I thought I was one of those people that could take or leave a dessert. I love and enjoy a great dinner, then on the verge of feeling uncomfortable, the waiter would suggest a classic signature dessert that the restaurant is famous for.

That behavior became the norm and desserts are part of the meal only if it truly is just “one bite.”

The dessert is the cap, the end all end to an amazing dinner, it has become another significant part of your dining experience. The term “Save room for dessert” has rung through restaurants and homes more frequently lately.

Food.com and allrecipes.com had lists of the most popular desserts by state. I take these lists seriously and there are desserts on the list that I disagree with, especially after frequenting some of the great restaurants in each state.

Here are the results and my take on the most popular desserts in each state.

Delaware – Banana cake and peach pie

Funny that the study chose peach pie. I feel like I am in Georgia when in Delaware and have had homemade peach pie at restaurants and at my friend’s home in Delaware. In trying to find the significance of the peach pie I came up empty. The climate, soil, and availability in the state of the peaches do not back the claim but it’s there.

As for the banana cake, I have had a taste once or twice in a restaurant in Delaware, again the significance is head scratching to me.

New York – Cheesecake

This is true! At good restaurants in New York cheesecake rules the roost. Most of the restaurants take pride in their cheesecake and many of them state that it is “the best” in the city.

I laugh at that, but I order it to judge each restaurant that I go to. The Plaza, Keens Steakhouse and Peter Luger’s serve the best I had.

Pennsylvania – Whoopie Pies and Apple Dumplings

Whoopie pies are good, and they are at some restaurants in Pennsylvania, particularly close to Philadelphia. For those of you who have not indulged in whoopie pies picture an oversized Oreo but made with chocolate cake and white fluffy creamy filling.

The apple dumpling is a fan favorite and is served warm and occasionally with vanilla ice cream. There is no question that I prefer an apple dumpling over whoopie pie.

New Jersey – The Cannoli and Saltwater Taffy

Trust me saltwater taffy isn’t even close to making my list, and you can tell the study that named taffy as a dessert has never been to Jersey. Taffy is for the boardwalk, other than one or two “tourist” places to eat I have never seen it on the menu.

The cannoli is a different story. It is a staple as the cheesecake is in New York. With the many Italian restaurants that grace our state the cannoli is always put to the test and compared to other restaurants. There is so much pride in that dessert.

Blueberry pie is the official dessert of New Jersey, but you can bet the cannoli gives it a run for the money.

Save room for dessert and enjoy the choices put forth.

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host Big Joe Henry. Any opinions expressed are Big Joe’s own.

Report a correction 👈

A Pennsylvania man arrived at the Pittsburgh airport Friday night after he was released from custody on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), where he had been detained for having ammunition in his luggage.

Bryan Hagerich — a 39-year-old husband, father of two and former professional baseball player — is one of five Americans arrested and detained on the islands since February for having stray ammunition in their luggage, a crime punishable up to 12 years on the islands.

The other detained Americans are Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma; Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida; Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia; and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas.

“Its just amazing how, just in the matter of 12 hours, looking at 12 years to now,” Hagerich told reporters Friday night after he landed in Pittsburgh. “My biggest concern is coaching my kids’ baseball games tomorrow, and that is such a relief.”

PENNSYLVANIA DAD DETAINED IN TURKS AND CAICOS TO RETURN HOME AFTER PAYING FINE FOR HAVING AMMO IN LUGGAGE

Hagerich said his detention was the “hardest time of my life” being separated from his family.

“As a father, as a provider, and to not be that figure in my family’s life, it’s a very tough pill to swallow,” he said.

He said the conditions of his detention were “tough” and the “darkest days” of his life. And while he said he is thankful to be home, he stressed that there are other Americans still in detention on the islands who he said “will be home soon.”

A Turks and Caicos judge issued a suspended 52-month sentence Friday morning to Hagerich, who pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition on the islands. He was also ordered to pay a $6,500 fine.

Hagerich told Fox News Digital on Thursday that he and his attorneys “made a very, very strong case” in his defense after he pleaded guilty.

Several lawmakers applauded the move to release Hagerich from custody on the islands, allowing him to return to his family in Pennsylvania. A bipartisan congressional delegation had visited TCI on Monday to urge government leaders to release the Americans detained for having stray ammunition in their bags.

AMERICANS ARRESTED IN TURKS AND CAICOS BUNK, PRAY TOGETHER WHILE AWAITING SENTENCINGS: ‘A BIG FAMILY’

Bryan Hagerich was detained in Turks and Caicos after having loose ammo in his luggage and was released back to the U.S. on a suspended sentence on Friday. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)

“This is great news,” U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said in a statement. “Bryan is coming home to his family. It was an honor to meet Bryan and the other detained Americans in TCI this week.”

“When we met with TCI officials a few days ago, they made clear they wanted this situation resolved,” Fetterman continued. “They recognized that Bryan and the other detained Americans are not gunrunners — they are just people who made a mistake. I’m grateful that the judge recognized that the right thing to do was to send Bryan home. I’m also grateful to the U.S. State Department which has been a critical partner in bringing Bryan home.”

Fetterman also said he is hopeful that TCI expedites the other cases of detained Americans so they can also be released soon and return to their families.

Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler said while he is “overjoyed” to see Hagerich is returning to Pennsylvania and reuniting with his wife and children, “this terrifying situation should have never happened to him, or the four other Americans still awaiting sentencing.”

“As the Turks and Caicos government works to handle future cases, the British territory must ensure the safety and wellbeing of U.S. tourists. I won’t rest until Americans can once again set foot on their islands without putting their livelihoods at risk,” the congressional representative said.

FLORIDA WOMAN BECOMES 5TH AMERICAN DETAINED IN TURKS AND CAICOS FOR CARRYING AMMO

Bryan Hagerich arrived at the Pittsburgh airport Friday night after he was released from custody on the Turks and Caicos Islands. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Hagerich said Friday night he is “forever grateful” for lawmakers’ efforts advocating for his release, including the delegation that visited the islands.

“Never in a thousand years did I expect that kind of support,” Hagerich said.

The cases of the five Americans have slight differences, but all five were arrested while traveling home after security detected ammunition in their luggage.

Hagerich had stray ammunition from a previous hunting trip in one of the compartments of a large suitcase his family had loaded their belongings into for a family vacation. 

Watson had stray ammunition, also left over from a hunting trip, in the lining of his carry-on bag. Grier had stray bullets in the lining of her bag after she recently purchased a firearm for her own protection.

Wenrich has similarly said he had no intention of bringing bullets onto the islands and had no idea he had two bullets in his travel backpack until security found them.

Fox News’ Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.

GREENCASTLE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — For anyone who’s ever been in the market for a new home, you know the process of touring houses can be exhausting and overwhelming.

Well, that’s usually the case unless Trenton Miller of Greencastle, Pennsylvania is your realtor.

The 19-year-old got into real estate about a year ago and has been making waves. Action News’ Sarah Bloomquist spoke with the teen about his viral speed tours.

He said he kept seeing boring tour videos online and on social media apps like TikTok, so he decided to switch it up.

Miller has used the ‘speedy’ approach to his tour videos, each sprinkled with some humor.

Some have said his style is very Gen X.

Miller agreed, saying, “Some realtors take everything too seriously and I believe people are wanting a change.”

He also said being a realtor at just 19 years old can be difficult. People are skeptical of his age, but he says he’s determined to do the work.

Since his speed tours started, he says business has exploded with millions of views converting clicks into clients.