[2] Chocolate-covered pretzel rods with holiday sprinkles. Here’s the recipe from Taste Of Home).

If you like to give homemade gifts or party favors, how about chocolate-covered potato chips or pretzels?

While you can find them at retailers, the concept here is made by you.

You can also use quality chocolate, like Green & Blacks or Lindt.

If the recipient doesn’t know the difference between a Hershey Bar and a Lindt Bar, default to Nestlé’s chocolate morsels.

Package your treats in a nice tin, and voilà! (Note: A square tin is easier to wrap than a round tin.)

You can also include a card with tips for enjoying them, beyond eating them for the tin. Ours include:

 
 
RECIPE: CHOCOLATE-COVERED POTATO CHIPS OR PRETZELS

Use a quality potato chip (Boulder Canyon, Deep River, Kettle Brand, etc.), the thicker the better so they don’t break.

For an less salty chip, take a look at Kettle Brand’s Unsalted. They also have a Maple Bacon chip that adds an extra layer of flavor.

You can also use sweet potato chips.

Also take a look at Food Should Taste Good’s sweet potato tortilla chips. They’re slightly sweet, a good pairing with chocolate.

As for the chocolate, use dark, milk, white, or a combination.

You need only three ingredients:

 
Preparation

1. SORT the chips and place the whole ones on a work surface. Prepare two large baking sheets with with wax paper or parchment.

2. BOIL the water in a double boiler and reduce to simmering (a heat-safe bowl on top of a pan of simmering water also works). Place three-quarters of the chocolate in the top/bowl and melt, stirring occasionally. When the chocolate has melted, continue to heat it to 110°F, stirring occasionally.

To microwave, heat at 45-second intervals until melted, stirring in-between.

3. REMOVE the chocolate from the heat, and stir in the remaining chopped chocolate until melted. Continue stirring until the chocolate has cooled to 90°F.

4. DIP the potato chips into the chocolate one at a time, dipping two-thirds of the way. We use our fingers, but you can use tongs. Allow the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl by lightly tapping the chip against the edge. Place the chip on the wax paper, beginning at the point farthest away from you, so you won’t drip chocolate on the finished chips. Repeat until all of the chips are dipped.

5. SPRINKLE the chocolate portion with a bit of the seasoning (photo #1), or completely dip into the decorations (photo #2).

6. PUT aside to cool until set, about two hours. Placing the trays in the fridge speeds up the process to 15 minutes (but not longer, or they may become soggy).
 
 
CHECK IT OUT:

THE HISTORY OF THE POTATO CHIP
  

When we first saw this photo (#1) on Angelica Kitchen’s Facebook page, we thought it was a matzoh balls salad.

We soon discovered that the matzoh ball look-alikes are actually masa corn dumplings (chochoyotes).

In case you’ve never thought about it [and who has?], matzoh balls are a different style of dumplings than pierogi and Asian dumplings, which are stuffed noodle dough wrappers.

Instead, matzoh balls are made without a dough wrapper. They’re a paste of flour* and seasonings—think Chicken & Dumplings.

Some other dumplings without noodle wrappers are gnocchi. Knishes are dumplings made with flour wrappers, but a type of pastry dough rather than noodle dough.

The Angelica Kitchen salad is a base of baby arugula, topped with:

 
It’s garnished with tofu ricotta (Angelica Kitchen is vegan—substitute regular ricotta or goat cheese) and ancho pepper cream dressing, sprinkled with toasted pecans.

The masa dumplings include bit of spring onions. Here’s a recipe.

The dumplings—or matzoh balls—can be served hot or cold.

But since we’ll be making matzoh balls this weekend (Chanukah starts on Sunday), we’ll make extras for our own version of this salad, with a different assortment of greens, other vegetables, and dressing.

We won’t serve it on the first night—that’s reserved for the chicken soup (photo #2).

But we’ll enjoy them on one of the other seven days of Chanukah.

Here’s more about Chanukah.
 
 
MATZOH BALL TIP

We learned this from our friend Claudio, and it’s a blinding revelation of the obvious.

