Shortbread really is ridiculously easy to make. I thought I'd try it out and it turned out great! I used
this recipe from Martha Stewart. I didn't even both with the parchment paper, instead just putting it in a buttered glass casserole dish. Next time I want to use nuts and chocolate.
Ingredients
Makes 8 to 10 wedges
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
* 1/2 cup confectioners' or granulated sugar
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2-inch round cake or springform pan. Sift together flour and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, cream butter until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sugar, and continue to beat until very light in color and fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary, about 2 minutes more. Add flour mixture, and beat on low, scraping bowl if necessary, until flour is just incorporated and dough sticks together when squeezed.
2. Pat dough into prepared pan. Use a paring knife to score dough into wedges; prick all over in even intervals with a wooden skewer or fork.
3. Bake until firm in the center and just starting to color, about 50 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Cut into wedges. Cookies will keep, in an airtight container, at room temperature 3 weeks.
Looking for chic ways to decorate your porch with pumpkins? Visit the pumpkin carving idea gallery on Martha Stewart's website. These are some of my favorites. I've made the glitter pumpkins before! So much fun. (Note: I ordered bulk amounts of the extra fine glitter from this fabulous website: Kit Kraft)
Also, don't forget to visit my post to download a free Halloween Banner I designed!
The Martha Stewart site has a gallery of beautiful homes featured in past Living issues (organized by color!). Perfect for bulking up your digital inspiration scrapbook. I am particularly glad to have these images of Martha's personal "crafts room" (below). Being true to her namesake. I think it would be heaven to be so organized.
It's hard to believe that these are all things you actually make yourself. Just imagine how surprised and excited your mom would be if you sent her a little cast of her granddaughter's hand, or a charm bracelet with pictures of all her grandchildren? These amazing ideas and more at Martha Stewart's website in the Mother's Day idea gallery here.
pattern from The Paper Nut Bohemian wedding suite; antique crest illustration I scanned from an old publication; baby room by Coordonné; "N" illustration, my own; toy animal illustration, my own; dress from J.Crew; "Wilde Carnation" wallpaper from Osborne & Little; "Iris in Sunshine" by Ashley Thalman Photography; Wallpaper from Romo Fabrics
