The Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails Cookie Caper is an annual culinary celebration showcasing the work of top chefs who compete to create decadent, gourmet desserts using Girl Scout cookies in unique ways. This year's Cookie Caper is scheduled for March 11.

On the menu will be these delicious desserts as well as light fare provided by the resort. Potters and artists will be on hand creating one-of-a-kind cookie jars and artwork, which attendees have the opportunity to purchase along with the desserts. There will also be a silent auction.

Restaurants that have signed on this year include Terra at Encantado, La Casa Sena, Garbo's at RainbowVision Santa Fe, Scalo, Cupcakeology, Stone Kiva, The Lodge, Napoli Coffee, and Savory Fare Bakery & Café .

"You'd be amazed what a chef can do with Girl Scout Cookies," said Chef Patrick Gharrity. "You're allowed to manipulate the cookies in a multitude of ways."

Among the possibilities are liquefying the cookie or using it as a platform for a mousse. But the key is to experiment while still preserving the traditional taste of the famous cookies. Chefs can use more than one cookie at a time, which Gharrity admitted is challenging because of the complexity of flavors once they're combined. "The hardest part is trying to add flavors to the cookies that people already love as they are," he says.

Gharrity is most proud of his Thin Mint croquembouche, a French pastry he created during the second year of the event. He said he is looking forward to the new venue at Encantado Resort and Spa. "I'm optimistic that it will be as good or a better turnout from last year," he says.

Anne Hillerman and Taste's Rob DeWalt are judges this year. Hillerman has written about food and wine for Cowboys & Indians magazine and The Food Network. Her book, Santa Fe Flavors: Best Restaurants and Recipes, won the New Mexico Book Award for best cookbook of 2009. Her newest book, Gardens of Santa Fe, was released in April.

The Cookie Caper, now in its 16th year, provides lively entertainment for the whole family while demonstrating how Girl Scout cookies help improve the lives of girls in our community. The event supports crucial programs and activities for Girl Scouts across New Mexico, including horseback riding and team activities at one of the organization's campsites, as well as collecting blankets for the homeless.

As one of the Girl Scouts' premier fundraising events, support for the Cookie Caper from community leaders, businesses and individuals is crucial. Money raised at the event helps support a variety of programs for more than 5,000 girls across New Mexico, providing members with valuable new experiences and the opportunity to build priceless memories and friendships.

For more than 90 years, Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails has been helping girls across New Mexico develop the courage, confidence and character to become future community leaders.

The Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails organization was formed in 2007 when the Sangre de Cristo and the Chaparral Council merged to better serve the girls of central and Northern New Mexico. The council serves 23 of New Mexico's 33 counties, stretching from Clovis to Gallup and Socorro to Raton.

Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails is a member of the global Girl Scouting community, which includes 3.3 million Girl Scouts, 2.4 million girl members and 900,000 adult members that continue the vision of Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts in 1912. Girl Scouts is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries, making it the largest organization for girls in the world.

Nationally, Girl Scout cookies have become part of the American experience. Having a box of Samoas delivered to your door is as much an American tradition as fireworks on of the Fourth of July. Cookies also play a large and meaningful role in the Girl Scouts' business and economic literacy initiative by giving girls the opportunity to learn life skills from public speaking, setting goals, financial education and marketing.