SIMPLE CLASSIC SHORTBREAD

Although this is clearly a blog to promote Three Little Birds clothing, I can't help but share with you a few of my favorite dessert & treat recipes. My love for sweets should be evident by now, ( I name all of my clothing pieces after them as a marketing gimmick to get you salivating/buying) and I am  very serious about certain traditional family recipes. Shortbread is at the top of that list.
Over the years I have dabbled with variations: lemon poppyseed, pecan walnut, brown sugar,coconut lime, marischino cherry topped, chocolate covered, rainbow sprinkle whipped, even lavender honey and cheddar with black pepper. Shortbread in all shapes, shades and sizes! And although MOST of these were yummy(lavender honey was interesting), if there is one thing I have learned, it is: "Don't mess with the shortbread!"
There is just nothing like a thick, buttery, triangular shaped, fork-poked slab of the melt in your mouth classic. How is that for adjectives?!
So here is my "recipe." Nothing fancy, just pure caloric goodness.

SIMPLE CLASSIC SHORTBREAD

3 c. all purpose flour
3/4 c. powdered icing sugar(plus additional for "dusting")
3/4 c. slightly soft unsalted butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. REAL vanilla extract

*Pulse in food processor or mixer until a ball forms. Gently knead a few times then press into a round fluted metal tart pan or make a freeform, thick(at least 1") circle on a cookie sheet. Poke with a fork all over top and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until edges just barely turn golden. Do not overbake!
Place on rack to cool. Dust with icing sugar while still hot,  then cut into triangular shaped wedges while warm, and finally dust with more icing sugar when cookies are cool. This creates a nice powdery "icing."


note: I like to use sweet unsalted butter for these(and add my own salt) as it has a totally different taste than the salted butter. (and please don't even think of using margarine!)
Vanilla is optional, and not really a classic ingredient, but I think it is a nice addition. Again, only the real thing will do here.

Just TRY and save these for the Holidays:)