Let Green Valley Christmas Trees take the
hassle out of looking for the perfect tree.
Photo courtesy Green Valley Christmas Trees.

Nothing says Christmas like a lush, fresh and fragrant Christmas tree. Trade in the headache of finding the perfect Christmas tree for the real holiday fun—decorating the tree with loved ones.

• Green Valley Christmas Trees individually select its trees to meet premium standards for shape and size.
• Then they’re harvested, wrapped, packaged in a sturdy carton and sent via FedEx for delivery in 3-5 business days.
• All that will be left for you to do is set up your tree using the pre-drilled holes; personalize it with your favorite garlands, lights, tinsel and ornaments; and enjoy it throughout the holiday season.

One winner will receive a live, fresh-cut Christmas tree shipped the same day it’s harvested to ensure the maximum freshness and longevity.* Given proper tree care, the tree should last 4-6 weeks. All you’ll have to worry about is how to decorate it.

*Trees can be shipped only to those living in the continental United States.

• To enter this Gourmet Giveaway: Go to the box at the bottom of our Top Pick Of The Week Sign-Up Page and enter your email address for the prize drawing. Enter your email address for the prize drawing by Monday, December 7th at noon Eastern Time. Good luck!
• Learn more about Green Valley Christmas Trees at GreenValleyChristmasTrees.com.

You need a water with character and terroir, like the Scotch.

Think Cloud Juice, Gleneagles, Hildon or Oregon Rain waters. Give a bottle of each to your favorite Scotch drinker as a holiday gift.

• Read more about the exciting world of bottled waters, and about pairing specific types of waters with specific foods.

Great Scotch! Tap water?? Photo
courtesy of Chivas.

Tempting but not innocent—this Mexican hot
chocolate is spiked with tequila. Photo
courtesy of Dove Chocolate Discoveries.

First you make the hot chocolate on the stove, using disks of Mexican chocolate (you can find it at any Latin American grocery or online). It’s bittersweet chocolate flavored with cinnamon and sometimes, ground almonds, for an intentionally grainy effect.

When the hot chocolate is ready, you add the tequila—in this case, an añejo, or aged, tequila.

• Check out the recipe for Tequila Hot Chocolate.
• The recipe makes enough for 20—perfect for a party. Serve it in espresso cups to for even more portions.

1. Grate 2 ounces of a quality chocolate bar in the 40% to 50% cacao range.
2. Brew 3 ounces of chai tea for 5 minutes in a cup of boiling water. Strain into a quart vessel, pressing a spoon against the leaves to extract the most tea.
3. Simmer a cup of whole milk over medium heat and add to the tea, then add the chocolate.
4. Mix with an immersion blender until the chocolate has melted.
5. Pour into cups; warm briefly in the microwave if you want it piping hot.

Serves two.

Spice up your hot chocolate. Photo
courtesy Recchiuti.com.

• Find more hot chocolate recipes and great information in our Hot Chocolate Section. (What’s the difference between cocoa and hot chocolate…between dutched and undutched?)
• See our review of more than 60 hot chocolate brands.
• See our review of the fine chocolates of Recchiuti Confections, a NIBBLE Top Pick Of The Week.

DJ AM’s Toffee Mix, the late DJ’s favorite
flavor. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | THE
NIBBLE.

We figured that if [names of well-known stores withheld for the sake of good public relations] put them on the shelves, they had to be good. We would like to introduce these retailers—and every retailer—to Milk & Krunchies, a company that knows how to do it right.

As you can guess, when the charming box of pretty gourmet rice crispy treats arrived from Milk & Krunchies (the revised spellings steer clear of Kellogg’s trademark), we did not rush to devour them. But once we began, we couldn’t stop. These delicious updates of the classics, in basic and three flavor, with more on the way, are classy snacks and gifts.

• Join us as we revisit Rice Krispies Treats, now a crispy adult treat that you may elect to share with deserving children—if you feel you can spare a bite. Read the full review.

• Find more of our favorite cookies and snacks.