Autumn Leaf Cocktail: An original recipe created by me for my Thanksgiving guests.  You can make it by the pitcher or one at a time.  Use unpasteurized apple cider (available in the produce section of many supermarkets) for body and depth of flavor.

 ½ cup fresh apple cider
½ ounce arak, pernod, or ouzo 
1 teaspoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
1 long, thin strip of lemon rind

Put 4 ice cubes in a large rocks glass.  Add cider and arak (pernod) and stir.  Add lemon juice and stir again.  Serve with lemon rind and a stirrer.  Makes 1 cocktail

Secret-Ingredient Walnuts: These are also great made with pecans.  Addictive.

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 cups shelled walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter in a medium skillet.  Add fish sauce and stir.  Add nuts and cook over medium heat for a few minutes until nuts are well coated with mixture.  Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, stirring often.  Drain on paper towels.  Sprinkle with salt (if needed), freshly ground black pepper and an extra splash of fish sauce (optional).  Makes 2 cups