Jordyn Hotchkiss of Weare is the owner of The Cat’s Pajamas ([email protected], and on Facebook and Instagram @catspajamasnh), a homestead business she runs with the help of her mother, April, offering freshly baked cookies, brownies and whoopie pies in multiple flavors. Her lineup of baked goods includes chocolate chip and sugar cookies, fudge brownies, classic or peanut butter whoopie pies and peanut butter fudge, all of which are available for sale at the Weare Real Food Farmers Market (65 N. Stark Hwy., Weare). Hotchkiss, who also occasionally takes on special orders, said The Cat’s Pajamas gets its name from her love of both 1920s culture and cat cafes, or cafes in which visitors can also play with cats that may be up for adoption. She hopes to expand her offerings to seasonal items this fall, like pumpkin whoopie pies.
What is your must-have kitchen item?
A KitchenAid mixer. I cannot function without my KitchenAid.
What would you have for your last meal?
For a full meal, probably steak with mashed potatoes, and a grasshopper pie ice cream sundae for dessert.
What is your favorite local restaurant?
I don’t go out to eat a whole lot, but one of my favorites is Putnam’s [Waterview Restaurant] in Goffstown. I’ll either get a chicken Caesar salad, or their steak and cheese. Their chicken tenders are good too.
What celebrity would you like to see trying one of your baked goods?
It makes me nervous, but I would love to have [Food Network’s] Duff Goldman. I would want to know what he would say.
What is your favorite product that you offer?
Either the whoopie pies or the brownies, because I like the way they come out. I have a special brownie pan that I use, so they all come out the same size.
What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?
In the bakery world, I feel like cake pops are a really big thing. I’ve noticed them come up more frequently in different bakeries.
What is your favorite thing to cook or bake at home?
Chocolate chip cookies. We always have some cookies somewhere in the house for us, just as a family.
Homemade chocolate chip cookies
From the kitchen of Jordyn Hotchkiss of The Cat’s Pajamas in Weare
½ Crisco stick (½ cup)
1 stick salted butter (½ cup)
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
12 ounces chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the Crisco and butter until creamy. Add in the brown sugar and white sugar. Mix until well-incorporated. Add vanilla and eggs, then gradually add in the flour until well-mixed. Mix in baking soda. Add chocolate chips. Scoop onto a cookie sheet and bake for approximately 12 minutes (baking time may vary depending on the oven and type of cookie sheet). Let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a minute or two. Cool on a cooling rack and enjoy.
Featured photo: Jordyn Hotchkiss. Courtesy photo.