Madison County Courier

Youngster’s cookie business going strong


Posted By Margo On April 27, 2010 (12:00 pm) In Business & Finance, Front Page, Oneida



Mckenzie Foote is pictured with mom Shannon Crandall with some of her specialty cookies. (Aaron Gifford).



‘Footie’s Goodies’ owner, a sixth-grader, said experience has been fun and educational



By Aaron Gifford



(Oneida, NY) Mackenzie Foote could tell by the look on others’ faces that there was money to be made.



The eyes light up after that first bite, and the cookie is devoured quickly. No one can eat just one. Mackenzie figured people would be willing to pass by the grocery store cookie shelves and make a special trip for her baked goods, even if they cost more.



She was right: During her first and only sale day at school earlier this year, Mackenzie made a $45 profit.



“But then I got in trouble,” said Foote, 12, a sixth-grader at Seneca Street Elementary in the Oneida City School District. “So I had to figure out another way to sell them.”



“She loves to bake,” said her mother, Shannon Crandall. “Everyone was eating them, so she decided to start selling them.”



So Foote brought them to the Oneida Commons co-op, where Crandall is a member. Word about Footie’s Goodies spread quickly, and she accommodated some large orders for the local chapter of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and other civic organizations.



Then she started selling them during the Friday open mike nights at La Vie Boheme Bistro in downtown Oneida.



Next month, Mackenzie will sell them at the new downtown weekend flea market behind the Kallet Civic Center, which runs through the summer.



And, of course, she’ll have them at her lemonade stand, which she has operated since she was 8. Last year, Mackenzie donated her lemonade revenues for the year ($45) to Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association.



Crandall, owner of the All About You day spa, paints, draws and makes jewelry. She said her daughter has always been interested in the idea of selling something she can create.



“I’ve always had a creative outlet myself,” Crandall said. “Maybe this family has creative genes.”



Mackenzie spends about four hours per week on the business, often preparing the batter at night before bed and finishing the baking the next morning. She tracks her sales carefully to determine how many ingredients to buy.



“I wanted this to be a learning experience for her,” Crandall said. “It’s really worked out well for her.”



Mackenzie said she also makes extra money babysitting.



“She’s got a nice little bank account going,” Crandall said.



Mackenzie takes dance classes three times a week and aspires to be a professional dancer some day. She was previously interested in a school teaching career, but a few recent episodes with young children “that tried my patience” put that idea up for reconsideration, she said with a laugh.



Her specialties are M&M bars, peanut butter cookies, double chocolate espresso cookies and “Blue and whites” – white chocolate cookies with blueberries. The cookies are priced at $2.25 for a small package.



“Sugar cookies aren’t as complicated, but I still like making them the best,” she said. “It’s always fun to put the sprinkles on. There’s just something special about it.”



Article taken from Madison County Courier-Madison County News - http://www.madisoncountycourier.com

URL to article: http://www.madisoncountycourier.com/madison-county-business-news/youngster%e2%80%99s-cookie-business-going-strong-13469/

Oatmeal Scotchy Surprise

We have been trying to get our act together since we got home from our vacation.  So in the meantime try out our Oatmeal Scotchy surprise recipe.
 1 1/4 Cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
2 sticks of unsalted butter
3/4 Cup granulated sugar
3/4 Cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract or grated peel of 1 orange
3 Cups quick oats
1 2/3 Cups butterscotch morsels
3/4 Cup chopped pecans
Optional 3/4 Cup of whatever you want to sprinkle on top for the surprise!

I can't tell you what we use or I'd have to kill you!   Just kidding around.  We have used different things every time we make them so be creative....you could even go half and half if you like.

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 F

2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract (or orange peel) in a large mixer bowl.

3. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a separate small bowl.

4. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture.

5. Next stir in oats, butterscotch and nuts.

6. Prepare a  9x13 pan by spraying with non-stick spray.  Put batter into pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle surprise topping on.

7. Bake for 22 to 28 minutes...or until center is no longer gooey.  Use a toothpick to test center.

Last but not least, cool on rack, cut and eat!

I would love to hear what your surprise topping is and how it worked out.  Please let me know.

Back From Vacation

I think I need a vacation from my vacation!  We had quite the road trip this past Monday.
You are looking at the view from our hotel room....maybe you can guess where this is.  Do you see the mountains in the back?  It starts with a "P"....both the state we were in and the name of the mountains.

Well I won't leave you hanging.....we went to Pennsylvania and you probably know now I am talking about the Pocono Mountains.  We arrived on Monday afternoon and checked in to the "Great Wolf Lodge".

The indoor water park is amazing!   We were there for 3 days and I think we spent most of our time riding the slides.

