Dear Sun Spots: I do enjoy your column every day and answer the “wants” quite often. Now, do you know the address for where they make the whoopie pies that they send every place? My niece is fond of them, and I would like to surprise her on her birthday. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Sun Spots wonders if you are referring to the Gardiner-based Isamax Snacks run by Amy Bouchard and her husband, Dan. They grew their whoopie pie-baking business, named after their children, Isabella and Maxx, from six pies per hour in their home kitchen to baking 20 varieties in their own commercial bakery. You might have also noted the business was featured on a November 2003 Oprah show and Oprah’s Web site in November/December 2004.

You can visit Isamax at 5 Mechanic St., Gardiner, or via their Web site at www.wickedwhoopies.com, or at their newest location at 621 Maine Ave., Farmingdale, or by phone at (877) 447-2629, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also order them via e-mail at david@wickedwhoopies.com or via post at 1079 Brunswick Road, Richmond, ME 04357. Isamax offers a variety of flavors, including the classic, mint, chocolate chip, maple, oatmeal cream, peanut butter, pumpkin, raspberry & cream, strawberry, whoop-de-doo and the jumbo wicked whoopie.

In the meantime, perhaps you and other whoopie pie fans will enjoy the following recipe provided by business reporter Carol Coultas some years ago. It has been a favorite here in the newsroom.

Nana Skeff’s whoopie pies

Cake ingredients: 6 tablespoons of Crisco, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 cups flour, 1¼ teaspoons baking soda, 5 tablespoons cocoa, 1 teaspoon salt. Method: Cream the first five ingredients together, then blend in the flour, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes.

Filling ingredients: 2½ tablespoons flour, ½ cup milk, 1 stick butter, ½ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Method: In a small saucepan, whisk the flour and milk together and heat until just boiling and thickened. Cool. Place in a bowl with the butter, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth and fill the cakes. Recipe makes 18.

Dear Sun Spots: Can you please tell me if there is a consignment store in the Rumford or Farmington area that takes men’s and ladies’ clothes? – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Try contacting Wear and Wares at Routes 2 and 4 in Farmington, 778-0262. They are open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are now accepting spring items for consignment. They only accept items on hangers, free of stains and no missing buttons. You might also note that they carry prom and wedding gowns, some new, some not, for purchase. They also carry tuxedos for rental.

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