Instead of making traditional-size matzoh balls, that need to be cut with a spoon into four or five bites (photo #2), make miniature, bite-size matzoh balls.

They’re so much easier to eat, and the petite size is different and, may we say, fun?
 
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*In the case of matzoh balls, matzoh meal is used instead of wheat flour.

[2] A conventionally-sized matzoh ball. Often, there are two or three in one bowl of soup. Here’s the recipe from Andrew Zimmern | The Food Network.

[3] Mini matzoh balls: so much more convenient—and fun. Here’s the recipe from Mario Batali via ABC.go.com.

[2] America’s favorite peppermint water, original Peppermint Hint (still water; both photos courtesy Hint).

Hint, a pioneer in flavored, unsweetened water, has been a hit with us since we first discovered it—way back in 2006 (here’s the review).

Following the original line of still waters are Hint Sparkling and Hint Kick, which is caffeinated water (a gift idea!).

To celebrate the holidays, a limited-edition of Sparkling Peppermint Hint is available through January (the still version is available year-round; it’s the #1 peppermint-flavored water in the U.S.).

With zero calories, it’s a gift for:

 
Sparkling Peppermint Hint is another mixer to add to your recipe arsenal. For starters:

 
As for still Peppermint Hint, how about heating it in the microwave and mixing your next packet of hot chocolate?

All Hint products are made with purified water and natural flavors from non-GMO plants. The waters are never sweetened; there are no preservatives or other additives.
 
 
THE GIFT OF HINT

The limited-edition Sparkling Peppermint, and for that matter, the Kick flavors, are great gift ideas for the right person. No one else you know will think of them. We’d be delighted to receive a case or two.

You can find the caffeinated flavors there as well.

Hint can also be found at CVS, Target and grocery stores nationwide.
 
 
ABOUT DRINKING WATER

As long as we’re talking about drinking more water, here’s the history of drinking water.

Be grateful you have a reliable municipal supply.

November 24th is National Sardines Day.

Every year we make a different dish for our Feast Of The Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. They’re typically the easiest to make—which is good news, when you’re cooking seven fish dishes.

In the U.S., fresh-caught sardine season begins in July and lasts for a few weeks. They’re great grilled (photo #5), so mark your calendar.

Until then, look for flash-frozen sardines and then to canned.

The silvery fish are inexpensive, ready to eat, and loaded with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and other key nutrients*. They’re a superfood.

They’re also one of the most sustainable fish around: all-around, a fish to feel good about.
 
 
THE BEST CANNED SARDINES

Bad canned sardines are fishy, but good brands can grace any table. We like:

 
Group brunch idea: a canned sardines tasting, with regular and avocado toast, hard-boiled eggs and green salad.
 
 
EVERYDAY WAYS TO USE SARDINES

As a garnish, whole or chopped, pureed into a dip or sauce: Sardine lovers can have a buffet. They easily fit in at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 
 
RECIPES WITH SARDINES
This is simply the small collection on TheNibble.com. There’s an ocean of recipes out there for you to explore.

 
 
A GIFT OF SARDINES

It’s holiday season: Why not? BELA Olhão even has a gift set.

Head to:

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*Per three ounces of sardines: an ounce of protein, 2 grams of omega-3 essential fatty acids vitamin B-12, nearly 70% of vitamin D daily value, (75% of daily value of selenium, plus phosphorus, calcium and iron.

[1] Spaghetti with garlic and sardines packed in chile oil, topped with toasted breadcrumbs. Here’s the recipe from Taste | Australia.

[2] Sardines on a wilted greens salad: a first course or a luncheon salad with some cherry tomatoes (photo Emily Chang | The Nibble).

[3] A first course or snack: Sardines Venetian Style, with crostini and pickled vegetables (photo courtesy Trattoria Italienne | NYC).

[4] Chirashi sushi with a poached egg, using canned sardines in tomato sauce. Here’s the recipe from Kitchen Gidget. You can do the same with a grain bowl.

[5] Fresh sardines with and ramps (photo courtesy Abboccato Restaurant | NYC).

