38 Girls Scouts walk the Red Carpet

38 Girl Scouts walk the red carpet

By Marie Young, Girl Scouts of Central Texas Media Girl

Kung-Fu-Panda 3 came to Pflugerville early - January 16 the same day in Los Angeles where the cast of Kung-Fu-Panda 3 walked their red carpet at their premiere of the movie. On that day around the US and Canada movie theaters made there own red carpet for special guests to walk. Thanks to Cinemark Tinseltown in Pflugerville for hosting this event and asked Girl Scout troops around the area to be a part of the event complete with popcorn and drinks.

Troop 1587 participated as special guests walking the Red Carpet along with Salvation Army families.  For most of the girls it was their first time walking the red carpet, Ava said “This is my 3rd time on the red carpet, it is so much fun!”.  “Sometimes a little break and some fun in the day is exactly what a family needs.  As a leader we often know what rough times families are going through and can't always do something about it.  Today we could give one of our families a special afternoon after a rough week,” Kate Young, co-leader.  

This movie was great for Girl Scouts all over the US. Michala said, “I think this is a good movie for Girl Scouts because it shows lots of courage and activity in it”.  Those who came to the premiere enjoyed it, especially 4th grader, Ella who said “I would rate this a million stars, it’s awesome and funny!”

I hope everyone gets a chance to watch this movie, Kennedy said “it’s better than 1 and 2 combined!”.  Girls from Kindergarten through middle school said they want to see it again and tell their friends all about it.    

Operation Cookie

Every year - Operation Cookie has been a big part of my cookie season.  My dad said one of the best things about being deployed was getting cookies from home.  It did remind him how much he missed his girls at home.  But, it was like having us with him.

These boxes will be donated to VAs across Central Texas and will be transported for us by a group called Soldier’s Angels http://soldiersangels.org/VA-Support-Program.html

I have aunts and uncles who have been treated at the VAs around Central Texas - I want to make sure that they all understand how much we appreciate their service.
This year I am trying to get 300 boxes for Operation Cookie.  -- you can donate boxes so you don't have to eat them.

Thin Mint Cupcakes - National Chocolate Cake day

National Chocolate Cake Day -- eat with a cookie

 

Thin Mint Cupcakes with Mint Buttercream

Yield: 12 cupcakes
Total Time: 40 min

Rich chocolate cupcake recipe with crushed Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies and topped with a homemade mint buttercream frosting.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey Special Dark – but use what you prefer)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 large egg
1/2 cup low-fat plain (or vanilla) yogurt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 sleeve Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies (16 cookies), crushed slightly
for the mint buttercream:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. mint extract
2 Tbs. milk, more if needed

Directions:

Heat to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cavity cupcake pan with paper liners. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and baking soda. Set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter, cocoa powder, salt and water together. Stir and cook until melted. Remove from heat.
Add about half of the butter/cocoa mixture to the dry ingredients. Add the remaining butter/cocoa mixture and stir until fully combined. Whisk in the egg and stir well. Add the yogurt and the vanilla and stir well. Stir in the crushed cookies.
Portion the batter evenly into the lined cupcake pan, filling each liner about 3/4-full.

Bake in the preheated oven for 17-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely

while the cupcakes cool, prepare the buttercream:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the butter with a paddle attachment until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and slowly incorporate until smooth and fluffy. Add the mint extract and salt and whip just to combine. Stream in the milk.
• For a thicker frosting, skip the milk, or just add more powdered sugar. If the frosting needs thinned out, add a little more milk.
• Frost the cupcakes any way you like.

 

Cake recipe adapted from Bi Rite Market's Eat Good Food cookbook via Two Peas and Their Pod.

#hopdoddylove - - Entrepreneurs in Action

Hopdoddy Burger Bar gave 12 girl scouts (10 individuals or teams) to pitch the idea of selling them cases of cookies for milkshakes.  Those who were invited had been thru the Girl Scouts of Central Texas cookie CEO training and most of us had been 1000+ box sellers in the past.

It was exciting.

Willow and Scout Goldsmith came in second place and will supply Hopdoddy Burger Bar tagalongs for the three Austin area locations.  It was great that they won.  They are part of the councils Harp Ensemble, involved with Girl Scout homeschool STEM club and we were on the same team for the Samsung challenge.  We have been in 4H clubs together including, competing in food challenge contests on the same team. 

Peace, Love and Hopdoddy

Maries first Cookie Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbDq-lWUHac

Shark Tank - #hopdoddylove

Have you ever wondered what someone said that made them win something?  Below is my pitch for Hopdoddy - entrepreneur pitch.   I am honored to be the First Place winner.

Just so you know - I spent a lot of time researching, writing and practicing my pitch.  I wanted this! 

Having taking acting, public speaking and debate classes - along with completing several business related Girl Scout badges - I knew I needed to do more than tell them what they wanted -- I needed to tell them what they didn't know they wanted to know.

