Nicky's Favourite Shortbread

1 c Unsalted butter (room temp.)

1/2 c Icing sugar

2 c All purpose flour*

1/4 ts Baking powder

1/4 ts Salt

Slivers of glaced cherries * 1 3/4 c if measured before sifting Cream butter and sugar together until silky. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix until blended, but just. Turn out on a lightly floured pastry cloth, & with lightly floured hands, gather into one lump. (This may appear sloppy & maybe hopeless. As in pastry, you will go wrong if you are too heavy handed or afraid of it!) Toss it just a bit to get it to lump and pat out into a square about 1/3 inch thick; square off your edges with a large knife or spatula, smooth with a stocking rolling pin and cut into 1 inch squares. Place slightly apart on ungreased cookie sheet with a sliver of cherry on each. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes. They should be just pale brown on bottom.

WATCH IT, THEY BURN VERY EASILY. Remove gently please, they are still having birth pangs; place to cool on trays covered with waxed paper. Store in cans, they keep for weeks in a cool place, and their flavour mellows.