What is the strangest diet you’ve ever tried?

As the year comes to an end, most of us are already looking toward the New Year and with that, its inevitable resolutions. For many, that involves some miraculous transformation; usually revolving around the removal of added pounds from holiday imbibing and quite frankly, too much fudge.

Unfortunately, the Rx to eat less and exercise more is simply too banal for most dieters. They would rather consume gallons of cabbage soup or fast on a brew of lemon, cayenne and maple syrup.

If losing weight is on your agenda, how are you going to do it? What is the weirdest diet you’ve ever heard of or tried? Let the goddess know. And in the meantime – enjoy the last precious moments before your penance.

Speaking of cleaning out…before we close out the year, let’s clean out the culinary queen’s mailbox. While too late for this holiday, Dae Thompson of Marietta, as always, has some very helpful ideas to mentally tuck away for next year.

Thompson writes: “I agree, during the holiday season there’s too much sweets and not enough time to work it off! I will make one of my baked specialties if requested, but sometimes I add a surprise such as fresh fruit or jam.” Other of her homemade gifts include butcher aprons, ornaments and beaded napkin rings. She adds, “Some of my friends are ‘domestically challenged' (heck, my sister uses her smoke detector as a timer and a friend told me she only has a kitchen because it came with the house!) so I even offer cooking assistance and lessons for a special dinner via a ‘coupon.' " Now that sounds like the best present one could ask for.

The Goddess also received good news from reader Margie Berinhout of Norcross who asked for help in baking better pie crusts for Thanksgiving. She writes, “I followed your advice including reducing the liquid of the apples before baking and placing the pie on a preheated baking stone on a lower rack in the oven. IT WORKED! The crust came out great!”