A Newtown woman's entry in the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium's Lighthouse Contest looks irresistibly delicious, true. But we're going to guess you probably wouldn't want to eat the whole thing in one sitting.
And so Donna Kern Ball's "Twinkie Twinkie, Little Lighthouse" — one of 22 handmade lighthouses currently on display as part of the aquarium's holiday festivities — has inspired, of course, a calorie-counting contest.
"Made of Twinkies, Hohos and cupcakes, this could be our most delicious entry ever in our Festival of Lighthouses!" the aquarium wrote on its Facebook page. "Closest guess to the number of calories -- without going over! -- tastes sweet victory and wins a Family 4-Pack to see this and 20 other lighthouses decorating our galleries this holiday season."
Apparently an employee calculated the number — and while the guesses are pouring in, the Aquarium's not telling until Thursday. A representative said the response has been the biggest of anything they'd ever seen on social media: more than 1,000 Likes and nearly 200 shares.
A few hints: it's hollow in the middle and goes all the way around. The bottom is made up of Hostess cupcake wrapping paper, which the aquarium notes, does not count in the final total.
Kern Ball is a veteran of the annual lighthouse contest, having won in 2011 and taken sixth place last year.
"Twinkie Twinkie, Little Lighthouse" is made up of eight layers of Twinkies, with alternating layers rimmed by either Ho-Hos or even more Twinkies cut in half. On top, Kern Ball added three levels of Hostess chocolate cupcakes. The coup de grace is the lantern atop the whole monument, topped with a crown made of — you guessed it — more Twinkies.
The exhibit runs through Jan. 20, but if you'd like to have a go at just how unhealthy this lighthouse is, you'd better hurry — the contest closes Thursday at noon. Check out the Maritime Aquarium's Facebook page for more details.
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