Coffee: neat, pressed and hungry for a shot
(of Java & Co. syrup, that is). Photo ©
Elina Manninen | Fotolia.com.

The infused syrups that have so captivated coffee-drinkers are essentially flavored simple syrup (sugar syrup). They have gained visibility with the renaissance of coffee houses, but have been used for many years to make Italian sodas, as breakfast syrups and dessert syrups, and in recipes from glazes to baking. They can make almost any food taste better—but sugar has a way of doing that.

Java & Co.’s handmade and hand-bottled syrups—they’re made and shipped to order for maximum freshness—taste that much better than the mass-manufactured products from Monin and Torani. They begin with actual coffee beans, and are a delightful personal gift, corporate gift and sweet syrup for your own pantry.

• Read the full review and discover the many ways to use flavored syrups. They can start with coffee—but end up in vinaigrettes, parfaits, cocktails and can even glaze your Thanksgiving turkey and yams.
• Discover more of our favorite artisan honeys, sugars and syrups.

We use it in sauces, soups and stocks where we don’t want the added fat from our other favorite truffle-enhancement, truffle butter, another delicious and affordable solution. Truffle oil is yet another option (and great to spray on popcorn).

• Learn all about truffles and using truffle products.
• You must try our favorite truffle butter, from D’Artagnan,
  a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week.

Truffles, glorious truffles. Photo by Kelly
Cline | IST.

If you’re passionate about animal care, ask
your grocer to stock these products.

But for those who are very concerned with animal welfare, there’s an even stronger certification from organizations that only focus on the topic. The certifications include American Humane Certified, Certified Humane and Animal Welfare Approved. (Whole Foods has its own “Animal Compassionate” program.)

Their mission is to protect livestock—cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry—from inhumane treatment, both on the farm and in transit.

The concept of certifying animal foods as being humanely raised is relatively new, and not all animal welfare scientists agree on what standards are appropriate. Thus, differences exist among the programs, most significantly, whether factory-farming systems should be approved in addition to family farms. Some programs admit family farms only.

• Learn more about the American Humane Certified program at AmericanHumane.org.
• Also check out Certified Humane Raised And Handled Program at CertifiedHumane.org.
• Visit THE NIBBLE’s Gourmet Meats Section for our favorite meat and poultry products.

Try peppadews too, a cherry pepper-sized African fruit that looks like a small, round red bell pepper and is available in mild and hot styles. They can be stuffed for hors d’oeuvres and even used as cocktail garnishes. But warning to carb counters: Their sweetness comes from added sugar.

• See our review of Peppadew.
• See more of our favorite veggies, plus recipes, in the Gourmet Vegetables Section of THE NIBBLE.

Use sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers
and peppadews to add flavor and color to
sandwiches and dishes when tomato season is over. Photo courtesy Peppadew.com.

Marie Callender’s pies will take care of your
desserts. Photos courtesy Marie Callender.

Regardless of what the winners choose to do with their 12 Marie Callender’s pies that are the prizes in this week’s Gourmet Giveaway, they’ll be eating a lot more delicious pie!

Take some stress off yourself this holiday season by serving Marie Callender’s pies, which are packed with flavor and enveloped in a flaky lattice crust. Or, if you prefer your own homemade fillings, save some time by using Marie Callender’s Deep Dish Pie Shells for the crust, which come in a heavy gauge baker’s pie pan for better baking.

Whether you choose to redeem your prize as one pie a month, one every few weeks or all 12 at once for a pie-eating contest, this week’s Gourmet Giveaway prize will deliver more than 100 sweet slices.

• To enter this Gourmet Giveaway: See THE NIBBLE’S Gourmet Pies & Pastry Section section and click on the link at the bottom of the page. Enter your email address for the prize drawing by Monday, November 23th at noon Eastern Time. Good luck!
• Learn more about Marie Callender products at ConAgraFoods.com.