You have to marvel at the strength and ingenuity of a company that got its start during The Great Depression, selling happiness during a bleak time by convincing boot-strapped Americans to spend a nickel on two shortcakes filled with banana cream filling – the original Twinkie®.
In the 1960s, when I was born, America’s economic fears were replaced with threats of nuclear attacks. Once again, Hostess® was there to support Americans–they were the perfect food to stock bomb shelter pantries, because it was said that Twinkes® “stay fresh forever.” The Hostetss Twinkie® is perhaps an American Icon: president Clinton put one in a time capsule.
Maybe it was because we never did have a bomb shelter, but Hostess® products were a rarity in our house when I was a kid. Twinkies® , in essence, were those treats my parents brought out for special occasions–like when we had “company” over. I always felt like I was missing out, and apparently, I was.
Some of you crave Twinkies® , and for some Donettes® are a staple at the breakfast table. Twinkies® may even help you lose weight.
My friend Wendy shared a story with me about a friend of hers who is a leader on Weight Watchers, losing 2.5 pounds last week, while still eating a Twinkie® every single day. “She said she was craving them and with the point system she was still able to eat them.”
That’s a healthy attitude toward weight loss…just give in to the Twinkie® , get it over with, and no binging later.
Hostess® just released the NEW Hostess Chocolate Crème Twinkies®. This is the sponge cake on the outside with chocolaty crème filling on the inside. What took them so long? Why did it take Hostess®so long to combine chocolaty crème with sponge cake? Maybe because it has taken that many years to perfect the recipe?
Sadly, friends, adding chocolaty goodness to something does not always make it “awesome.” After taking one bite of the new Chocolate Crème Twinkies® I was disappointed. The cake itself was tougher, chewier and not the soft pillow I remember biting into when I went to my friend’s house. Perhaps, this is because the cake had to be “firmed” up to hold the chocolate crème? The filling was too rich for my taste.
The classic crème Twinkie®, in my opinion, is still superior, but please, don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself and decide.
Moving on, I also tried Hostess’ new Frosted Devil’s Food Donettes®. These are made from a devil’s food cake, which is then dipped into a chocolate-flavored coating. This, my friends, is a winning combination. There is a hint of a reminder of chocolate flavored Zingers®–the chocolaty-flavored coating is almost like a combination of candy and frosting–and it is utterly delectable. While most think of donuts as a quick and easy breakfast option, these Donettes® are good enough to save for a late-night, after dinner treat, when there is just no time to whip up a dessert.
So, friends, what are your earliest memories of Twinkies®? Leave a comment below about the appearance, or lack, of Twinkies® in your house (or any other childhood Hostess® memory) to be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card giveaway, courtesy of Hostess® and BlogHer.
SWEEPSTAKES/GIVEAWAY RULES
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/29/12 – 3/31/12.
Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
I have never tasted a Twinkie. I grew up in South Jersey and a regional snack-cake company called Tastykakes owned us, body and soul. Twinkies were so not on our radar that the first time I ever really remember hearing about them was in the TV show, “All in the Family.”
But…if I were chosen as the random winner, I would buy a Twinkie. Honestly.
P.S. When my daughter was a toddler, the appearance of the “Twinkie the Kid” mascot at a community festival absolutely terrified her. She burst out crying and hid her face in my shoulder. The idea of a six-foot-tall snack cake wearing a cowboy hat WAS a little startling….
With seven children in our family, hostess twinkies were certainly a rare treat! As soon as the box was opened, they were gone.
I remember always eating my Twinkie by first biting off each end and then eating the middle.
Thanks for the contest.
Blogged:
http://slehan.blogspot.com/2012/03/win-100-visa-from-hostess-blogher.html
We NEVER had Twinkies in my house. But my best friend in fourth grade brought one to school every day. And sometimes she was willing to share. 🙂 I can still remember the way it smelled when she opened the plastic wrapper!
My earliest memory of Twinkies was when a friend at school told me they could survive a nuclear war. I was always more of a Hostess Cupcake or Ho-Ho girl.
tweet:
https://twitter.com/#!/mrs_puddle/status/185920211906609153
I remember when my mom gave me the Twinkies® after school I was so happy and I enjoyed the super soft cake that afternoon, this is my favorite memory of a Hostess® snack cake and I give my children the same Twinkies® after school, they are so happy to have them. It is nothing better than you see your loved ones are so happy.
ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
I tweeted about this Giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/ctong2/status/185966219533352960
ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
I remember eating Twinkies as a little girl…I always loved to eat the ends first, then use my tongue to enjoy the cream filling. 😀
I was never a big fan of Twinkies but oh those chocolate cupcakes! They are still my favorite, and it has to be Hostess. The other brands just don’t compare.
It started with hostess treats, either Twinkies or Cupcakes or Donuts, in my lunchbox for school and for the rest of my life, I’ve never been able to resist those little chocolate donuts. Thanks a lot, Mom!
I have fond memories of receiving hostess snacks as treats when I visited my grandparents.
Tweet – https://twitter.com/#!/willitara/status/186210102922055682
My earliest fave memory is getting home and dunking chocolate Hostess Donettes in milk.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/wizardewu/status/186229660890316801
I was not a huge fan of twinkies but loved the chocolate cupcakes!! YUM!
Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/ajoy1332/status/186239673893535744