| 100% | MAC | 3 | ___ and cheese, a casserole baked in oven that is considered to be a comfort food in the US |
| 48% | BRIE | 4 | Grayish white cheese that originated from a French region of the same name and is considered to be in a low lactose range of 0-2% |
| 47% | GOUDA | 5 | Mild yellow cheese that originated in Netherlands and is considered to be in a low lactose range of 0-2.2% |
| 46% | CHEDDAR | 7 | Off-white, sharp-tasting cheese that originated in Somerset and is considered to be in a low lactose range of 0-1.1% |
| 41% | BENCRENSHAH | 11 | US Masters Champion ('84 and '95) who's considered to be golf royalty in the middle east? |
| 40% | SLICER | 6 | Rival Electric ___, vintage appliance to cut meats and save a trip to the deli that could be spotted in a '70s kitchen |
| 39% | DRPEPPER | 8 | Soda that, according to the Food and Drug Administration, is not technically a cola |
| 39% | VOTE | 4 | November 8 is a crucial midterm in the US, please register and ___ |
| 39% | ALABAMA | 7 | Montgomery's state that was the first US state to recognize Christmas as a holiday in 1836 |
| 39% | TAPIRS | 6 | Large animals that look a little pig-like, are related to rhinos and live in the Amazon |
| 39% | FURNITUREASSEMBLY | 17 | Ikea task, and a task that can be applied to the sets of circled letters in this puzzle |
| 39% | RYE | 3 | Pliny the Elder wrote that this food "of a dark and sombre color" is a "poor food and only serves to avert starvation" |
| 38% | IKEA | 4 | Company that was the first in the U.S. to air a TV ad with a gay couple (1994) |
| 38% | STIRUPDRAMA | 11 | Create tension in a group, and a direction that was followed when forming the answer to each starred clue? |
| 38% | HERO | 4 | *Person who saves the day... and a word you may use to describe those being celebrated in this puzzle |
| 38% | MIDDLEMARCH | 11 | Sixth novel by George Eliot (birthday yesterday) which was written in two pieces that holds a lot of historical value and is considered to be her best work |
| 38% | POPSICLE | 8 | Frozen treat that is assumed to be a portmanteau of the words "pop" and "icicle" |
| 38% | BLACKWELL | 9 | Elizabeth ___, British physician who was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the US |
| 38% | MOUSELEMUR | 10 | A species unique to Madagascar that is the world's smallest primate and one of the smallest mammals in the world: 2 wds. |
| 37% | MUFFIN | 6 | Baked breakfast item that comes in blueberry and chocolate varieties ... and a word that can be slangily used to refer to one's "head" |
| 37% | TIGERWOODS | 10 | Considered one of the best in golf, he was central figure in a controversy that involved infidelity and ended in his divorce: 2 wds. |
| 37% | CLIMBING | 8 | Sport ___, sport that will debut in the 2020 Olympics and requires contestants to ascend a steep wall with their hands and feet |
| 37% | SALLIE | 6 | The ___ House, house in Kansas that is said to be haunted and has appeared on the TV series, "Ghost Adventures" |
| 37% | GROCERY | 7 | Store that sells food and goods in the US |
| 37% | NUDE | 4 | Second single from Radiohead's album in 18a, that had a different title originally and was supposed to be part of the album "OK Computer" |
| 37% | SALT | 4 | ___ Lake City, US city that was host to the Winter Olympics held in 2002 |
| 37% | MONTRACHET | 10 | Goat cheese made in Burgundy in the form of a cylinder that is then wrapped with a chestnut leaf and tied with raffia |
| 37% | YELP | 4 | Crowd-sourced review site that is assumed to be a portmanteau of the words "yellow pages" and "the help" |
| 37% | BELL | 4 | ___ Witch Cave, karst cave in Tennessee that is said to be haunted and inspired the film, "An American Haunting" |
| 37% | SPOT | 4 | Parking ___, place in the car lot where you might be parked, and something that seems impossible to find when you're in a rush |