Whoopie!!! A Rainy Evening

Today was a rare overcast day, for the most part, and while it is no longer raining the cloudy evening was perfect for an inside activity with my two sons. While we could have spent the evening playing video games or cards, I had something a little different in mind. Why not something really masculine, you know, an activity that would prepare my two boys to be real men, great husbands and respected fathers. I gathered the two of them together for some man time and announced to them, "let's make some homemade Whoopie Pies." They looked at me quizically, like I had entirely lost my faculties and gone stark raving mad. Then I showed them the pictures in the latest edition of Cooking With Paula Deen and smiles came to their faces, almost simultaneously.


Now it's no secret that I truly enjoy experimenting with food and cooking, and if I do say so myself, I am fairly adept. I am confident that my wife would confirm that appraisal. And, I do honestly feel that cooking is a skill that makes a young man a high value target in the eyes of bachelorettes worldwide. I mean what beautiful southern belle wouldn't pine for a beau who knows how to make whoopie pies?

And so we begin, after both boys were appropriately uniformed for the task they gathered the dry ingredients for the cake batter. Michelle was skeptical when she realized that they would be making the batter from scratch which only seemed to strengthen the resolve of the two apprentice bakers.


JD took charge of the batter preparation phase confidently directing his capable assistant Noah who diligently measured out the ingredients for his brother.

Like any good assistant, Noah occasionally referred to the recipe in order to insure that JD was on track.

JD was finding the mixer process to be a bit of a challenge and slightly messy so he "directed" his younger brother to step in and "do something." Noah with his usual ginger swag willfully accepted the assignment while reminding his older brother that after all he was a "master mixer."

While the master mixer worked on achieving a fluffy mixture of butter and sugar, JD began to incorporate the cocoa powder into the flour and baking powder.

When the sugar and butter were adequately fluffed, JD took the lead once again adding vanilla extract and eggs to the mixing bowl.

The master mixer took over again as JD alternately added the flour and cocoa dry mix along with buttermilk to the mixing bowl in order to finish the whoopie pie batter.

When the batter was finished, the two bakers decided it was time to test the mixture. After all, the best part of baking is licking the beaters.

Sammie even dropped her favorite sock monkey in order to make herself available for beater duty, just in case.

While JD prepared the cookie portions for the oven Noah began prep work on the peanut butter cream filling.

The master mixer rides again...

After the pies were removed from the oven and cooled, it was time for the peanut butter cream filling and final assembly of the whoopie pies. They found a temporary home on a plate. After all, quality control is of the utmost importance in the kitchen.

After sampling the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Whoopie Pies Noah informed JD that his newly acquired skill could be put to use back at the Sigma Chi House at USC and that the whoopie pies would be a great addition to the football tailgate parties. I don't know about that, but I do know I had a lot of fun watching and listening to my sons as they worked together in the kitchen, and I am betting that some day, when the right girl comes along they will both pull this one out of the old memory bank and charm their way into a young girls heart through her sweet tooth.

Hopefully the sun will shine wherever you are tomorrow AND here in the Land of Palm Trees as well. Check back Thursday for the recipe for these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Whoopie Pies.