A terrific-tasting nut mix with a sizzle of
chipotle. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE
NIBBLE.

Our mix of choice is one of a series of seven limited-edition nut mixes that includes honey-smoked Tailgate Almonds (another favorite), Pumpkin Spice Almonds (very nice for Thanksgiving nibbling and garnishing) and Winter Spiced Nuts (our can was a bit underspiced; we’d like more cinnamon and clove).

There’s also Holiday Nut Crunch, with peanuts, chocolate-covered peanuts, raisins, chocolate candy pieces (like M&Ms), almonds, cashews and dried cranberries. Alas, we couldn’t track that one down locally, so we’ll have to order it from Amazon.

Two other sweet mixes are Brittle Nut Medley and Crème Brulee Almonds. The former didn’t have enough nut brittle to interest us; the latter was too sugary (but O.K. to sprinkle on ice cream).

The USDA recommends an ounce of nuts daily as a heart-healthy snack. The nuts on the approval list include almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.

These particular nuts are recommended because they contain less than 4g of saturated fats per 50g. Seeds such as flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds may offer the same heart-healthy benefits.

Note that walnuts and flax seeds have a significantly higher amount of heart-healthy alpha linolenic acid compared to other nuts and seeds. This plant-derived omega 3 fatty acid is similar to that found in salmon, which many studies show lowers total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels.

So nibble away, guilt-free.

Serve a seasonal flavor. Earlier this week we wrote about Kahlúa Cinnamon Spice liqueur. Here are some other options:

 
A bottle of any of these also makes a nice house gift.

The King’s Ginger was formulated for King Edward VII. But you can enjoy the ginger flavor for Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy The King’s Ginger.

We actually prefer brandy snifters, which narrow at the top to keep in the aromas. Whiskey tasting glasses do the same thing.
MAKE PUMPKIN LIQUEUR
You can make your own pumpkin liqueur. All you need is fresh pumpkin, a bottle of 100-proof vodka, sugar, lemon and pumpkin pie spice.

Start now: The liqueur needs to distill in a jar for one to two weeks.
  

Off to a good start: the beer advent calendar (photo © Kalea GmbH).

Maybe your beer is better, but where’s your craft beer Advent calendar? The clever folks at Kalea, in Strasbourg, have one.

Or at least, they’ve packaged 24 items in a box for the 24 days of advent.

The lucky recipient enjoys 10 Austrian beers, 10 international beers and four beer accessories.

This calendar is perfect as a party gift, early Christmas gift or corporate gift with a company logo printed on the box.

We can’t imagine a beer drinker who wouldn’t be tickled gold and amber by this gift.

If you want to create your own beer Advent calendar, start now to gather your 24 different beers: The calendar commences on December 1st. Use this as an opportunity to try 24 beers that you haven’t had before.

Yes, it is possible to create an Advent calendar that does just that. Here’s how one clever fellow did it.
 
 
WHAT IS AN ADVENT CALENDAR?

Last month, 246,000 people asked the question of Google. Here’s the scoop:

The Advent calendar dates to the beginning of the 19th century. A tradition begun by Lutherans in Germany, the first known Advent calendar dates to 1851. Its purpose: to count down the 24 days of December until Christmas.

Most Advent calendars begin on December 1, regardless of when Advent is celebrated in any particular year (it’s the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas, which can range from November 27th to December 3rd).

Advent, from the Latin word adventus, means “coming.” It’s a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, on Christmas Day.

Some Advent calendars are strictly religious in nature; others are secular. Some involve affixing colored pictures to a piece of cardboard. Children’s versions have pieces of candy affixed to cardboard.

Early versions were handmade. The first printed Advent calendar was published in 1908, and the now-familiar versions followed, with windows that opened out of the cardboard.

Today, most Advent calendars are made for children: large and festive rectangles of printed cardboard with a different window to be opened on each of the 24 days. The windows reveal a holiday-themed image, inspiration, etc. The more elaborate versions have a small gift behind each window: a charm, a toy, a piece of candy.

Thanks, but we’d rather have the beer.

Pick your Advent calendar assortment from these different types of beer.

Nobody needs them, and worse, they don’t work.

Here’s one that’s very clever, useful and makes up for the last 10 gadgets we couldn’t even give away:

The Tea Bag Buddy from The Container Store.

This silicone tea cup lid helps in four ways:

Available in green or white, Tea Bag Buddy is microwave- and dishwasher-safe. At $4.95 it’s a great stocking stuffer or tea party or shower favor. From ContainerStore.com.

For a bigger gift, package Tea Bag Buddy with some top quality tea bags.

The Organic Mint Melange from Mighty Leaf Tea is herbal (caffeine-free) and absolutely delicious plain—no sweetener or milk required.

Discover everything you need to know about tea in our Tea Section.
  

Caramelized onions on brie on toasted French bread. Photo by Paul Binet | IST.

This is because for many home cooks, caramelizing is something of a mystery.

How does one get that perfect caramel color and sweet, round flavor from a sauté pan? How hot should your pan be? How long does the process take? How do you keep things from burning? How much oil does the whole process take? To stir or not to stir?

Suffice to say, there are a number of things that can go wrong. But armed with the right knowledge, you can get luscious brown color and sweet sugar flavor out of the onions and other veggies you put into the pan.

Chef Johnny Gnall lays out the steps to perfect caramelization. Once you work your way through them, you’ll find yourself making batches of delicious caramelized onions. We do it weekly. The onions are delectable with almost any savory food.

Caramelized onions are also healthy. Onions are an anti-inflammatory, filled with more polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) than garlic, tomatoes, red bell peppers, carrots and many other vegetables. Like their cousin garlic, they can have a positive cardiovascular effect. And studies have shown that onions can help increase bone density and lower the risk of several cancers.

Health care experts recommend eating half a medium onion each day. Cook it in heart-healthy canola oil and you’ve got a delicious home run.