Dear Sun Spots: I am hoping someone can help me. On Jan. 3, the Channel 6 the “207” show at 7 p.m. featured a woman who makes approximately 5,000 whoopie pies a day. To get the recipe, one had to go online. Will someone please share the recipe with me? Also, would anyone know where I could purchase an “old time” jackknife? – Carolyn Allen, West Farmington.

Answer: Sun Spots was unfamiliar with an “old time” jackknife and welcomes responses from readers who may be know where one can be purchased.

The woman you’re referring to is Amy Bouchard of Isamax Snacks, where, according to the bakery’s Web site, they make the word’s most “wicked whoopies.” Amy and her husband, Dan, 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, Isamax Snacks, 5 Mechanic St., Gardiner, (877) 447-2629. Here’s the recipe you requested. For more information, visit their Web site at www.wickedwhoopies.com.

Wicked whoopie pies

whoopie pie shells

Ingredients:

4 heaping cups sifted flour

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup cocoa

2 cups sugar

1 cup hot water

½ cup butter

½ cup shortening

1 cup sour milk or 1 tablespoon vinegar and enough milk to make 1 cup

2 eggs

1 teaspoon genuine vanilla or 2 teaspoons imitation vanilla

Method:

Mix together shortening, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. Add milk, cocoa and hot water to shortening mixture. Then add the dry ingredients. Scoop large rounded spoonfuls of batter onto a greased cookie sheet and space at least 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Whoopie pie filling

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons fluff

4 tablespoons vanilla

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons milk

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

1½ cups shortening

Method:

Put all ingredients in a bowl and beat until smooth. Then place scoop of filling between two of the shells and enjoy!

Dear Sun Spots: For Paula Carson of Lisbon Falls and J.Z. of Rumford (Dec. 31 Sun Spots column) who are looking for someone who does chair-caning, I do this and can be reached at (207) 783-0022. – Louise Forgues, Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: I’m a grammy and have knitted many Christmas stockings over the years. However, I have misplaced or lost my knitting pattern. This year, I had a request from a family member for another stocking. I am hoping some Sun Spots readers might help me out of my dilemma. The stocking pattern is WM0606 by Bernat. It has a snowman design and is about 24 inches from top to toe. I need the knitted version, not the crocheted one. If you have the pattern, would you be willing to part with it, even temporarily so I could copy the directions? I can be reached at (207) 782-0209. Thanks in advance. – Arlene, Auburn.

Answer: We hope some Sun Spots readers may be familiar with this pattern and can share it with you. Sun Spots called the Central Yarn Shop in Portland, which carries some Bernat yarn but no longer has any Christmas stocking patterns or kits in stock. A spokesman at that shop said that the pattern you’re seeking hasn’t been around for some time. Also, the Bernat yarn company has a Web site, www.bernat.com, but it doesn’t have the pattern you’re referring to available.

Dear Sun Spots: What would folks do without you? This is a great column and I read it daily. I recently wrote in a letter asking about homemade rice or corn bags that folks heat or freeze to put on ailments, and I would like to thank all the nice folks who called me; I even got a few long-distance callers. I really appreciate it. – B. Doherty, Rumford.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].