November 16, 2018


Whoopie Pies
For Thanksgiving



Three years ago, my wife and I took a quick trip to Maine. One of the places we visited was Freeport. There are lots of little shops along Freeport's Main Street, and there are some nice benches too. I decided to sit on a bench and study the passing humanity while Marlene checked out some of the shops. A little while later she showed up with two whoopie pies from the Wicked Whoopies store.

I'm not a big fan of cake, and whoopie pies are like little reconfigured cakes. Or, maybe they're like big cakey cookies. I'm sure they aren't actually pies, at least not in the traditional sense of the word.

But, whatever they are, Marlene was mighty impressed. As she was savoring those whoopie things, she kept telling me I needed to have a taste. So I did. I must admit, they were surprisingly good.

Those whoopie pies made such an impression on Marlene that I think they might have been the highlight of the trip for her. She mentions them every so often, and I've heard her telling her friends about them on the phone. 

So, it was no surprise yesterday when the UPS man delivered a box of 12 Wicked Whoopie pies to our house—straight from Maine. Marlene found them for sale on the Home Shopping Network for just about half the price they would cost if purchased from the Wicked Whoopies web site.

There are 12 different flavors of whoopie pies in the box. The plan is to cut each one into small wedges and let everyone who comes to Thanksgiving dinner next week have a sample. It will be something different and fun.

But do you think Marlene could resist having a taste after they arrived? Not a chance. We don't eat many sugary foods anymore, and she's been craving one of those whoopie pies for three years!

Marlene chose the mint-flavored whoopie pie and cut a piece for the both of us. It was a nice treat. But, honestly, it wasn't as good as a fresh Freeport whoopie pie.

So, those whoopie pies are now in the freezer. Out of sight, out of mind. Well, maybe. I'll be surprised if we don't have a little sample (or two) again before next Thursday.


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My main reason for posting this story is to introduce you to the Wicked Whoopies business. It's a family business, started by a mom in her kitchen. It's a nice American entrepreneurial success story. I love entrepreneurial stories like this! Here it is...


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Did you know that whoopie pies are the official State treat of Maine? I was born in Maine and I never knew it (I just read it on Wikipedia). Neither of my grandmothers (native Mainers, and great cooks) made whoopie pies that I know of. My mother never made whoopie pies. I wonder if they even knew whoopie pies were the official state treat? There was, after all, no Wikipedia in their day.

Important Note: Please don't make the mistake of confusing the official Maine State treat of whoopie pies with the official Maine State dessert. They are two different things. The official Maine dessert is blueberry pie.


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One more thing...

When I was a kid, I got a world almanac for Christmas one year and it contained the hardest tongue twister in the world. Here it is...

The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.

It's actually not that hard to say. But "wicked whoopie cookie" is wicked hard. Try it. Three times in a row. Real fast...    

Do you like whoopie pies?


4 comments:

  1. My mother-in-law from New Hampshire introduced me to Whoopie Pies. People must like the tradition more than the taste!

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    Replies
    1. You might be right about that. I'll take blueberry pie over a whoopie pie every time. Thanks for the comment.

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  2. My wife is originally from Pennsylvania and whoopie pies are very popular there. I have to say that my wife makes some of the best whoopie pies you will every taste. I had never heard of them until I met her as they are basically unknown to most that live in the western states.

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  3. That's a great comment. You are a fortunate man, Jim. :-)
    BTW, for what it's worth, the official snack of Pennsylvania is the chocolate chip cookie.

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