“February is the one month when you realize the trash goes out more than you do.”
– Unknown
As kids, we didn’t have much choice about what to do during February. Extracurricular activities were limited, as we lived in a rural area. Besides sledding and ice skating, there wasn’t much to choose from when it was cold outdoors.
I spent a lot of time with my mother in the kitchen during those winter months. She cooked and baked up a storm, and I loved watching her. I learned from observing that you really don’t have to measure every single ingredient.
My mother would bake for school and church bake sales, and she always made cupcakes or cookies for our classroom parties. Valentine’s Day was no exception. Without fail, my mom made cupcakes with pink icing for us to share at school.
I carried many of my mother’s skills with me as I got older. When I got married and had children, I felt it important to include the kids when I was in the kitchen. The holidays were always festive at our house. We made cookies for parties at school and for friends and family. When the holidays were over, I felt it even more important to continue the joy of baking goodies with the girls.
One of my daughters loved to make chocolate chip cookies. The other always made molasses cookies. Mexican butter cookies were my favorite, while my husband preferred anything chocolate. By February, everyone had pretty much had it with winter, so baking continued to make it festive. When you heard Cyndi Lauper or the Backstreet Boys blasting out of our house, chances are the kids were helping me bake something. We made cupcakes for them to share at school, including pink ones on Valentine’s Day.
The tradition continues, as my daughter now bakes goodies for her children and my granddaughter loves helping her mom. (I don’t even want to think about what music is blasting from their kitchen in 2026.)
Imagine my surprise when my oldest daughter announced, “You know what my very favorite cookie is, Mom? Black and white.” I was stunned. Of all the cookies we ever made, she had come up with one we didn’t.
She informed me that her local bakery makes amazing black and white cookies. “Seinfeld” made them famous on the episode “The Dinner Party.” These gems originated in New York City. They are soft, vanilla cake-like cookies that are frosted, half vanilla and half chocolate. I have to admit they are quite delicious.
My neighbor called recently and said he was experimenting with a recipe and would like us to try some cookies he had made. They were black and whites! I was impressed that he made them — and they were delicious!
That neighbor, Jack Tanner, hails from western Massachusetts. He moved to our neighborhood in 2020 and we have been friends ever since. He’s one of those folks who is always there if you need him. What I didn’t know until recently is that he is also a great baker! Of the samples he brought, only crumbs remained the next morning.
Give this recipe a try. I will be sending them to the children on Valentine’s Day. I guarantee they go perfectly with a cup of hot tea on a cold February evening. Enjoy!
Black and white cookies
Dough ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup softened butter
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Dough directions:
Mix all the dry ingredients and set aside.
In another bowl, cream the butter, sugar and eggs until light. Add sour cream and vanilla and blend well. Add flour mixture slowly, until blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as it mixes. Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a greased cookie sheet or on parchment, drop large tablespoons of dough. Bake for 12 minutes on the middle rack until cookies are slightly brown and spring back when touched. Carefully remove to a rack to cool completely.
Icing ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon water (approximate)
Icing directions:
Mix until smooth. If too runny, add more powdered sugar a little at a time.
Put half of the mixture into a separate bowl and add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder.
When cookies are completely cooled, turn them over and frost the flat side carefully, half chocolate and half vanilla.
Let sit until icing is settled.
Kathy D’Agostino, of Great Island, is a volunteer with Harpswell Aging at Home and a member of its Cooking at 43° North Kitchen Cabinet. Cooking at 43° North brings Harpswell residents together for cooking programs.
Cooking at 43°North’s next program is “Good Fortune on a Plate.” Celebrate Lunar New Year by learning to make (and sampling) a selection of Chinese appetizers on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Orr’s Island Schoolhouse. To sign up, contact Julie Moulton at juliemoulton28@gmail.com or 207-330-5416.
