We taste a lot of good toffee. But if you like very buttery, buttercrunch-style (dusted with crushed almonds) with more almonds inside, our favorite is Enstrom’s.

The company sells toffee in different sizes and shapes. For Valentine’s Day there’s a special assortment of milk- and dark chocolate-covered “Petites,” bite size toffee enrobed in chocolate, in a hearts and kisses box.

The 25-piece assortment, 12.5 ounces, is $16.95. Get yours here.
 
AMAZING SUGAR FREE TOFFEE

There’s a sugar-free box of toffee in the classic “break-up” format, $20.95 for a one-pound box (in a standard gift box).

You won’t believe how delicious it is: You can’t tell the difference from the conventional toffee. More information.

The difference between toffee and buttercrunch.

This fun idea comes from Shannon Payette Seip, author of “Bean Appetit: Hip And Healthy Ways To Have Fun With Food.” She is co-founder of Bean Sprouts Café and Cooking School in Seattle, where families learn to make dishes that are both great tasting and good for you.

It’s easy to make this heart-shaped pasta dish. For each portion, plan on two cups of cooked pasta, one meatball, 1/2 cup marinara sauce and an optional two strips of red bell pepper.
 
Preparation

We’re starting with heart-shaped whoopie pies. They require an investment in a heart-shaped cookie pan, which can be used year-around: for Mother’s Day, engagement and anniversary parties, to say “I love you” to someone special, and so forth.

The same pan makes jumbo cookies. Add a stick to make cookie pops.

It will be love at first bite when you turn out goodies with this dishwasher safe, nonstick pan. The 12-space pan makes 12 cookies or 6 whoopie pies. Recipes are included.

The pan is $12.95 at Sur La Table stores or online.

BYO whoopie pie recipe.

Heart-shaped whoopie/cookie pop pan from
SurLatable.com.

Some enthusiasts have more than one mister, to hold different types of oil.

Yes, there are aerosol sprays, which do provide a finer, more even coating. But they come with a cost: chemical propellants and a can that goes into the landfill, both of which are needed to create that fine spray. Not to mention, the slightly chemical flavor and aroma, and the ongoing cost per can as opposed to the small investment in a mister.

Originally, we used one as a diet tool, to cut down on the oil calories on salads. We abandoned that approach in favor of tossing lightly with homemade vinaigrette. So we looked at other ways to use the mister.

And of course, there’s always salad!

Read the directions! The biggest complaint about the misters is that the spray clogs.

 
CLOGGING

Oils vary in viscosity. Vegetable oil, for example, can be thicker than olive oil, and contribute to clogging. Frequent cleaning with hot water and soap is recommended. But clogging is common. Here’s how to avoid it:

Salted honey caramels. Photo courtesy
Droga.

Put Your Money On Honey salted caramels from Droga Chocolates of Los Angeles.

The luscious bites are the result of a bet that a caramel couldn’t be made without corn syrup. Seeking a solution to the challenge, Droga says:

“Inspiration stung us—honey was the answer! The first honey caramel came to bee, and people have been abuzz ever since.”

And you should make a bee-line for them! So soft and redolent of fine honey, each taste makes you want another. And another.

The small-batch caramels are:

Droga confections are certified kosher by KOF-K.

Get yours at DrogaChocolates.com.

There are caramels in other flavors that also hit the spot. Here’s our review.