We love the food at Tommy Bahama, so every time we receive a recipe from them, we make it (or ideally, head to the nearest Tommy Bahama restaurant and have it served to us, along with some delicious cuisine).

This sophisticated cocktail is perfect for the month of November, until cranberry flavors take over in December.

Tommy used canned pumpkin purée, maple syrup and a dash of bitters to make the base, along with Knob Creek bourbon and Sailor Jerry spiced rum (of course, you can use the brands you have on hand).

The drink is then finished with some ginger beer and the juice from a lime wedge. Why not make Pumpkin Paradise your house cocktail for November…or enjoyed it any Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar:

COCKTAIL RECIPE: PUMPKIN PARADISE

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. PLACE all ingredients except the ginger beer in a mixing glass. Add ice and shake with the mixing tin to break up the purée.

2. STRAIN into double rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with ginger beer. If desired, garnish with grated nutmeg.
 
 
ROCKS GLASS OR OLD FASHIONED GLASS VS. HIGHBALL GLASS OR COLLINS GLASS

Unless you’re an industry professional, it’s easy to get confused by the various names used for what seem to be the same cocktail glasses. Here’s a quick brush-up:
 
Old Fashioned Glass or Rocks Glass

The Old Fashioned glass, named after one of the original cocktails that was served in it, is also known as a rocks glass, a lowball (in contrast to the highball, or Collins glass), or tumbler.

Centuries ago, the glasses were much smaller, holding only a couple of ounces of whiskey—which is what bar patrons purchased before the advent of the cocktail (the history of cocktails).

There were no ice cubes back then (except in the ice houses of the wealthy), so no room was needed for them. Essentially, people were drinking double shots. Today, a cocktail can hold from two to four ounces of a spirit.

These days the sizes of rocks glasses are typically:

The glasses can have straight sides, or angle down to the base.

2. A rocks, or Old Fashioned, glass (photo courtesy Liquor.com).

[3] A highball, or Collins, glass (photo courtesy Liquor.com).

Rocks glasses are used for drinks built in the glass; no cocktail shaker or mixing glass is used. The ingredients are often added atop the rocks themselves, i.e., poured over the ice cubes. Alternatively, the rocks are added afterwards, with tongs.

Highball Glass Or Collins Glass

Tall drinks are served in straight-sided (“chimney”) glasses that have a few different names. There are minor distinctions; although for home use, one glass—highball or Collins—is enough.

You may hear the terms highball glass, Collins glass or Delmonico. Technically, each of those refers to a specific variation with the chimney shape.

Traditionally, each glass is used for specific cocktails; for example, a Gin Fizz in a highball glass and a Tom Collins in Collins glass, but the differences aren’t very important unless you’re an obsessive mixologist. What is important is that much like a champagne flute, the tall and narrow shape keeps your drink cold and carbonated because of its limited surface area

There is also a Delmonico glass, shorter than the first two (5-8 ounces); but an online search couldn’t even come up with a drink that is served in it.

[2] and [3] Seasonal packaging and occasion messaging (birthday, get well, etc.) let you customize your gift. All photos courtesy Fairytale Brownies.

Last month we received a gift shipment of Fairytale Brownies. The excitement generated around here was almost incalculable: a level of joy and energy not seen since…we can’t recall.

Fairytale Brownies has been in business for more than 25 years, when two friends decided to bake and sell a favorite family recipe.

That was before e-commerce; today the squares of chocolate happiness are just a click away.

The ladies were quick to the Internet: Their URL is Brownies.com.
 
FLAVORS GALORE

There are more flavors than capacity to enjoy them all in any given week: caramel, chocolate chip, coconut, cream cheese, double chocolate, espresso nib, mint chocolate, original (no nuts), pecan, raspberry swirl, toffee crunch, walnut, white chocolate.

There’s also a seasonal pumpkin spice brownie.

There are also six flavors of blondies: cheesecake swirl, chocolate chip, cinnamon, lemon, pecan and raspberry white chocolate.

The good news is that all the bars freeze beautifully. Drooling yet?

There are also sugar-free mini-versions, called Morsels, in original and walnut.
 
PRETTY PACKAGING

Fairytale has long had packaging for every occasion: whether holiday designs, occasion messages (Happy Birthday, Congratulations, etc.).

The company has recently converted its solid brown box to perky polka dots that appeal to all levels of sophistication.

Custom-printed sleeves are available for corporate gifts.
 
THREE SIZES

In addition to picking your packaging, you can pick your size:

 
All brownies are individually wrapped.

You can send as few or as many goodies as you like, from small boxes to gift towers.

Ready to make your selections?

Head to Brownies.com.

The first week in November is a good excuse: It’s National Fig Week.

> The history of figs is below.

> A recipe for roasted figs with pecans and honey is also below—a simple yet elegant dessert.
 
 
YOU CAN SERVE FIGS AT EVERY MEAL

 
TYPES OF FIGS

Buy whatever is plumpest and most visually appealing. Or, buy as many varieties as you can find, and have a comparison tasting.

There are hundreds of varieties of figs in the world. In the U.S., commonly-found varieties include:

Wild figs, Ficus carica L., have grown in Africa, the Mediterranean, West Asia, and South Asia since about 100 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs.

They are believed to have originated in south-central Asia (Asia Minor) and spread out from there.

Many primates eat wild figs, and the first humans ate them as well. They discovered that figs could be dried and stored as winter staples.

