[2] At right: Little snow people in dark, milk and white chocolate (package of 10 assorted). Big snow people are also available (all photos courtesy Dean’s Sweets).

Everything made by Dean’s Sweets, in Portland, Maine, is delicious.

Dean Bingham, a professional architect, began making truffles years ago as a somewhat-casual, somewhat-serious sideline.

Encouraged by everyone who tasted them, he opened a shop, Dean’s Sweets, in 2004.

You’ll find all the classics chocolate truffles, bars and novelties, like chocolate-covered espresso beans, sheep and buttercrunch.

For holiday stocking stuffers, we particularly like the chocolate bar trio (photo #1) for $10 ($3.65 individually):

 
Also check out the:

 
You’ll have fun browsing the entire website.

GET YOUR CHOCOLATE AT DEANSSWEETS.COM
 
 

Easy homemade lollipops are fun edible gift for kids and adults alike. There are just three ingredients!

Thee crystal-clear base enables you to show off whatever colors and shapes you like.

And it’s not just for the Christmas-Chanukah-Kwanzaa holidays:

You can make them to celebrate any occasion of the year, just by changing the inclusions. (Get ready for Valentine’s Day!)

Here’s the recipe from Just A Taste.
 
 
CHECK IT OUT:

THE HISTORY OF LOLLIPOPS

Fun to make, fun to give (photo courtesy Just A Taste)

Get your red and green on for the holidays (photo courtesy Pom Wonderful).

From Pom Wonderful, the company that popularized pomegranate in the U.S., here’s an easy holiday cocktail (prep time is just 3 minutes) with a red and green garnish.

For a mocktail, substitute ginger ale for the vermouth.
 
 
RECIPE: POM WONDERFUL VERMOUTH SPARKLER

Ingredients For 2 Six-Ounce Drinks

1. FILL two tall glasses with crushed ice, interspersing some of the pomegranate arils as shown in the photo.

2. MIX the vermouth and pomegranate juice together, and divide the mixture into the glasses.

3. CRUSH the rosemary lightly and place the sprig in the glass. Top with club soda and a squeeze of lemon. Garnish with additional pomegranate arils.
 
 
Here are more food-and-drink recipes from Pom Wonderful.