So Lily and I didn’t win the Parent-Child Cookie Contest at the Topsfield Fair…………but these are darn good!

We really did try!  Here is the cookie recipe that I gave you a couple of weeks ago but with a filling added to make it a sandwich cookie!  They are so good but didn’t bring home a ribbon.  Oh well….Like I tell Lily, you win some, you lose more but you will never win if you don’t try!  I hope you enjoy these and please let me know what you think.

This was our presentation plate for the judges:

Fruity Fall Flavors Cinnamon Sandwich Cookies

For the filling:

4 tablespoons cinnamon chips
½ teaspoon vegetable shortening
4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons dulce de leche*

In a small microwave safe bowl, combine chips and shortening.  Microwave on high power for one minute and stir until smooth.  In a medium bowl beat together cream cheese and dulce de leche until blended.  Beat in melted cinnamon chips until smooth.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the cookies:

1 cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
7 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
7 tablespoons butter flavored shortening (you can use all butter but the cookies will be flatter and that’s 0k)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup sweetened dried cranberries
½ cup dried apples, diced
2/3 cup cinnamon chips**
2 ½ cups old fashioned oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 4 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg and set aside.

In another bowl, beat together butter, shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla extract until well combined.  With mixer running on low speed, slowly incorporate flour mixture.  Mix in cranberries, apples, cinnamon chips and oats and beat again until just combined.

Scoop by rounded tablespoonfuls (use a tiny ice cream scoop if you have one so they call come out round and the same size and cook at the same time) on to prepared baking sheet, 12 to a sheet. Bake for 9 minutes cookies are slightly browned on the bottom.   Remove from oven and allow to cool on parchment.

To assemble, spread two teaspoons prepared filling on the bottom side of one cookie.  Top with another cookie, bottom side down.  Repeat with remaining cookies and enjoy!

*this can be found in a small can in the international food section with the other milk products, it is made by Nestle and is called “La Lechera.”  Look at the photo below.  The cans on the left side are sweetened condensed milk, the cans on the right side are what you want.  It is a very thick brown caramel in a can about the size of sweetened condensed milk.  I found it in the new Market Basket in Gloucester in the section with the Goya foods.   This is what it looks like:

**They still don’t have these in at the new Market Basket–ask the manager to get them next time you are there–if we all keep asking, I bet they will stock them.  In a pinch, you can use butterscotch chips and add some cinnamon, about a teaspoon, to the dry ingredients

This Weekend On Cape Ann- From The Chamber

Friday-Sunday, October 23-25
HAMMOND CASTLE
will host the Castle of the Damned– the most unique Halloween attraction in New England– on October 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and November 1 (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays), 7-11pm each night (ticket gate closes at 10:45pm). Admission is $15. Parking is available at Stage Fort Park with a free “Shudder Shuttle” to carry visitors to the castle. BEWARE! “The Castle of the Damned” may be too intense for young audiences! 781-346-1028 www.pastimesentertainment.com/castle.html

Friday-Sunday, October 23-25
Fall Shorts

BLACKBURN PERFORMING ARTS presents the all North Shore production of “Fall Shorts” October 23, 24, 25, Friday-Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 5pm. Seven short plays about everything from TV talk shows with guests you don’t want to meet, to marriage “self help,” to playground Mums sharing Margaritas, to the latest in funeral fashion. Tickets: $15.

Friday-Sunday, October 23-25
ShocktoberFest

Cape Ann movie fans who know not to brave the crowds in Salem for a haunted Halloween have another choice this year – Gloucester. Friday, October 23, through November 1, THE CAPE ANN COMMUNITY CINEMA at 21 Main Street in Gloucester will present “ShocktoberFest,” a variety of scary movies and events for every taste and every age. 978-309-8448

Saturday, October 24
Roast Beef Fundraiser Dinner

THE GLOUCESTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 436 Washington Street in Gloucester, will hold a Roast Beef dinner and concert by the Docksiders on October 24 to benefit the Docksiders as they play their way to Honolulu, Hawaii in April of 2010, where they will perform aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. Tickets: $15/person, $7/children under 12. There will be two seatings for dinner and a concert. Reservations are now being accepted. 978-281-1040

Saturday, October 24
Recycling Fundraiser

CAPE ANN ANIMAL AID and BIG BROTHER, BIG SISTER will host a recycling fundraiser on Saturday, October 24, 9am-1pm at the Fuller School parking lot. Large televisions and appliances will be collected for $20, air conditioners and monitors for $10-15. Printers, computers, fax machines, vacuums, lawn mowers, CD/DVD players, and scanners etc. will be collected for $5 each. All donations are tax deductible. 978-281-1883 978-283-6055

Saturday, October 24
The Merchant of Venice

THE ROCKPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY will show the film “The Merchant of Venice” on Saturday, October 24, at 2pm. The work will be the focus of the Shakespeare Readers’ discussion on Monday, October 26, at 4pm. 978-546-6934

Sunday, October 25
Essex Clamfest RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER
The twenty-seventh annual Essex ClamFest has been rescheduled due to weather for Sunday, October 25, 11am-4pm in Memorial Park in Essex. The highlight of the day will be the Clam Chowder Tasting, a competition that pits area restaurants against one another to determine who serves the best chowder on Cape Ann. Ten local restaurants are expected to serve up their favorite chowder recipes, 12noon-2pm.

Sunday, October 25

Celtic Music Session

Join Michael O’Leary and Friends for their Celtic music sessions at ELLIOTT’S AT THE BLACKBURN on Sunday, October 25, 6-9pm. An acoustic session of mostly traditional songs and tunes from the Celtic countries and Cape Breton.

Another indoor Saturday. What to do?

I’m getting used to at least one rainy weekend day. Actually accomplishing all those things that have been ignored for months. Today I’m tackling the computer/ exercise room as well as a list of errands a mile long. But first I’m making Anadama french toast for breakfast. That will hit the spot!

What are your plans for the day? Big food? A room make-over? A lazy day on the couch? Happy Saturday!

Passports Rogue Burger Challenge T Shirt

Chef Erik Lorden is touting The Rogue Burger as The Largest On Cape Ann.  If one of our contestants finishes it this morning they will be the proud owner of this sweet limited edition T-Shirt.

It’s going to be a knock down drag out battle with this burger. 10AM Saturday, Passports- Be There To Cheer On Our Challengers!

I will personally donate a limited edition Captain Joe and Sons T Shirt to any broads that want to come down in a cheerleader outfit to cheer on the contestants and be part of the video taping.

Rogue Burger Challenge
Rogue Burger Challenge