Market and Chat

I can't believe that the first day of Farmer's Market season is almost here. Every year, I have found that by the end of the market season, I'm tired and ready for it to be over. But then by April, I'm always getting the itch, and I'm so excited to get back to it all. This year has been no different. 


Monday will mark the beginning of my third season at the Whitehall Farmer's Market at Caste Village Shopping Center. I'm so excited because I got the same spot this year as I had last year. I love my neighbors in the booths next to me and across from me. I love to chat with them when the crowd slows down, and I love to purchase their wares. Joyce has fabulous fudge, Lynn has the best pierogies, and Paul and JoAnn have great fruit! I'm also really happy that I'm soon going to get to see all of my regulars again, and I hope to meet some new folks that soon will also become steady customers. It's just such an exciting time!


So this weekend, I'm baking my little heart out...well, at least trying to in the midst of two dance recitals and a graduation party. Be sure to stop by for all the usual suspects that you're used to getting at my table: Better Than Regular Old Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip Snowballs (Justin at Escajeda's Tacos LOVES these cookies–I've tried to get him to try something else, but he can't bring himself to do it), Ma Abbate's Oatmeal Rounds, A-maize-ingly Lime Cookies (Lynn at ZumZum swears she's not a sweets eater, but she seems to really like these ones; Angela seems to really like these ones, too), Cinnasnappers, Squish Monsters (everybody's favorite), Fudgy Brownies of Doom, Apple and Blueberry HappyJacks (Debbie loves the blueberry ones!), and some Super Apple HappyJacks. In addition, my cookie of the week will be Loaded Blondies...a brownie-like texture of a cookie bar, but with no chocolate, loaded with chocolate chips, toffee chips, and coconut. My newest creation this year, though, and one that I'm so excited to see how you all like it, are my Jackanese Fortune Cookies. They'll be the best fortune cookie you've ever had, trust me.


One other thing I wanted to mention was that I'm doing another HappyJack Chat at the Whitehall Library on July 18 at 7:00 pm. The topic this time is Chocolate and Oatmeal. I'll be demonstrating how to make a chocolate chip oatmeal cake that is foolproof, moist, and delicious. I'll also share with you Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookie recipe that uses oatmeal in two forms. These aren't the cookies I sell at the market, but they're a pretty good, hearty cookie that I'm sure you'll love. Be sure to sign up at the library's web site and join me for an hour of conversation all about baking, chocolate, and oatmeal.


Well, that's it for now. I can't wait to see everyone on Monday. Please stop by and say hi, even if you're not in the mood for my treats. I miss you!