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| Mom's Mud Pies |
I was nine years old when I first met Dwayne in the fifth grade. He was tall, with blondish hair, wearing the biggest smile; and I was short with bright red hair, and the new kid in class. My teacher introduced me to everyone and told me I could sit anywhere I liked. At the time, my school was very progressive. We had no official inside walls in the building, only movable dividers. We also didn’t have traditional desks. We sat in groups of 4 or 5 at a table. A girl with long dark hair and big glasses waved me over to sit beside her. Her name was Amy and we became instant best friends. She showed me all around the school, played with me at recess, and sat with me at lunch in the cafeteria. Amy also introduced me to Dwayne, who also sat at our little table. Amy and Dwayne had been friends since first grade, so it was only natural that I should become friends with him too.
Dwayne had an infectious laugh and usually tried to make everyone else laugh too. He was good at it. No one ever felt sad or afraid whenever he was around. He was friendly and kind to all the kids in the school. He was a big brother to the younger grades and soon became like a brother to me. No one ever made fun of me when I was hanging out with Dwayne.
As the years rolled along from elementary school, to middle school, to high school, the friendship between Amy, Dwayne, and I remained strong. We would see each other on the weekends, go to parties together, and hang out at the pool as much as possible. We all knew each other’s families; and we called each other on the phone all the time. However, when Amy found her soul mate in an older boy named Tom, the dynamics of our friendship changed. It was only natural that Amy didn’t spend as much time with us anymore, but that didn’t stop Dwayne and I from having fun.
Dwayne had become a permanent fixture in my family. He was the older brother I never had. (He was actually a year older than me. I had started school very early.) Dwayne would come over to my house, eat dinner with us, tell funny stories, and make my family laugh and laugh. My mother, especially, loved Dwayne. He could always put a smile on her face; and she would make him happy whenever she made her famous whoopie pies.
Dwayne liked to call them “Mom’s Mud Pies,“ and they were delicious! It would take my mother hours to make them, but it was worth it. Dwayne loved the creamy homemade vanilla frosting sandwiched between two cookie rounds of rich, chocolate cake. His eyes would grow as big as saucers, and his grin would expand from ear to ear, whenever Mom served them. It became an inside joke that whenever Mom made whoopie pies, Dwayne would not be that far away.
As life would have it, Dwayne and I grew up and eventually went into two different directions.
After high school, Dwayne joined the service, moved far away, and got married. I, too, became married, had a son, and moved to another state. We tried not to lose touch with one another, but priorities change and soon Dwayne and I only spoke to one another on special occasions. It was years before we actually saw each other again.
But as it happened, one day I received a phone call from my friend by accident. It was just a regular Wednesday - no holiday, no special event happening. My phone rang and I noticed it was Dwayne. I answered it, but no one was there. I guess it was a pocket dial. I hung up, and was about to continue my day per usual. Then I decided to call Dwayne back. He sounded so surprised to hear my voice; and we laughed about his butt dialing his phone for me. We vowed to stay in touch more.
The best surprise came when I was visiting my mom and dad. I found out that Dwayne would be in the area too at the same time. We made a date to actually see each other and have dinner.
Mom suggested that Dwayne should come over to their place, so we could all enjoy one another’s company again. The plans were set, and we waited for Dwayne to arrive.
My friend hadn’t changed at all. Still as tall as ever, however with a little less hair, Dwayne smiled at me with that great grin he always had. He laughed and gave me the greatest bear hug ever. Dwayne’s blue eyes twinkled even more, however, when he noticed the giant plate of Mom’s Mud Pies sitting on the counter. My oldest, and dearest friend looked at my mom, and she looked at him, and the whole family was back together again.
Mom’s recipe for Dwayne’s “Mud Pies” is here for the sharing. May it bring as much joy and happiness to you as it has to our family.
Mom’s Mud Pies
(Whoopie Pies)
Ingredients:
(Cake)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup oil
1 cup chocolate milk (or regular milk)
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp instant coffee mixed in 1 cup of hot water. (Set aside to cool.)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets.
In large bowl, cream together sugar and eggs. Add vanilla, oil, and milk. Mix well.
In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cocoa and salt.
Alternate adding dry ingredients and coffee water to the creamed mixture. Mix well.
Drop round teaspoonfuls on cooking sheets.
Bake for 7-10 minutes until cake springs up when touched.
Make cream while cakes cool.
(Cream)
2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 ½ cups confectionery sugar
4 TBL flour
2 TBL milk
1 ½ cup shortening
Beat egg whites until peaks form. Add vanilla and beat more. Add rest of ingredients and beat until smooth. Keep mixing until fluffy and not granular tasting, at least 5-10 minutes.
Sandwich the cream between two chocolate cakes.
Invite your best friend over,
and together enjoy your Mud Pies with a big glass of milk!
More recipes may be found in my cookbook:
