Baking is my solace.

Today was a **very** hard day, and cooking dinner was only adding to my brain's lack of enjoyment. I am not a natural cook. I've no idea what to make, have a very limited repertoire of recipes that work (for me), and worry about straying too far because if it is inedible I have to start again immediately from scratch.

Dessert is so much easier. If the cookies are a little hard, dunk them in milk. If they rise perfectly into little chocolate chip puffs, well, that's a good day.

My evening stress shifted when I was suddenly inspired to bake from scratch. I saw a recipe for lemon bars, and was off.

I made a short bread for the first time -- what a delightfully easy recipe: blend 1/2 pound butter, 1/2 c powdered sugar, and 2 c flour. I blended by hand, but would be even easier in a food processor. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes (40 if only making shortbread).

Whisk 4 eggs with 2c granulated sugar, grate a little lemon rind, add 6 T lemon juice and 1 tsp baking powder. Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar.

Hopefully will turn out, but what feels amazing to me is the simple act of baking has placed a smile on my face. I am actually grinning. I need to figure out how to do that with cooking.

Help me find culinary excitement. Make me the Martha of my block. Link me to your favorite recipe, and I'll post my results ;)