Some might think that snow cones are for kids, but they’d be wrong.

Some think they’re only for cooling off on a hot day, but that’s wrong, too.

For ice-cream-loving dieters, the lactose-intolerant, vegans, kosher eaters and lovers of wine and spirits, they’re an alternative to ice cream, 365 days a year.

We’re not talking about street-vendor snow cones, with neon-colored sticky-sweet HFCS syrups. Nope!

We’re talking about homemade snow cones made with the Little Snowie 2 Snow Cone Machine and really good syrup, regular or sugar-free.

Let’s start with the machine.
 
 
LITTLE SNOWIE 2 SNOW CONE MACHINE

Snowie, the company, is a key player in the shaved ice industry worldwide. The majority of the machines they sell are for shaved ice shops and similar commercial use.

Consumer demand to make snow cones at home led to the development of the Little Snowie 1. Its next generation, Little Snowie 2, is even more impressive, and has twice the ice capacity (approximately 64 ounces).

Modeled after Snowie’s workhorse commercial ice shavers but affordably priced for the home ($199 on Amazon and Bed, Bath & Beyond*), Little Snowie 2 fast and impressive, rated the best home ice shaver in an independent test.

Using regular ice cubes from your freezer, its high-speed commercial motor and 301 hardened stainless steel blade deliver fine, fluffy shaved ice in 3-5 seconds per 8-ounce cup (photo #3). Then, just add syrup (photo #4).

The machine comes with three 16-ounce bottles of syrup (Blue Raspberry, Lemon Lime and Wild Cherry) and 6 sample bottles of other flavors. As a bonus, there are eight Italian-style ice cream spoons, long enough to dig down into deep cups (BYO cups, BTW).

You can purchase additional syrup 3-packs (three different flavors per pack) for $19.99 in:

 
All Snowie-brand syrups are made without HFCS.
 
 
LET’S TALK ALCOHOL SNOW CONES

There’s no need to make frozen drinks in your blender when you’ve got Little Snowie, which gives you the fine, delicate ice you want instead of rough, crunchy blender chips.

Just make your favorite cocktail and pour it over the shaved ice. Frozen Margarita, Frosé, we’re ready for you!

 
Let your first warm-weather cocktail party be frozen!
 
 
LET’S TALK DESSERT

For dessert, make a snow cone version Hawaiian snow ice sundaes with lots of toppings, from American favorites (coconut, fresh fruit, nuts) to Hawaiian favorites: jellies (Jell-O cubes), mini mochi balls, tapioca pearls and a sauce of sweetened condensed milk.

The difference between snow cone and snow ice is the consistency, based on how the ice is shaved.
 
It’s all waiting for you at ChocZero.com and on Amazon.

> Get your Snowie on Amazon,Bed Bath & Beyond, and other retailers.

> Get your Choczero sugar-free syrups at ChocZero.com.
 
 
12 SUGAR-FREE SYRUPS FROM CHOCZERO

Looking for a zero-calorie snow cone that tastes great?

Snowie has sugar-free syrups in Blue Raspberry, Lemon Lime and Wild Cherry, which would have been fine, as would a 1/3 dilution of Crystal Light powder, if we hadn’t discovered the sugar-free syrups of ChocZero, in:

[2] Why listen to ice cubes jangle when you can drink your sangria from a snow cone. Here’s the recipe from World Market Blog.

[3] Little Snowie: Ice cubes go in, shaved ice comes out.

[4] Then, just add the syrup or spirit of choice (photos #3 and #4 courtesy Snowie).

[5] Two of ChocZero’s )) varieties of sugar-free syrups (photo courtesy Bag Snob).

> The different types of ice cream and other frozen desserts.

> The history of ice cream.

> The year’s 50+ ice cream holidays. December 21st is National Snow Cone Day.

> Here’s how ice cream was made, 4,000 years ago.

> Make snow cones at home with the Little Snowie machine.

> What are snow ice and shave ice?

> A recipe for papaya shave ice.
 
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*Also check BuyBuyBaby.com, Costco.com, QVC and Sharper Image.