These gourmet crispy rice treats (that’s Rice Krispie treats without the trademark infringement) continue to dazzle with an ongoing stream of seasonal flavors and designs.

For Holiday 2014, there’s a gift box of crispy rice treats topped with holiday and winter theme garnishes, including a dreidel and chocolate foil coins for Hanukkah.

All treats are gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free. The marshmallows are made using raw cane sugar, not corn syrup.

And, the line is kosher (dairy), supervised by United Kosher Supervision.

There’s a feel-good component, too: Ten cents of every treat (more for larger items) is donated to The Food Bank For New York City, a relief organization working to end hunger.

Nostalgic and gluten free! Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | THE NIBBLE.

Perennial favorite S’mores joins holiday candy cane and peppermint treats. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | THE NIBBLE.

But for the holidays, head for the seasonal specialty gift box.

The 12 pack of holiday crispy rice treats in a the silver and snowflake gift box is $31.

Get yours at TreatHouse.com.
 
THE HISTORY OF RICE KRISPIES TREATS

This childhood favorite, no-bake cookie was invented in 1928 by Mildred Day and colleagues in the home economics department at The Kellogg Company. It was created as a fund raiser-for the Camp Fire Girls, a nationwide American youth organization.

The recipe consists of butter, marshmallows and Rice Rice Krispies cereal. The butter and marshmallows are melted together, blended with the Rice Krispies and pressed into a pan. When cool, they are cut into bars. Many subsequent variations mix in other ingredients, from chocolate chips to licorice and gummi bears.

Check out the different types of cookies in our tasty Cookie Glossary.

 
*Some flavors have garnishes that are not gluten free.

If you like to add a flourish to your party food, consider fancy party picks.

They not only make the food look better, but can also serve as party favors or stocking stuffers (at about $5.00 per box).

These special party picks, found on Amazon.com, will make your hors d’oeuvre even tastier:

 
CHRISTMAS FOODS TO SERVE ON PARTY PICKS

Savory Picks

Christmas picks, Photo courtesy CreativeConverting.com.

New Year’s Eve picks, Photo courtesy CreativeConverting.com.

 
Sweet Picks

RECIPE: CHRISTMAS POPCORN WREATHS

Ingredients For 8 Five-Inch Wreaths

Preparation

1. SPRAY a large mixing bowl lightly with cooking spray and place the popcorn inside.

2. MELT the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in the marshmallows and gelatin dessert powder until the marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over the popcorn and mix well until coated.

3. SPRAY your hands with cooking spray and press firmly to form the popcorn into 9-inch logs. Then bend the logs to form the wreaths.

4. PLACE the wreaths on wax paper. Press the candy decorations onto the wreaths to decorate. Add a “ribbon” cut from fruit leather.

5. SERVE immediately or wrap individually in cellophane bags for storage and gifting. Add a ribbon tie to the bag as a decorative closure.

6. TIP: Soak the saucepan in hot soap and water before cleaning.

While October is National Apple Month and September 20th is International Eat An Apple Day, today is Eat A Red Apple Day.

Our favorite apple is the Honeycrisp, developed at the University Of Minnesota and released in 1991. Beloved for its crisp flesh, juiciness and sweet and tart notes, it has become Minnesota’s state fruit!

They’re our favorite apple. The only fly in the ointment is that the University of Minnesota and Minnesota apple breeders developed the variety to be at its best when grown in the local soil conditions and climate.

Thus, the Honeycrisps from Washington and elsewhere (they are widely grown around the world) are just a little less glorious.

But we’ll take them wherever we can get them. Trader Joe’s has them in stock this week: The typically jumbo Honeycrisps as well as minis the size of Lady Apples.

APPLE TIP: Apples deteriorate quickly if they’re not kept cool. Don’t keep them on a table or counter in a decorative basket. That may look nice, but your apples will Keep better in the fridge!
 
  

Last year for us it was a serrated peeler, two years ago a mushroom brush.

But this year, it’s going to be a Wavy Knife from Crisp Cooking. Just by slicing in a normal fashion, it provides a decorative side to fruits and vegetables, whether cooked (including fries) or for crudités and salads.

We have an old-fashioned crinkle cutter, but the wavy knife is an improvement, easier to use and potentially safer.

The ergonomic handle provides a sure, comfortable grip and better cutting control. The offset blade provides plenty of “knuckle room” while cutting.

At $12.99, it’s pricier than the peeler or mushroom brush, but it’s also a more substantial gift.

Check it out at CrispCooking.com.