’300 Sandwiches’ girl gets engaged — after only 257 sandwiches

The couple that counts sandwiches together stays together?

With 43 sandwiches still to go in her 300 Sandwiches challenge, Stephanie Smith now has an impressive sparkler on her ring finger.

Last fall, we shared New York Post reporter Smith's strategy to get her boyfriend to pop the question: sandwiches.

After making her boyfriend, Eric Schulte, a really good sandwich, he exclaimed: "Honey, you're 300 sandwiches away from an engagement ring."

She decided to hold him to his word — and launched the blog 300 Sandwiches.

The light-hearted challenge didn't sit well with everyone. Sites like Gawker and Jezebel were quick to pounce on 300 Sandwiches for representing a giant step backwards for womankind.

Snith's boyfriend was called both "the internet's worst boyfriend" and a "sandwich whore" for supporting the project — and even daring to criticize some of her creations. He quickly defended himself, and acknowledged Smith's sandwich challenge as a "herculean yet unnecessary gesture," here. (And, yes, he cooks her dinner. Often.)

Also see: '300 Sandwich' blogger lands book deal

At least she got a book deal out of it.

And now, a ring.

This week, Smith revealed that Schulte had proposed early.

While vacationing together in Barbados, Schulte popped the question — as she was getting ready to make him his 257th sandwich.

"Words cannot express how extraordinarily happy I am. Not because I have a engagement ring, but because I’m going to spend the rest of my life having ridiculously amazing adventures with my soul mate," she writes on her blog.

"My mouth hurts from smiling."

Schulte shares why he didn't wait for No. 300 with the New York Post: the avid kite-boarder wanted to propose in the most idyllic setting possible. The sandwich-in-the-making just happened to tip him over the edge.

Also see: Woman makes 300 sandwiches to get her boyfriend to propose

"As for the significance of No. 257 — it was the nearest prime number, divisible by only itself and 1," he writes. "And when she decided to make the island’s national sandwich specialty — a fish cutter — for her 257th sandwich, I knew it was time."

And, yes, Smith plans on making those final 43 sandwiches.

"I still plan on getting to No. 300 for Eric. He deserves those 43 sandwiches. Not just because he proposed, but because while I’m making them, he shows me how to really enjoy life," she writes in the New York Post.

"He’s taught me to sing in the morning, and not to be afraid of failure — whether in the kitchen or at work or play. He’s showed me how to love unconditionally — even when your partner, who might have planned to make pulled pork sandwiches, is yelling at the Crock-Pot after she burned the meat. Eric makes me laugh when I feel like screaming, and comforts me during moments of extreme anguish."

She adds, "Who knows where we will end up when we finally reach 300?"

In case you were wondering, Schulte's lists his five favourite sandwiches here.

Expect to see Smith's "300 Sandwiches" book on shelves next February.

Have you ever won over a significant other with your culinary skills?