My family has always loved hopdoddy burger bar since the beginning, I was 5 when I first visited the south congress location. Before the lines.  We still visit Anderson Lane.  Round Rock will be a regular dinner and lunch stop for us.

I love your food, the buns are awesome and the fries! I agree with Rachael Ray, you make the best burgers in America. The best burgers in America need the best cookie Milkshakes.

According to business insider Thin Mints are one of the best cookies in America.   It is a Crisp chocolate wafer cookie covered in chocolate with natural peppermint oil, these cookies are Vegan, which would make a great Alternative Milkshake.   

I love to cook from scratch in my kitchen and compete in cooking competitions.  Every cookie season I create or modify new recipes for my customers, using our cookies.  How about a Vegan Thin Mint milkshake - Soy milk, coconut vegan ice cream, additional peppermint flavoring paired with the LaBandita. YUM.  

These cookies are my favorite, I like them frozen and on ice cream.

2010 was a great year - Hopdoddy started and I partnered with my sister for the beginning of my cookie business.  Combined over 8000 boxes of which 2025 boxes were Thin Mints - 30 percent of my sales.  My thin mint customers buy them by the case - they freeze them, eat them all year long. Usually they are women over the age of 20.

The Classic Burger needs a classic flavor.  Such as peanut butter and chocolate - a Tagalong shake.  Including a child size - to go with the Round Rock location launch of the kids menu - because families, love the Tag-A-Longs, kids love peanut butter and chocolate. 

I have two goals with this year cookie profits - using some of it to help with my Silver Award - the highest award a cadette girl scout can earn.   Working with the Waco Mammoth National Monument - writing their Junior Ranger Program.    My second goal with the cookie profit, is a trip to Savannah Georgia with my troop to learn more about our amazing founder, Juliette Gordon Low.   As she said - Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.

As a troop - we plan to create care packages for families of deployed National Guard soldiers.  The families of our soldiers need our support as well -- I know!

Being a Girl Scout helps me build Courage, Confidence and Character through different programs like Archery, robotics, coder girls, going to camp and my favorite the girl scout cookie business where I learn:

●      Goal Setting - by setting goals and creating a plan for cookie sales AND cookie box donations specifically Operation Cookie.  My troop has been a huge Operation Cookie supporter since my dad was deployed to Iraq.

●      Decision Making - I have to decide if the time and location for a cookie booth is a good one.  As well as How to work a booth location, how to work with other scouts and reaching out to businesses

•  Money Management  - Since I was in first grade, I kept inventory - so I knew if my brothers ate my cookies and kept track of the money at booths

●      People Skills by working with others, talking to strangers about their cookie requests, cookie needs

●      Business Ethics making sure donations go where they need too, setting a good example for younger scouts, thanking businesses that allow us to sell at their location.

This seasonal milkshake promotion is great for Girl Scouts and better for Hopdoddy to create lifelong customers.  Thank you judges for taking time out of your busy schedule. I am Marie Young your cookie supplier. ((Stand there don’t say anything.))    

Fox 7 - Austin -- Dave Froehlich on FOX 7wins !

 

This morning I got to work with the folks at Hopdoddy and Fox 7 - Good Day Austin to share about Girl Scout Cookies.  Dave had to sell me a box of cookies.  This Saturday 10 Girl Scout cookie businesses will be "pitching" to Hopdoddy on why they should be the cookie supplier for them.  We have been working hard on our pitches and have all worked hard selling in the past.  My cookie business has sold over 8000 boxes since I joined my sister in 2010.

Got Cookies?

It is that time again, COOKIE TIME!, with the same cookies as last year. And here they are

• Thin mints (Now Vegan!)(4$)- Crisp wafers covered in chocolaty coating. Made with natural oil of peppermint.
• Samoas(4$)- Crisp cookies, coated in caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut, and striped with a dark chocolaty coating.
• Tagalongs(4$)- Crispy cookies layered with peanut butter and covered with a chocolaty coating.
• Do-si-dos(4$)- Crunchy oatmeal sandwich cookie with creamy peanut butter filling.
• Trefoils(4$)- Delicate-tasting shortbread that is delightfully simple and satisfying.
• Rah-Rah Raisins(4$)- Hearty oatmeal cookies with plump raisins and Greek yogurt-flavored chunks.
• Savannah Smiles(4$)- Crisp, zesty lemon wedge cookies dusted with powdered sugar.
• Toffee-Tastic (Gluten free 5$)- Rich, buttery cookies packed with golden toffee bits bursting with flavor.     

I have two goals with this year cookie profits - using some of it to help with my Silver Award - the highest award a Cadette girl scout can earn.   Working with the Waco Mammoth National Monument - writing their Junior Ranger Program.  The city of Waco is paying for most of it -- I want to create the cutouts for photos.  My second goal with the cookie profit, is a trip to Savannah Georgia with my troop to learn more about our amazing founder, Juliette Gordon Low.   As she said - Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.

Please order at younggirlscookies@gmail.com, thanks