splenda?” Sparks asked the Times when queried about his recipe reasoning. Taking note of the kerfuffle, Sparks : “This sounds amazing! I’m making it,” one person commented, but others aren’t quite sold, listing concerns about health effects — and flavor — effects.
“No man. Just no,” someone else posted . In the caption, he lists the ingredients for the recipe he was making when the Times visited: I’m from the South and quite accustomed to sweetness in side dishes; one could argue it’s more often found in salad recipes than lettuce is around these parts.
, , – they all have a tablespoon or two. Bu.