So we did it again: the SUV-size spare tire residing around our waist or thighs which are rivaling that of an NFL lineman. Now we are paying penance by starting a New Year's diet.

With apologies to the proponents of South Beach, Atkins, CortiSlim and other miracle diets, I think that I have found the secret of dieting, one with a 40,000 year history of success—the Cro-Magnon diet.

Our caveman ancestors ate prodigiously this time of the years to carry them through harsh winters. Consider the dire consequences of being too thin this time of year if suddenly Starbucks or Giant closed its doors. Consider the trauma of watching "Fear Factor" or "Desperate Housewives" without potato chips and guacamole dip! The evidence is incontrovertible that the survival of mankind demands that we are fat in the winter and thin in the summer.

The Cro-Magnon diet is very simple: splurge now and make Valentine's Day the day of your "Last Meal".

In keeping with the need to maintain body weight this time of year, I'm recommending this recipe for Carrot Cake, one of my very favorites. This, incidentally, is a 40,000 year-old recipe, found scratched on the wall of a Paleolithic cave in France.

[Carrot Cake Recipe follows with ingredients and instructions]

Enjoy and Happy Valentine's!