dance of the chef on sugarplums

 i never intended for this to become a food blog...it's just that i read so many great cookbooks and then get excited to try the combinations!  today was no exception.

it all started because i wanted to familiarize myself with vinegars and brines, so i tried pickling my own jalapenos with onions and radishes.

since i had pots and pans out, why not make both a mirepoix and sauce tomat simultaneously...one leads well to the other (one more french sauce to go:  espagnole).

then, of course, i got curious about making a chickpea penne pasta, so while a pumpkin pie was in the oven i roasted a delicata squash and some hazelnuts and put it all together topped with wild greens and parmesan:  voila!  something i would definitely order in a restaurant.

then back to my oringinal intention of baking eight mini challah breads for holiday gifts.  when the oven's on, might as well use it, right? all this while subsisting nicely on homemade sugarplums from a friend...they are really tasty, by the way.

happy holiday cooking, sharing, and feasting to you and yours!