If only we weren’t saving up for a new stove, we’d get a few sets of these adorable Bunnyware glasses from Williams-Sonoma.

The vintage-inspired bunny portraits are by Parisian artist Marc Lacaze. Four glasses are $29.00.

While there are complete sets of Bunnyware dishes and serving pieces, you only need one holiday-themed item to dress up your table.

We particularly like the glasses because, filled with water or another beverage, they can stay on the table for the entire meal.

What a great idea. The cookies were so good, we couldn’t stop eating them. Unfortunately, the line seems to have vanished into thin air. The website doesn’t connect and we can’t track down the owner. But SparX remains a happy memory: sweet little cookies, each specially kissed with a matching chile. (If you have the 411 on SparX, please let us know.)

When we came across Chocopeño, “the world’s first jalapeño chocolate chip cookies,” we had high hopes. Alas for us, they weren’t the sweet, sizzling cookies from SparX. They were chocolate chip cookies with a strong vegetal kick of jalapeño.

We weren’t happy with that flavor profile, and gave the rest of the cookies to anyone who wanted to take them home.

Then it turns out that the home crowd—boyfriends and husbands—really liked Chocopeño.

Who are we to argue? If you’re looking for something quirky, you can find Chocopeño online at Chocopeno.com.

See our Cookie Glossary for the different types of cookies.

See our Chile Glossary for the different types of chiles.
  

Portion-control dishes have subtle markings
that say, “Stop here.” Photo courtesy
Measure Up Bowl.

Whether it’s a bowl of granola for breakfast or a glass of wine with dinner, we rarely notice exactly how many ounces we’re consuming. Anyone who has been to Weight Watchers knows that weighing and measuring is the way to have your cake and eat it, too.

Portion-control dishes make it easy to check your portions.

In this “supersize me” era, small indulgences are most welcome.

As we nibbled our way through a box of Dufflet’s caramel and milk chocolate coated pistachio nuts, six pieces a day (80 calories), we were reminded how luscious chocolate-covered nuts can be.

We’ve been serving them, along with other Dufflet Small Indulgences, for dessert, with a cup of coffee or tea.

The Dufflet line is divided into crackle (brittle), morsels (enrobed nuts and fruits) and tumbles (little cookies). The company, based in Canada, sells in the U.S. at select retailers and at Amazon.com.

Instead of taking time to prepare a dessert after dinner—or for a light dessert after a heavy meal—create a confections plate with two or three choices. It’s fancy and casual at the same time.

Learn more about Dufflet at DuffletSweets.com.

Find more of our favorite candies in our Gourmet Candy Section.

Photo courtesy Cambro.

If you’re washing sterling silver and stainless steel flatware at the same time, keep them at opposite ends of the dishwasher basket.

Electrolysis, a chemical reaction between the two metals, will wear away at the silver over time.

The same thing goes for washing flatware in the sink: don’t soak sterling and stainless together.

Of course, it’s best to wash fine silver by hand. Abrasive dishwasher detergents will gradually wear at silver’s surface. But facing a large post-party clean-up, the dishwasher is alluring.