Tuesdays with Dorie: Salt & Pepper Cocoa Shortbread

This transitional time of year makes everything feel especially melodramatic, I love it!

Am I the only one who occasionally takes pleasure in listening to melancholy music for hours on end? This seemingly odd wallowing ritual will usually take place on an errant weekend or the tail-end of a long week day. Aside from a great novel and a Baileys infused hot cocoa, my instruments of blissful contemplation vary, but they usually involve Yo-Yo Ma's cello, Yann Tiersen's Good bye, Lenin! soundtrack, and as always, any album by Leonard Cohen. Also included during this brooding sweep...anything rich, chocolaty, and neat enough to eat without the need to leave my peaceful repose to hunt for a napkin.

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe was brilliantly chosen by Tia, of Buttercream Barbie. These little slice-and-bake gems are a delicious marriage of sweetness and spice. As soon as you bite into one, it melts into crumbly, buttery, chocolaty, spiced bits of joy...the perfect balance to a day spent looking out at the changing leaves and listening to "Famous Blue Raincoat". :-)

Just hop over to Tia's adorable blog for the recipe, and if you're looking for even more cookie love, please be sure to visit the other TWD bakers!