Here’s something special for balletomanes and ballet students who like dark chocolate bonbons:

Delysia’s Nutcracker Chocolate Collection.

Only 50 boxes of this seasonal edition have been made.

The 16-piece truffle collection contains four each of themed chocolates inspired by the holiday ballet.

The images atop each chocolate are charming.

And the centers are beautifully flavored:

 
HEAD TO DELYSIA CHOCOLATE to claim yours!
 
 
> Truffles Vs Bonbons Vs Chocolates
 
 
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*Lebkuchen is a honey-sweetened, spiced German cake, molded cookie or bar cookie that has become part of Germany’s Christmas traditions. Since “The Nutcracker” originated in Germany, it’s very appropriate to this collection.

Traditional spices include allspice, aniseed, cardamom, cloves, coriander and ginger. Nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts) and candied fruit are also included.

†Russian tea cakes are simple cookies, often called butterball cookies in the U.S. The flour, water, butter and sugar are mixed with ground nuts and formed into balls. After baking, the cookies are rolled in powdered sugar.

[1] A box of 16 memorable chocolate truffles*, a limited edition from Delysia Chocolatier (photos © Delysia Chocolatier).

[2] Close-up; from the top, Nutcracker, Sugar Plum Fairy, Mouse King.

[1] Easy to carry in a pocket, you can keep different scents in purses, gym bags, etc. Above: Watermelon hand sanitizer (all photos © Earth To Skin).

[2] The inexpensive six-pack lets you hand out little gifties to your friends, colleagues and helpers. Above: Blueberry hand sanitizer.

[3] Lemon + Basil hand sanitizer, like all of the varieties, has a refreshing aroma.

Here’s a perfect food-related stocking stuffer for these times:

Hand sanitizer with different food scents!

Earth To Skin has added something special to their moisturizing hand sanitizer: fruit scents.

Like other fine sanitizers, Earth To Skin’s reduces the bacteria that potentially can cause disease, by killing 99.99% of many common harmful germs and bacteria.

In two-ounce sizes, these mini-sanitizers are sold in a 6-pack bundle exclusively at Walmart.com, for just $4.99 (and are NextDay eligible).

The scents include:

 
They are 72% ethyl alcohol, along with moisturizing aloe.

Click on the individual links above; or here’s the whole line.
 
We’re handing them out to everyone, including the people who help us year-round: hairdressers, letter carriers, package delivery people, etc.

And, we’ll be buying enough of a supply to enjoy them long after the holiday season.
 
 
SOME HAND SANITIZER HISTORY

Alcohol has been used as an antiseptic at least 1363. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer has been commonly used in Europe since at least the 1980s.

While there are non-alcohol-based versions that typically contain benzalkonium chloride or triclosan; they are less effective than alcohol-based ones

The alcohol-based version is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system [source].

Purell hand sanitizer, the first American brand, was invented in 1988 and introduced to the consumer market in 1997.

Its primary component is 70% ethyl alcohol [source].

PigWizard is a sandwich shop with a storied address: Cannery Row in Monterey, California.

Specialties include Porchetta Sandwich, Sausage Sandwich, Porchetta Poutine and other pork-based treats.

While you can’t get a sandwich shipped to you, you can buy the house-made sausage and bacon online.

And the house-made, air-fried pork rinds (chicharrónes), made from pork skin with the attached fat removed.

 
They can be shipped anywhere, for snacking, party favors and stocking stuffers.
 
 
“GOURMET” PORK RINDS, CALLED “PORKCORN”

We respect the savory versions, Pork rinds are great with beer and soft drinks.

In addition to snacking, we have always liked the traditional rinds as a garnish on salads (photo #4), as a crunch factor on burgers and sandwiches, and (no kidding) with a spicy dip or even ketchup.

But the sweet versions, delightfully seasoned, keep the palate dancing.

And we can adventure forth with new pairings.

We used the Sweet Heat and Beer Bacon Caramel as a topping on chocolate ice cream, served Thai Tea Caramel with a cup of tea, served them all with hot chocolate, and included them on a platter of cookies.

Savory or sweet, PigWizard pork rinds are sure to please the snacker and food adventurer: crispy, crunchy air-fried pork rinds in fab flavors.

 
The 5.5-oz. bags are simply wrapped in cellophane. Once opened, you should consume the contents within two days.

Not a problem!

ORDER ONLINE AT PIGWIZARD.COM
 
 
MORE ABOUT PORK RINDS

Check out this article for:

 
 
> THE DIFFERENT CUTS OF PORK

> FOOD FUN: A PORK COMBO PLATTER
 
 
ABOUT THE PIGWIZARD

Jonathan Christopher Roberts began learning butchery at the Monte Vista Market in 2000, after moving to California from his home state of Georgia.

He had dropped out of high school at 16, began working in kitchens, and quickly realized that to be a better chef, he would have to learn butchery.

As a kid growing up, his mom and grandparents always had gardens, and canned and preserved fruits and vegetables. But Jonathan lacked the same kind of early experience with meat.

“After a couple of years as an apprentice metal sculptor,” he says, “I found myself in California, and shortly after moving I was breaking down sides of beef and whole lamb. I loved it.”

You never know where the road will take you, but we hope that it will take us to Monterey, where we can have some of those great pork sandwiches.

[1] A great moment in pork rinds: the creation of Beer Bacon Caramel Porkcorn (photos #1 to #4 © PigWizard.

[2] Some like it hot—and they should head for the Sweet Heat Popcorn.

[3] Thai Tea Caramel Porkcorn is another great innovation.

[4] Use savory pork rinds as a salad garnish (photo © Culinary Vegetable Institute).

[5] Use conventional pork rinds for food fun: in nachos, for example, or in this Pork Rind Pizza. Here’s the recipe from Step Away From The Carbs (photo © Step Away From The Carbs).