Vosges chocolate was at the forefront of the ongoing (and wonderful) bacon renaissance, and they continue to innovate. This year, there’s   bacon chocolate chip mix ($12), bacon caramel toffee (also $12), a flying chocolate pig ($8), and a $62 gift set. Original Mo’s Bacon Bars, in milk and dark chocolate, are $7.50. Mini bars are available for $2.50. Mix and match 6 bars for $12.50. Stack ‘em, wrap ‘em in a ribbon, and give them to your                                                                         foodie friend. Sweet.

Because, you know, he may want some.

Cooks Corner Silicone Pig Pot Holder, $5.26 at Amazon.  (Other animals $9.99)

EDIT: The pig is currently out of stock, but the cow is available for the same price. Moo.

Prices vary based on number of cookies; $51.99 as pictured. Prices range from $7.25 (one cookie) to $88.99 (12 cookies)

Then there’s this awesome Ultimate Pepsi Super Bowl Party Pack! And thanks to Pepsi, one lucky winner will have it in their hands in time for the Super Bowl. To enter to win, leave a comment below and tell us who you are rooting for – Pittsburgh or Arizona? (GO STEELERS! -Ed.)

The Party Pack (valued at $250) contains:

• 1 football
• 1 beverage pail
• 1 snack helmet
• 2 key chains
• 2 hats
• 2 t-shirts
• 5 Pepsi 24 pack coupons
• 5 Frito Lay coupons

This sweepstakes is now ended. The winner will be announced shortly.

Mmmm… Chocolate… (Now picture Homer Simpson drooling.)

Chocolate company Ferrero and Share Our Strength, a hunger-relief organization, have forged a partnership that you, perhaps, cannot resist supporting. Ferrero has donated $150,000 to Share Our Strength and is giving others a chance to add to that donation. Right now, if you go to Share Something Sweet and use it to “send something sweet” (a customizable e-card), Ferrero will donate $1 per e-card sent, up to $10,000. So if you haven’t sent out your holiday cards yet, now’s the time to get some sweet e-cards sent and support a good cause.

Also, right now, if you leave a comment on this blog post, Ferrero will donate $1 to the “Shannon and Carli Need a Vacation Fund.” No, wait, that’s not it. If you leave a comment you’ll be entered to win one of five Ferrero Chocolate Christmas Tree gift boxes filled with Ferrero chocolates. Yes, five lucky Present Professor readers will get some delicious chocolate in their mailboxes next week. Enjoy them yourselves or bring them to your holiday/New Year’s celebration gatherings. Happy Holidays to all!

This giveaway has now ended.

I’m dealing with multiple out of town families…. All transplanted new yorkers. Modest budget, we are in a recession. No, really, just a gift to say, hey –thinking of you. In years past I’ve done juniors cheesecakes, cannoli’s from little italy, family board games…. That sort of thing.

Beth, when I first read your request, all I could think of was pancakes. I think I probably wanted pancakes at the time and secretly thought I could sneak onto your gift list, recommend a tasty breakfast gift box, and enjoy my ill-gotten flapjacks in the comfort of my kitchen nook with no one ever knowing. Then I realized I am not the pancake equivalent of the Hamburglar, and there are easier ways to go about satisfying a breakfast craving.

And yet, I stay with my original thought: pancakes. And syrup. Maple syrup. Real maple syrup. It may not sound like much of a gift, but that’s because you’re probably used to grocery store, synthetic syrup. But the real thing is a true treat. My suggestion: Head to your local Whole Foods or other gourmet or health store. Find a bottle of 100% maple syrup you think is pretty and falls within in your price range. Then, add a package of gourmet pancake mix (AKA do NOT gift someone with a shake-it-up box of Bisquick) and perhaps a copy of  the book If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Fill a box with that pretty colored crinkly paper, and send. There. You’ve just treated your friends to an amazing wintertime breakfast. And if any of them are longing for a more New York-centric gift, perhaps remind them of the mysterious syrup smell that occasionally descends upon the city that never sleeps.

2. Sesame Street Old School, Volume 2, $26.99. Picture it: 1974-79. Mr. Hooper is still alive. Elmo has yet to be formed out of a devilish blaze of red felt. Richard Pryor reinterprets the alphabet. And Fonzie and Richie Cunningham brush their teeth.

3. Nick & Nora footie pajamas, $24.99 at Target.

4. The Wild Planet Spy Gear Spyfire, $14.99, can shoot foam darts up to 25 feet via remote control–or, if you’d like, convert it to a handheld and go all Terminator with your bad self.

5. Lip Smackers lip gloss, under $5 (click here for stores) in fun flavors like cotton candy and Cherry Coke. Because you totally want to look your best for that hottie in your Spanish class.

The coffee brews directly into a travel mug, perfect for those 8:30 classes. Add a pound of coffee to sweeten the deal.

By the way, hearing the term “Brew and Go” totally makes me think of The Sound of Music. You know, in Edelweiss, when Captain Von Trapp sings, “Blossom of snow, may you brew and go? Brew and go forever.” Oh, wait. That was “bloom and grow.” Live and learn. And do click on that Sound of Music link to watch a YouTube video of John Denver and Julie Andrews in a rare duet.

2. iPod Shuffle, $50

Yes, they may already have a bigger, prettier iPod. But these lil’ guys are great for working out and traveling.

3. Darts! Calendar 2009, $10.19

With magnetic darts and 12 different boards (one for each month, see?).

4. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008 , $11.20

Collection of news stories, fiction, police blotters, and more hidden gems of writing.

5. Pail of 6 Christmas chocolate-covered fortune cookies, $12.50

Non-Christmas options also available.

Not available this year: Turkey and Gravy. No, seriously, that used to be one of their flavors. Of SODA.

$5 for single-flavor bottles of 4, exclusively at Target stores.