It’s National Espresso Day, so trade your regular cup of java* for an espresso.

Some people are intimidated by an espresso machine. This video shows how easy it is to use one.

Espresso can only be made in an espresso machine, which exerts a specific amount of pressure on the ground coffee beans. The beans need to be an espresso roast, the darkest roast of coffee beans. The objective is a strong, pleasantly bitter shot of coffee.

You can get an espresso machine with a small footprint that will pay for itself in two weeks, assuming you purchase one espresso daily. With your own machine, you can enjoy a shot—or a double or triple shot—as often as you like, for pennies.

The Capresso espresso machine shown in the video is less than $60.00. Take a closer look at it on Amazon.com).

What if you don’t want to buy an espresso machine? The closest cup of strong, bitter coffee is a brewed Italian roast, made in a regular coffee maker.

Find everything you want to know about espresso in our Espresso Glossary.
 
See all of the national food holidays.

We’ve gotten a lot of use out of our microwavable tortilla warmer. It’s just $9.78 on Amazon.com.

The tortilla warmer—an insulated pouch—holds up to 12 tortillas, and keeps them warm and moist for up to one hour.

Simply place the tortillas in the pouch, then heat it in the microwave for approximately 45 seconds.

For a more elaborate gift, add a couple of bottles of gourmet salsa.

Tortillas remain warm and moist. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

If you ate more than this for Thanksgiving,
you may need this article. Photo courtesy
WilliamsSonoma.com.

If only we could follow that sensible advice! If you and your family have self-control on Thanksgiving, well, we wish we were you.

However, if you have tendencies to overeat, and then suffer from bloating, indigestion and overall discomfort, here are some cures:

1. Head for the antacids. Don’t wait: Swallow a dose of Pepto-Bismol ASAP. It provides relief for indigestion, heartburn and upset stomach, among other digestive upsets.

2. Take a walk. Even if you can barely move, you’ll really benefit from a walk around the block. Walking helps food move through the digestive tract.

3. Try some gentle massage. As much as your abdomen feels that it doesn’t want to be touched, use your palms to massage it, in a circular motion around your navel.

4. Drink herbal tea. Even if you’re convinced that you can’t ingest another thing, sip some herbal tea: It will help to reduce the bloat. Take advantage of fresh herbs in the kitchen—basil, cilantro, ginger, mint, oregano, rosemary and/or sage are good. Steep 4 to 6 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water. Or, grab a camomile or mint tea bag.

5. Lie down. Don’t hesitate to excuse yourself and get horizontal after eating a big meal. Just 20-30 minutes in a reclining position helps your stomach muscles move and digest all that food.

6. Try a heating pad and breathe deeply. Breathe deeply to relax clenched stomach muscles that may contribute to sdiscomfort. Something warm—not scalding hot—on your abdomen for about 20 minutes can also make you feel better.

Do you have an overeating “cure?” Let us know.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at THE NIBBLE.

These delicious gourmet pumpkin caramels hit a home run for the holidays.

Available only through December from Scotchwood Candy Company, they are an irresistable confection and a fabulous foodie gift.

The handmade caramels have real pumpkin flavor (not just pumpkin pie spices) and are topped with crushed pecans. They melt in your mouth. Even people with braces can enjoy them.

Needless to say, the bodacious bonbons did not last long. The box was emptied in a day, but the happy memories remain.

Each caramel is individually wrapped and packaged in a handsome gift box. The caramels are well-priced: An eight once box is $7.50, one pound is $15.00.

For stocking stuffers, party favors, teacher and service provider gifts, they’re different and delightful.

What a treat: Scotchwood Candy Co.’s gourmet pumpkin caramels with a cup of hot cider. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.

Get yours at ScotchwoodToffee.com.
Find more of our favorite candies in our Gourmet Candy Section.

Feel like having some pumpkin fudge? Here’s a recipe.

Cardamom, a popular holiday cookie spice and one of the spices in a chai tea blend, can be brewed into a flavorful tea that tastes very “seasonal.”

If you have green cardamom* pods in the pantry, let it multitask: Make cardamom tea. The pods infuse well in boiling water and cardamom tea can be served hot or iced. If you’d rather have full-out chai, here’s the recipe.

CARDAMOM TEA RECIPE

Ingredients For Two Cups Of Tea

 
*There are two types of cardamom: black (actually brown in color) and green, and both can be purchased in pods or ground (the seeds are removed from the pods prior to grinding). The flavor of black cardamom is too strong for tea.

Infuse black, green or white tea with cardamom pods. Photo of black tea with cardamom courtesy TeraWarner.com, where you can read more about the health benefits of cardamom.

Preparation

1. BOIL water in a saucepan; reduce to a simmer.

2. CRUSH the cardamom pods and add to the water; simmer for 2-3 minutes.

3. REMOVE from heat; let tea and orange steep for 5-10 minutes.

4. STRAIN or otherwise remove teabags and pods.

5. REHEAT and serve with optional sweetener(s). You can also add milk, as is done in Indian cardamom milk tea; but we like it straight. It’s also delicious iced.

MORE USES FOR CARDAMOM

ABOUT CARDAMOM

Cardamom, a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae) is native to Bhutan, India and Nepal. It is used in cuisines throughout the world, from its native region to the Middle East to Scandinavia. The name derives from the Latin cardamomum and the Greek kardamon, which referred to a particular Indian spice plant.

Cardamom spice is bold: intensely aromatic (some say resinous) with strong flavor. Black cardamom is stronger and more smokey, with nuances that some find to be similar to mint.

Cardamom is the world’s third most expensive spice by weight, following saffron and vanilla. But just a pinch is needed in most cases.

It is a bold spice, with an intensely aromatic (some say resinous) aroma and a strong flavor. Black cardamom is more smokey, with nuances that some find similar to mint.
As with many spices, cardamom also has health benefits, which range from improving digestion to increasing one’s metabolism.