black & white cookies

Do you ever have those moments where a memory comes flooding back so vividly you feel like you’re in the moment? It happened today as I was driving to pick the girls up from school. Way back when Virginia was a wee one, I made up a bedtime song to the tune of Love Train. It went something like this…

Babies around the world,

Hold hands…

Let’s start a sleep train, a sleep train.

Isabella was only six or seven then. We’d place our hands on each other’s hips, and boogie into the bedroom at our old apartment on Henry Street. I can see Virginia with that squinted-eyed smile, newly minted with a tooth, or two. One night Michael came home to witness this silliness, and he wasn’t surprised at my goofball creativity to make bedtime fun. He grabbed a hip, and joined in.

As I wound around the curves of Route 28A today, Love Train came on, and a lump welled up in my throat. Instantly, I was there. He was there. We were all together as a family enjoying one of those moments that you think are never-ending. I felt tears creep into the corners of my eyes, but they weren’t sad ones. Yes, I missed him. The tears, though, were of the thankful nature, reminders that I’m so grateful to have had that moment, and many others like it.

I suppose this has nothing to do with black and white cookies, but it’s high time I share the recipe with all of you. A few months ago, I was contacted by Reynold’s to work on a Halloween cookie recipe, featuring their new Cookie Baking Sheets. I’d been holding onto this cookie recipe for a while, having mostly perfected it in the spring (or was it last winter?). I grilled the kids for some spooky cookie ideas, but they came up with some far-fetched stuff that I didn’t think busy moms would have time to make (and I don’t like fussy, complicated recipes either).

Then I remembered my black and white cookie recipe. Using the black and white icing to create cobwebs on top seemed easy, and fun. The chocolate icing recipe I’m sharing here is slightly different than the one I created for Reynold’s (I made a video for them, too. You can watch it here). That one is a yummy, fudgy flavor, and works great. I wanted to also create one with a hard chocolate icing. If you twist my arm, I’ll confess I like the hard chocolate icing best, but the real truth is that we’re all vanilla icing girls! This is one of those recipes where I really wish he was here to taste it. I can see the sparkle in his eye, as his teeth snap into the icing.

Now that I’ve recreated one Brooklyn classic, I just need to perfect homemade mozzarella, and get a slicing machine so I can import my own personal stash of Prosciutto di Parma. I love so much about living upstate, but I also long for some of my favorite foods that only Brooklyn seems to get right.

Before I forget, guess what? The first printing of Simple Scratch Cooking has SOLD OUT! Don’t worry if you didn’t get to order it. I’m preparing to go into a second printing, but you don’t want to miss out on that batch. It’ll be the last for this inaugural Fall issue. The second printing orders will arrive in your mailbox the first week of November— you can pre-order it using this link. Work is well underway on the Winter Issue (here’s a sneak peek).

I’m headed to Sacramento for work tomorrow, so will probably be away from this space until next week. Come visit me at Instagram, and you’ll get to travel along as I tour walnut orchards and see how they harvest the nuts. I’ll have a tiny bit of downtime, not too much, but would love to know if anyone has any recommendations, provided I don’t face plant into my bed on this whirlwind 36 hour trip.

Print

Homemade Black & White Cookies

Makes 18 – 3 1/2 inch cookies

Music Pairing: Love Train by The O Jays

This recipe can now be found here.

Tip for icing these cookies to look like cobwebs:

To frost the cookies, place the wire rack with the cookies over the parchment lined backing sheet. The chocolate icing in a pastry bag fitted with a small round tip (you can use a disposable freezer bag for this, too. Just snip off one corner to pipe out the icing). Place a dollop of vanilla icing on the flat side of each cookie. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it to the edges. Using the pastry bag, pipe a chocolate swirl on top of the vanilla icing.

Starting at the center of the cookies, use the tip of a toothpick or metal skewer to draw a line to the edge. Repeat this all around the top of the cookies to create a spider web decoration. Let the cookies rest on the cooling rack, and don’t worry about any icing that drips off the sides. Let the cookies rest for at least two hours, allowing the icing to set.


12 Comments

  • Jehanne

    Jennie ur story is touching and here I am reading it whilst putting my daughter to nap. Btw is the newsletter only for USA shipping or do u ship internationally ? I’d love to order but to singapore though .

  • Cherie

    bittersweet all around – being grateful is the key isn’t it? Sigh

    The cookies look fantastic – I look forward to trying them – congratulations on the success of your new venture!

    Safe travels

  • Auntie

    Well, since I didn’t get a package from you of my favorite cookies, I’m going to have to find the patience to make them myself. You know these are my favs. I love, love, love. Thanks for putting the recipe in print. Love Ya X

  • Sally Mac

    Hi Jennie, I live in marin county but my in laws were from Sacramento. Where will you be? I can recommend a good restaurant or two…the walnut grove sounds super fun! I hope you have a great time. It’s very dry and brown her because if the draught. You’ll miss your beautiful upstate NY! Love your blog! Sally

  • Liss

    Oh, Sacramento. We are in Humboldt county- someday you’ll need to plan a trip to where the Redwoods meet the sea. It’s heavenly.

  • Amber

    All too familiar with those floods of memories. It’s hardest when they happen in public and you are trying to control the tears so you don’t look like a loon. I try to cling to them in gratefulness and remind myself of what a gift it is to have had a love that etched so deeply in your soul. Wishing you a safe trip!

  • Liz

    I’ve been singing your “Sleep Train” all the livelong day 🙂 !

    30 plus years ago, I lived in the Bay area and travelled to Sacramento, but mostly to the agriculture areas around it. Just a preface to…I’m making your “Italian Fried Rice” for my supper tonight and in looking at your recipe, noted that Massa Organic link. Massa is in Chico which might be further north than you are going this trip…but if the walnut farms are near…

    You are also probably also on your way, but just in case. At any rate, I always loved the Marysville/Yuba City/Chico area – have no idea what it is like now, though.

    Hope a good trip for you.

  • Cecilia

    Jennie: My 11 yr old was just diagnosed with high cholesterol. Since we’ve never, ever had a weight problem in our family (She is in the 8th percentile for weight) We’ve always been able to indulge. Not anymore. Do you have any cookie recipes without butter or eggs that taste good? I haven’t found one yet!

  • Mallory @forkvsspoon

    Jenny…I have always steered clear of the black and white cookie for no particular reason beyond the mere reason that a Brooklyn classic can not be as delicious in Ohio – especially since they are only sold at check out counters at Walgreens. However, a recent trip to NYC and a multitude of black and white cookies later…I am a fan. Thanks for the recipe and the lovely memory/song pairing.