Moon Pie

By Claire Bush

In 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong caused quite a stir with many farmers in the deep South when he made his famous “moonwalk,” since they felt that a human being had no business trampling around in the heavens and interfering with the crop schedule.

Planting and reaping crops, raising livestock and performing many other day to day chores according to the phases of the moon is still common practice in many parts of Appalachia today.

Every month’s full moon has a name. The October 2007 full moon, which occurs on the 26^th, is the Hunter’s moon, so named by Native Americans who used the cooler fall nights to forage for wild game.

Celebrate this month’s full moon with these delicious moon pie cookies.

Old Fashioned Moon Pies

½ cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

½ tsp salt

½ cup cocoa powder

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

½ cup softened butter

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

1 cup marshmallow creme

In large mixing bowl, beat together ½ cup butter or margarine and sugar. Add egg, evaporated milk, and vanilla and mix. In a separate bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients slowly to butter and sugar mixture until just combined. Drop dough onto greased cookie sheet, leaving plenty of room (dough will be slightly ‘soupy’ and spreads as it bakes). Bake for 6-8 minutes, or until firm when pressed in the middle. Allow to cool at least one hour before filling.

To make filling: Use mixer to blend ½ cup butter or margarine, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla and marshmallow creme until smooth. Spread 1-2 tbsp of filling on flat side of one cookie and top with a second cookie to make “moon pies.”

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