Around 11,000 years ago, people in West Asia had begun to cultivate fig trees. Farmed figs may be the first kind of food that anybody farmed, even before wheat and barley (the other contender for first-cultivated is dates).

The fig tree is referenced repeatedly in both the Old and New Testaments; some scholars believe “the forbidden fruit” picked by Eve was a fig rather than an apple.

Remains of fig trees have been found during excavations of Neolithic sites from 5000 B.C.E. Sumerian stone tablets dating back to 2500 B.C.E. record the culinary use of figs.

Ancient Olympians were rewarded with figs, and Pliny the Elder extolled the fruit’s restorative powers. The prophet Mohammed [reportedly] identified the fig as the one fruit he would most wish to see in paradise [source].

Spanish Franciscan missionaries brought the fig to southern California in 1520, leading to the variety known as the Mission fig.

Fig trees require hot climates to bear fruit, and can produce two crops every year. The leaves of the fig tree are also edible.

The trees can live up to 100 years and can grow to 50 feet tall, though most cultivated trees are between 10 to 30 feet.

In the U.S., the Bard Valley in southern California and the state of Texas produce most of the commercial crops.
 

RECIPE: ROAST FIGS WITH PECANS & HONEY

This variation of classic roasted figs was created by Chef Ida Rodriguez of Melissa’s Special Produce.

Serve it with a glass of muscat or other dessert wine.
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 400°F, setting a rack in the center. Coat a shallow baking dish with the butter and place figs in it, stem up. Sprinkle with 4 tablespoons of the sugar and add the wine.

2. BAKE in a preheated oven for 20 minutes, basting occasionally.

3. ADD the pecans and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar. Lower oven temperature to 300°F and bake 6 to 8 minutes longer.

[5] Kale salad with smoked turkey and figs. Here’s the recipe from Food So Good Mall.

5. SET aside to cool and then refrigerate. Serve cold with crème fraîche.
 
 

For Thanksgiving favors, Christmas stocking stuffers, or good food for your pantry, purchases from Women’s Bean Project help women trying to get back on their feet.

By giving employment to the chronically unemployed: convicted felons, recovering addicts, victims of domestic violence. Many were teenage mothers and high school dropouts.

Your purchase creates jobs for women (donations are very welcome). In just six to nine months, the women are trained to be great workers for other employers. The women learn to find a purpose, break the cycle of poverty, become self sufficient, support their children and feel good about themselves.

Supporting them will make you feel good, too.

The nourishing products they make include:

 
Everything is nutritious and delicious, but our current favorite are the Instant Meals single-serving rice and bean cups.

Simply add water, microwave for 60 seconds, let stand, stir and dig in. They can serve as a side dish or a light meal.

Beans are a superfood, a low-glycemic-index food that makes a person feel full, so they eat less of other things. They are full of fiber, potassium, folate, iron, manganese and magnesium, and they are cholesterol- and fat-free. Add some vegetables and fruit for vitamin C.

The Instant Meal cups are our current favorite way to eat more beans. Flavors include:

[1] This Instant Meal cup of rice and beans is a nutritious stocking stuffer or party favor. All photos courtesy Women’s Bean Project.

[2] Delicious popcorn, already seasoned with your five different options.

[3] Great training in work skills leads to economic opportunity.

For stocking stuffers, we love the popcorn, pre-seasoned with seasonings, including Chocolate Peppermint, Coconut Curry, Garlic Parmesan, Pink Himalayan Salt & Black Pepper, and Salted Caramel.

Order at WomensBeanProject.com.

If you use place settings at Thanksgiving, or party favors, an Instant Bean Cup or tube of popcorn will make everyone feel truly thankful for their family and bountiful dinner.
  

[2] Brown Turkey figs, a popular variety (photo © Good Eggs).

[3] Fig fondue (photo © California Figs).

[4] Ham and fig sandwich with arugula (photo © The Model Bakery | St. Helena, California).

 
 
TYPES OF FIGS

Buy whatever is plumpest and most visually appealing. Or, buy as many varieties as you can find, and have a comparison tasting.

In the U.S., commonly-found varieties include:

 
 
THE HISTORY OF FIGS

Wild figs have grown in Africa, the Mediterranean, West Asia, and South Asia beginning around 100 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs.

Many primates eat wild figs, and the first humans ate them as well. They discovered that figs could be dried and stored as winter staples.

In hot climates, fig trees produce two crops every year. The leaves of the fig tree are also edible.
 

 

This variation of classic roasted figs was created by Chef Ida Rodriguez of Melissa’s Special Produce.

Serve it with a glass of muscat or other dessert wine.
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 400°F, setting a rack in the center. Coat a shallow baking dish with the butter and place figs in it, stem up. Sprinkle with 4 tablespoons of the sugar and add the wine.

2. BAKE in a preheated oven for 20 minutes, basting occasionally.

3. ADD the pecans and sprinkle them with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Lower oven temperature to 300°F and bake 6 to 8 minutes longer.

4. TRANSFER the figs and pecans carefully to a serving dish. Add the honey to the cooking juices, and cook over low heat to blend. Spoon the syrup over figs and sprinkle with lemon juice and pepper.

5. SET aside to cool and then refrigerate. Serve cold with crème fraîche.

[5] Roast figs with pecans and honey (photo © Karcich | Dreamstime).

[6] Fig tree (photo © Serjan Midili | Unsplash).