So long 2009

Hanukkah and Christmas are in the rear view mirror as I work on preparing the first orders of the new year. What have I learned in 2009 as The Rugelach Man?

-Rugela is singular, Rugelach is plural.
-Rugelach is a food which has an emotional bond with people.
-Rugelach is not just a jewish pastry. It has roots in other eastern european ethnicities as well, but under different names.
-Making rugelach is extremely time consuming as there are many steps involved, unlike making most cakes or cookies, especially when I'm making dozens of pounds, not just a batch for company.
-My love of parchment paper knows no bounds.
-We have shipped rugelach to 46 states. (Idaho, Wyoming, S.Dakota, Hawaii)

Happy Holidays!

I've been rolling rugelach all day into the evening and now into the morning. During all the time I spend in the kitchen, just me and my rolling pin, plenty of thinking is done. It seems just a short while ago where cooking was done solely for pleasure. Making dozens of latkes, a couple briskets, green beans, kugel and perhaps some tsimmes for Hanukah dinner followed by desserts, rugelach included. Now I cook/bake for money. Maybe that makes me a food gigolo. Nah, a gigolo just does it for money. I love what I do, paid or not. Whether I am making 2 pounds, 20 pounds or 200 pounds of rugelach, the same effort goes into each batch. Whether my food is going to eaten by my family or a family of strangers, it makes no difference. I use the same amount of "secret ingredient" for every batch. And for those of you who find being in the kitchen akin to relaxing and not a chore, you know what that secret ingredient is.

Wishing everyone a heartwarming holiday season...Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas. And of course, Festivus (for the rest of us).