Shortbread therapy

After a stressful day of fallen trees on highways resulting in a 25 minute stop on the I-5 on ramp, and minimally productive apartment related research, I really felt like baking. For me, it is one of the greatest stress relievers; a sort of instant gratification of completing something successful (and delicious!) within a matter of hours. I didn't particularly feel like leaving the apartment, so I had to make do with what was in the pantry. One of my favorite cookies is shortbread, simple and not too sweet it lends itself well to flavor manipulation. Tonight I thought I would go with one of my favorite, rosemary and thyme. The ingredients are simple enough, flour, butter, and sugar. It can be tricky if not refrigerated long enough or if it's too dry to come together, resulting in a crumbled dry cookie. I got to use my silpat!! Shown below, I bought it after repeatedly seeing it suggested in many recipes I'd like to try. While it's not essential, it does make many recipes a lot easier to work with.The finished product!