the oven is on

the oven is on and i'm in bliss. in the past week, it's been all about the...
 
butternut squash,
beets,
chocolate chip banana bread,
potatoes,
celery root,
bittersweet chocolate and pear cake,
crostini.

there's something special about elevating the profile of raw elements with a little roasting. a little heat. i think it's even more special when we can take roots that are inedible in naked form, dress them with a generous coating of olive oil, dazzle them with salt and pepper, and then let them lure us with their tantalizing aroma as they roast away in the oven. vegetables, sexed up.

and then when you get into baking treats...oh my, don't even get me started. i am in a relationship, you know.