Dear Sun Spots: Where would one be able to find someone in the Lewiston or Auburn area that fixes record players? Thanks. – No Name, No Town.

Answer:
Contact Maurice’s Electronics, 153 Ferry Road, Lewiston, 784-2731. Hopefully you can soon enjoy your music again.

Dear Sun Spots: Would you know when the North Dakota and South Dakota state quarters are coming out? – No Name, No Town.

Answer: The following response appeared in the July 5 column:

According to www.usmint.gov there is no actual date set for those state quarters being released in 2007 and 2008. However, a customer service representative at the U.S. Mint notes they’ll likely come out around the same time of year the other previously released coins have. In the meantime, the Colorado state quarter was released June 14. The North Dakota one is expected to be released Sept. 26, 2006, and the South Dakota coin on Nov. 28, 2006. Those to be released in 2007 include the states of Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. In 2008 the Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii state quarters will be released.

Dear Sun Spots: A while ago you published a recipe for molasses cookies and I have lost it. Could you please publish it again for me? Thank you. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: The following recipe appeared in the Jan. 25 column:

Soft molasses cookies. Ingredients: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup oil, 1 cup molasses, 1 cup strong black coffee, 1½ tablespoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon allspice, add just enough flour to handle and roll out. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Soft molasses cookies. Ingredients: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup Crisco, 1 egg, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1¼ cup molasses, 1 cup sour milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 4 teaspoons baking soda, 6 cups flour.

Method: Cream Crisco and sugar. Add egg, milk and molasses, and mix well. Add dry ingredients, mix well. Empty out on floured board, knead and cut into desired shapes. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. I cook them for 10 minutes.

You might also be interested in the following soft and chewy molasses cookies from http://southernfood.about.com/library/prntnews/pn456.htm.

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour, measure after sifting; 2 teaspoons baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¾ teaspoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground cloves; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1¼ cups butter, at room temperature (1½ sticks); 1 cup dark brown sugar – firmly packed; 1 large egg; ¼ cup molasses.

Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with the rack in the center position. Line two heavy-duty baking sheets with parchment paper or butter the baking sheets and dust with flour, shaking out the excess.

Use a hand mixer fitted with the beater attachment on low speed to combine the first six ingredients. Add the remaining ingredients, increase the heat to medium, and beat for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll the chilled dough into walnut-sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake until the tops are dry, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Makes 30 to 36 cookies.

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