My Family even got me to ride the scary Double Barrel Drop!  I survived didn't I .....  I am here blogging about it right.  Actually I must admitt I really liked the Coyote Cannon slide.....it is almost like swirling in a toilet bowl when you flush it.  Anyways it was great, I enjoyed playing and having spa services at their spa, but man am I tired!  That was a lot of exercise walking up and down the stairs with your tube to go down a slide.

Here are the girls under the rain tree in the wave pool.

This is the bottom of the hydro plunge coaster.   You should go to this water park....it is indoors and you will never have to worry about the weather!  You will feel like a kid again I promise!

Footie's Goodies Interview

Well as it turns out Footie's Goodies was interviewed on Saturday for one of our local papers.

So this is us the night before baking like mad to have some goodies for the reporter!

And of course you can't just bake one kind of cookie....so we baked oatmeal scotchy surprise, blue & whites, and m&m chocolate chip bars! We always seem to make a mess, but it was so totally worth it.  We out did ourselves.

Now who is going to clean up this disaster?  The reporter was impressed and even bought a bag of our m&m chocolate chip bars to bring home to his family.  The article should be in the Madison County Courier by next week.  Now my daughter thinks she is a celebrity. Remember if you want some of Footie's Goodies you can buy them at The Market @ Oneida Commons. They are open 7 days a week. For more info go to http://www.oneidacommons.com/

Wire Work Class

We had so much fun last night!  As you know, if you read my blog, I enjoy lots of creative outlets.  Jewelry making is one of them. So last night my friend Lynnea taught a basic wire wrapping class that included some benchwork ( the steel block that you see in this picture). The bench is for pounding your metal....which I truly did enjoy.....you can get out a lot of frustartion by doing that!

So here is my first spiral wrap.....it turned pretty good, but I have to say I liked hammering it the best! Now I wasn't the only one who liked to hammer and pound.  I would say all of us ladies enjoyed doing that.  It really was group therapy!

This is the group shot that I took. From left to right: Lynnea, Star, Dianne, Elaine. 

Elaine is the owner of La Vie Boheme Bistro....where we had our class.

We also learned how to make a triangle head pin....and I would just like to say that Lynnea was patient with all us, especially with me because I needed extra help!  Thanks Lynnea.

Here is my open spiral that I finished off with some hand made lamp work beads.  It is all ready to be hung from a chain.  This wire work is so much fun...just another addiction to add to my list.  At least it is a healthy addiction!

Another group shot with me in the picture.  I had a great time and I look forward to the next class ladies!  I think Lynnea and I will teach a joint class at some point..... with a project that includes some bead work and precious metal clay. Do something creative to feed your soul!

chocoholic

I don't know what it is lately, but I have been a complete chocoholic.  Now I seriously have an addictive personality and have kicked some more serious addictions like smoking, but I thought I had this chocolate thing under control.

Now the good news is I at least know that if I am going to indulge in chocolate it should be dark chocolate so that I can get the benefits from it.

MMMMM.......past the lips hello hips!

Dark chocolate has plant flavanoids....specifically a compound called epicatechin.  Now flavanoids help keep cholesterol from gathering in your blood vessels.  They can also slow down the immune response that leads to clogged arteries. 

Other benefits of chocolate include antioxidants. 

So when the urge strikes, you need to find a dark chocolate that has a high cocoa percentage because this has the most flavanoids and antioxidants.  Milk chocolate may taste good, but it has been processed more and does not contain enough of the epicatetechin or antioxidants to give you the benefits......just lots of fat and sugar and you know where that will end up...on the thighs, stomach, hips....need I say more!

Just looking at these pictures is making me want a nice thick chunk of chocolate!

So be a smart chocoholic....and eat dark.....your body will thank you later.

The Kids Art Project

The kids art work is in!   Oneida's Downtown Association has been filling 3 empty window spaces here in Downtown Oneida with local Elementary students art work. All 3 windows are located on Main St. ( 1 in the old Salerno Buliding next to K&K Dance Wear and 2 across the street in the old Libbeys Newstand Space.)

Today the last window will be filled and everyone is invited to come down and take a look at what our Kindergarteners through second graders have been working on this year.
 I don't want to show you anymore pictures because I want you to make that trip downtown to see for yourself.

We are trying to bring the community together by getting even the youngest members involved.

This exhibit will only be up until April 30th.  We will then rotate the displays to showcase all of our 3rd and 4th graders...... which will then be followed by our 5th and 6th graders. 

We want to thank all of the Elementary School Art Teachers from the Oneida School District for partnering with Oneida's Downtown Association for this project.