Layers of cheesecloth are used to wrap cheeses like Cheddar: The small holes in the cloth allow the cheese to breathe without drying out. Cheesecloth is also used to press and drain the curds of soft cheeses.

While you may not be in the cheese-making business, some recipes require cheesecloth (also spelled cheese cloth) to make a bouquet garni (an aromatic bundle of herbs), as a straining cloth to clarify stocks and soups, and to triple-strain and press Greek-style yogurt.

If you don’t have cheesecloth and you’re in a bind, simply use a coffee filter or two to make a bouquet garni or clarify your soup.

If you can’t find cheesecloth locally, it’s
available online.

Try a spicy beer with your fruitcake.
Photo courtesy CraftBeer.com.

As we relayed last week, a Wakefield Research survey shows that more than 60% of men would prefer to toast the New Year with beer rather than Champagne. By implication, they wouldn’t mind having that beer at Christmas as well.

And by further implication, they wouldn’t mind tasting some exciting craft beers instead of the same old, same old.

So go to your closest depot of craft beer and get six or so different brews for a tasting. If you don’t know where to begin, the sales associate can help you. One place to start is with the same style of beer (pilsner, dark ale) from six different microbreweries. Or, purchase six different styles of beer from the same brewery.

Serve the beers in order from lightest to darkest style, giving everyone a two-ounce pour. This nets out to one bottle of beer consumed per person. One 12-ounce bottle yields 6 pours. Discuss the aromas and flavors in each beer—they’re complex and much more flavorful and aromatic than mass-marketed megabrands.

While many of the top-selling beer brands from the large breweries saw a decline in sales in 2010, 200 new craft breweries opened and almost 500 more are reported to be in the planning stages.

Here are highlights from the ever-changing beerscape, according to the Brewers Association, which represents America’s small and independent craft brewers.

• Cans vs. Bottles: Full-flavored craft beers in cans instead of bottles continued to gain traction across the country.
• “Sour is the New Hoppy”: Barrel-aging, which produces interesting tart flavors, has become very popular—even among America’s hopheads who like the bitter flavors.
• Beer and Food: Craft beer and food pairings continue to be prevalent at the dinner table. From coast to coast, restaurants are offering beer pairings with food. See our beer pairing dinner menu (a great idea for New Year’s Eve) and find many pairing ideas at CraftBeer.com.
• Cooking With Beer: Craft beer has become a staple ingredient in many dishes, from brines to sauces. Get lots of ideas at BeerCook.com.
• Nano Breweries: These tiny breweries, with a case output so small that they can’t be called microbreweries, are hot and growing.
• Brewpubs: The estimated 1,000 brewpubs in the country represents well over half of U.S. breweries. Looks like we want good grub with our craft beer.

Support your local brewery. Meet friends at your nearest brewpub for some holiday cheer.

Understand the types of beer in our Beer Glossary.

For the past two years, relaxation drinks—lightly carbonated soft drinks with relaxation agents such as the amino acid L-theanine, melatonin, and valerian root—are the new growth area in the beverage category. Low in sugar and caffeine-free, the “family-friendly” drinks are calming, while increasing focus and concentration.

In other words, they’re meant to soothe the mind and body.

ViB, short for “Vacation in a Bottle,” is a favorite of Jessica Simpson and has a number of major athletes as investors. The category originator, ViB, was developed by two Dallas entrepreneurs who observed a growing backlash against the energy drink market. ViB’s main ingredient is the amino acid L-Theanine, the calming ingredient in green tea.

Chill with Unwind relaxation beverage. Photo
courtesy Frontier Beverage.

RelaxZen has gone one further. In addition to its main formula, the company has created RelaxZen DAY FLIGHT and RelaxZen NIGHT FLIGHT for sale at airports, to calm nervous fliers.

We’ve just tried Unwind Ultimate Relaxation, with the catchy slogan, “Tired Of Being Wired?” It did take the edge off.

With only 40 calories for a 12-ounce can (10 grams of sugar), it contains the calming properties of melatonin, rose hips, passion flower and valerian root, with added nurturing from vitamins B6, B12 and C. It’s all natural and OU kosher, in Citrus Orange, Goji Grape and Pom Berry.

Relaxation drinks also come in handy when you’re overly-wired from coffee or energy drinks. They can be found at convenience stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, groceries and other retails.

Headquartered in Memphis, Unwind Beverage is sold in select stores in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Michigan, Ohio and the New England Region, including Albany, Boston and Hartford. It is available online by the case ($54.95) at FrontierBeverage.com.

Give chocolates in an edible chocolate box.
Photo courtesy Charles Chocolates.

If you’re still stuck for that special Christmas gift, this chocolate box from Charles Chocolates may be the solution.

It’s all chocolate, including the box!

The dark chocolate or milk chocolate selections are in a base of dark or milk chocolate, with a milk chocolate or white chocolate lid. The box is filled with 18 pieces of Charles’ Chocolates most popular bonbons. Including the box, each box is a pound of chocolate.

The chocolate boxes are $60.00 each, but there’s a special offer now: two boxes for $95 (instead of $120).

Purchase online at CharlesChocolates.com.

• Find more of our favorite chocolate gifts for Holiday 2010.

Your photos of Christmas dinner can look a lot better this year.

Prominent food photographer Lou Manna, recognized by the elite Olympus Visionary Program, offers 13 tips for better food photography.

1. Keep your composure.

2. Take a fork’s-eye view.

3. Limit your ingredients.

4. Give your food a sense of style.

5. Clean your plate.

6. Crack the ISO code.

Get full details of these six tips plus the remaining seven food photography tips.

Improve your game [hen]. Photo © Lou Manna.