Didja make a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight? Here’s a diet you might wanna try. I call it Ginnie’s Crock-Pot Peanut Cluster Diet. Actually it’s not Ginnie’s recipe. It came from Bethany Hinkle, of Hinkle Auto Sales, right up the road from us. A couple of years ago we stopped in to wish the Hinkles a Merry Christmas, and Bethany had all these peanut clusters laid out for customers and family. I love peanut clusters. And, as we were to find out, these were homemade peanut clusters, by Bethany, in her crock-pot. I had never heard of such a thing. Neither had Ginnie. They were outrageous!

Well, it wouldn’t do but Ginnie had to have the recipe (yeah!) and she got right to work making Crock-Pot Peanut Clusters. I pigged out of course, so much so that Ginnie had to make a second batch. Poor me!

It wasn’t until this year that, quite by accident, I discovered that if I substituted a hand full of peanut clusters for a meal, that I actually lost weight about a pound a day. Glory be to God in Heaven! Nothing like having your peanut clusters and eating them too! I could enjoy a great chocolate treat (I’m a chocoholic), feel full and satisfied, skip a meal (usually lunch) and watch the scales creep downward, instead of the other way, which is usually the case during the holiday season. I’m calling it Ginnie’s (or Bethany’s) Crock-Pot Peanut Cluster Diet. It could revolutionize diets as we know them, and cause all these expensive fad diets and exercise machines that crop up this time of year, to run for cover. No more suffering. Enjoy yourself and lose weight!

I know I’ll be hounded to death for the recipe, so here it is, in all its glory and unpretentious splendor: Ginnie’s or Bethany’s Crock-Pot Peanut Clusters: 1– 16 oz jar salted peanuts; 1– 16 oz jar unsalted peanuts; 1– 4 oz bar German sweet chocolate; 1– 12 oz bag milk chocolate chips; 1.5 package white almond bark; 1 — 11 oz bag butterscotch chips; 1– bag Heath toffee chips; 1– 3.5 oz Hershey bar. Place all ingredients in order listed in a 6 quart crock-pot. Heat on Low for 1.5 hours. Stir. Heat for another half hour. Using tablespoon or cookie scoop, place mounds of candy on sheets of waxed paper or parchment. Makes about 120 clusters. Store in air-tight containers near a bear trap to keep wandering hands out or, in case of dieting, let’m go for it!

There, I’ve done my good deed for humanity for the Holidays. I’ve offered you a taste sensation plus a weight loss secret. It don’t get no better’n that! If you want to sample the Crock-Pot Peanut Clusters before you crock-o-lock, Ginnie’s making a second batch, or stop in at Hinkle Auto Sales on Hwy. 34 east of Mt. Pleasant. Bethany and Chris have Holiday goodies for everyone, like Santa spreading cheer all over the world.

I’m teaching Creative Writing again this year. If interested my contact info is below.

————

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.