February 15, 2013
It was in my freshman year of college that a classmate from Odessa introduced me to peanuts and Coke .. or Coke and peanuts, depending on where you're from.
It's been love at first swig ever since.
The recipe is precisely what the name implies: pour peanuts into a bottle of Coke, and enjoy. Bottle, not can. Ya gotta be able to see the concoction so you know when to add peanuts.
It's the perfect road trip snack. Remember trying to eat a Whopper while driving? Most of it winds up on your lap, seat and/or floorboard. Peanuts and Coke is quick and easy. No waiting in fast-food drive-throughs -- a quick stop at any convenience store and you're back on the road in no time.
Everyone has his own blend, of course. After years testing, I've found that the 2 little bags of peanuts for 99 cents is perfect for a 20-oz. bottle of Coke. I switched to unsalted peanuts after one ol' boy said the salt kills the fizz.
No one knows when or where the tradition began -- the late 1920s, I would guess, maybe in the Atlanta area.
Someone admitted to putting peanuts into Mountain Dew. Really?
Mark Watkins
