Foodlore Library

When I was a kid growing up in the Willamette Valley, February 14th was always one of the best days of the year. Not only was there a late-afternoon class Valentine’s Day party to look forward to, when the mysteries of the paper bag mailbox taped to my desk would finally be revealed, but there was a morning celebration of our state’s birthday, too. Oregon became the 33rd state on Valentine’s Day in 1859. So out here in the Wild Wet West, we’re celebrating a big birthday this year with a big word attached: our state’s sesquicentennial anniversary.

Birthday parties of course call for birthday treats. I wanted to bake something special for the occasion which featured some of my favorite Oregon treats: hazelnuts (we produce 99% of the country’s supply), dried cherries, fresh local dairy products, and artisan chocolate.

Of course, birthday CAKE is more traditional. But birthday COOKIES seem apt when celebrating laid-back, on-the-go Oregon. You can throw a bag of these crunchy little gems into your daypack when you set off to hike the Painted Hills, nibble them while you curl up with a Chuck Palahniuk novel from Powell’s on a rainy afternoon, share them with your kids while sledding on Mt. Bachelor, or reward yourself after a day of cycling the south coast.

They go great with milk (Oregon’s official state beverage, thanks to the efforts of a 6th grade class from Tillamook), or a big cup of Stumptown’s French Roast (we’re oh-so-slightly obsessed with our coffee around here). And they’re easy to make, too, leaving you more time to get outside and appreciate all the things you love about your home.

Happy Birthday, Oregon! You’ll always be my Valentine.