#Twinkies #snacks

In case you wonder what happened to me (it’s been more than two months since my last post-yikes), I’m scrambling to finish the first draft of my latest historical novel. The heroine is another woman from Missouri, and I think you’re going to love her as much as I do. More on this soon.

As if that weren’t enough to occupy me, I’m at the Historical Novel Society annual conference this week, and wow! There’s hardly time to take a potty break, let alone do a blog post.

Given all that’s going on, I thought I’d replay a popular post from a few years ago. I hope you enjoy it!

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The grocery store isn’t my favorite place to be. Yet it’s one of those chores which must be done every week whether I like it or not. Sort of like laundry, picking up dog poo in the backyard, and counting the reasons I don’t have time to clean out the basement. As in most homes, grocery shopping is a task that usually falls to the woman of the house. On the bright side, at least I don’t find weird things in the bags like herring in cream sauce or Tabasco-coated beef jerky when I unpack them.

My shopping process is to put on blinders when I reach the “sweets” aisle. I’m not good with temptation, so a few weeks ago the blinders slipped and something caught my eye.  Strawberry filled Twinkies? This was something new. I didn’t buy them, but I did do a search, and discovered that over time, good ole’ Twinkies have become quite versatile. Here’s a quick look at what I mean.

The filled sponge cakes were originally created in 1930 by James Alexander Dewar. At first they were filled with banana cream, but (thankfully in my view) he changed the filling to vanilla during the banana rationing of World War II. Dewar dubbed his creation Twinkies after seeing a billboard in St. Louis advertising Twinkle Toe Shoes, another story altogether. He put two Twinkies in an airtight package and sold them for a nickel. People couldn’t get enough of them.

Over the years, Twinkies continued to prove their popularity, so when Hostess filed for bankruptcy in 2012, a near panic ensued. No more Twinkies? Impossible. Shoppers raided the remaining retail supplies while ambitious cooks attempted to recreate the recipe with little success. Fortunately, nine months later, Hostess emerged from bankruptcy, and Twinkies were back on store shelves. “Thank goodness,” muttered Twinkie-lovers everywhere.

Ever since, the tasty treats have undergone a number of new incarnations. Each year special limited edition flavors are introduced. These have included gems like fudge-covered Twinkies, along with the delicious fun of new fillings such as peppermint, peanut butter, cotton candy, and pumpkin spice. (Is there any food on earth that doesn’t have a fall pumpkin spice flavor?)

A particular favorite of mine is the deep-fried Twinkie. Don’t knock it ’til you try it, but if you decide to drag out the deep fryer, here’s a tip from me to you. Freeze the Twinkies before dipping them in batter and frying. Trust me on this. Freeze them or be prepared to eat Twinkie mush.

Did you know these tasty little cakes have even slipped into our cultural sensibility?

There’s the Twinkie defense – a term for an improbable defense claim, sort of like “eating too many sweets made me do it”. Or the theological Twinkie – spiritually empty calories. And don’t forget the urban legend of Twinkie’s shelf life.

Take note: Twinkies do not, in fact, last forever. Forty-five days in an unopened package is about it.

All of this has given me a new respect for Twinkies – no matter what the dictionary says – and I quote: “Twinkie: a slang term for a person or thing who looks interesting or physically attractive but has little value or worth.” Ouch! I’m sorry, but a Twinkie is more than a valueless little snack cake, isn’t it?

In fact, I’m more on board with the Hostess Twinkie slogan. They are “a big delight in every bite”.

For your viewing pleasure, I’ll end this Twinkie-loving post with a vintage Twinkie commercial. Enjoy!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmbelzVP0x4

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Pat Wahler is winner of Western Fictioneer’s Best Novel of 2018 and the Walter Williams Award for her debut novel, I AM MRS. JESSE JAMES. She is also author of an award-winning contemporary romance series, the BECKER FAMILY NOVELS, and a Reader’s Choice Favorite Christmas collection, LET YOUR HEART BE LIGHT: A CELEBRTION OF CHRISTMAS.