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The gifts are unwrapped (revered or returned) and the last turkey sandwiches are officially done, but don’t tuck yourself in for a long winter’s nap just yet. Raise your glass and toast to good fortunes to come while singing a round of Auld Lang Syne. This guide will help you throw one last hurrah before the year comes to a close:

The Decor

A cocktail party, especially one with a New Year’s theme, is meant for mingling, sipping tasty concoctions and nibbling on delicious morsels of food. Here are some tips on creating the perfect atmosphere for your swanky soirée:

• You will need some sort of sidebar to hold your bottles, glasses and food. Move a low cabinet or card table over to the side of the room and out of the way. End tables placed in the corners of the room can house chips, dip and other munchies.
• Turn your space into a hip lounge by creating a good party flow. Rearrange furniture into “conversation clusters” so that the couch is freed from the wall and placed in the middle of the room, two wing chairs are grouped in another area and a couple of floor cushions are placed in a corner for more intimate conversations.
• A few white indoor Christmas lights strung around the room can give your space a festive touch without looking over the top. If that’s not your thing, check out Chinatown for paper lanterns.
• Mirrors make very sexy serving trays and with the addition of a few tea lights will make the serving table twinkle all night long. Just wash your mirrors thoroughly and adorn with a few votives held in small holders.
• Pick up a light dimmer from your local hardware store for the party room. Turn the main light down a bit and place floor lights, replaced with low wattage bulbs on the peripheral of the space. Start the evening with brighter lights when everyone is getting to know each other, going darker the closer you get to midnight.Here are some essential items you will need to make your party a hit:
• Martini glasses and wine goblets – Stock up on glasses at your local dollar store. They’re cheap and your guests won’t be afraid of breaking them. Also have some plastic cups on hand in case you run out—do you think Dick Clark is washing dirty dishes on New Year’s Eve?
• Ice storage – If you run out of space in your fridge, set up some cooler cases on the balcony, in the garage or in the bathtub for additional storage. Yes, the bathtub—it’s big and no one is using it, might as well put it to work.
• Noisemakers and party hats – New Year’s Eve wouldn’t be complete without them. Go for a chic approach and choose hats and noisemakers in similar colour schemes that match your room’s décor.
• Sound system – You’ll never be forgiven if the music is muffled or barely audible. Now’s the time to finally install those speakers or borrow a great player from a friend. Keep your CDs close by or burn your MP3s onto discs to make switching it up easier.

The Invitations

Send your invitations two weeks ahead of time. New Year’s Eve is such a fun-filled night, take the liberty to play up this theme and send out cheeky invites in vibrant colours and patterns. The party should start a few hours before midnight; around 9 or 10 pm is a good bet.

The Playlist

Take a cue from professional DJs and start the evening off with mellow tunes, slowly progressing to more upbeat tracks towards the middle of the night. Here are some great album ideas to stock your sound system with for the party:

• Light My Fire [Astrud Gilberto]
• Modern Cocktail Party [Various Artists]
• Baby Its Cold Outside [Holly Cole]
• Nina: The Essential Nina Simone [Nina Simone]
• Cocktails with Cole Porter [Various Artists]

The Bar

Instead of spending a lot of money on expensive spirits and wines, take the easier route by making one signature drink that will be universally appealing, such as your own personal take on a familiar favourite, filling in the rest of the evening with bottles of inexpensive red and white wines. Another cost-friendly alternative is to arrange the ingredients for three or four cocktails out on the table along with shakers and instructions so guests can create their own drinks. Below are a few popular cocktail party drinks to try:

• Classic Martini [Gin, Dry Vermouth, Pimento-Stuffed Olives]
• Bellini [Peach Schnapps and Champagne]
• Cosmopolitan [Cointreau, Triple Sec, Vodka, Lime Juice, Cranberry Juice]
• Black Russian [Vodka and Kahlua]
• Long Island Iced Tea [Vodka, rum, gin, tequila, Triple Sec, Cola]

And, here is a list of additional items to stock the bar with:

• White or blush wine
• Red wine
• A case of good quality domestic or foreign beer (24 pack)
• Festive liqueur such as Bailey’s Irish Cream or Grand Marnier
• 1 non-alcoholic mixed drink
• A few bottles of cola, ginger, orange juice, soda water and cranberry juice
• Corkscrews
• Ice scoops
• Shakers
• Small cutting board and knife (to slice lemons and limes)
• Shot glass (for measuring mixed drinks)
• Pitchers

Good to Know

A 750 ml bottle of wine will serve about four to six people, while the same quantity of spirits (vodka, rum, etc.) will make about 12 to 16 mixed drinks. Also, figure each guest will go through about a pound of ice. A time-saving tip for wine is to open a few bottles and then reinsert the corks half an hour before the party starts. This way you won’t have to struggle to uncork bottles while your guests stand there empty handed.

The Menu

Guests don’t have the luxury of sitting down to a table to use knives and forks, so meals should be served appetizer-style, either laid out on the sideboard or taken around with napkins.

Parting Gifts

Inexpensive parting gifts are simple to make and are a great memento of the fun your guests had as they capped off the year at your party. Here are some small parting gifts you can do weeks in advance in preparation for the big night:

• Buy a stack of re-writeable CDs that come in colourful case colours (even better if the colour coordinates with your decor scheme) and burn a personal album for each guest containing a selection of the music you played during the evening.
• Pick up inexpensive, Chinese take-out style boxes and fill them with gold chocolate coins. Personalize each box by writing a good luck wish for the New Year.

Fretting about what to buy for your loved ones? Have no fear — Toronto Star writers advise you on gifts for everyone from the theatre buff to the music lover to the hardcore gamer

FOR THE THEATREGOER

When it comes to buying a holiday gift for the theatre buff in your life, I believe in going back to basics: give ‘em the real thing.

A true fan doesn’t want a T-shirt or a poster or a book about the theatre. They want to go see a play.

And although Toronto isn’t as bad as New York or London when it comes to pricing, it still can be a costly enough experience that taking advantage of some discounts available at this time year can be a good idea.

Here are a few suggestions:

A Yuletide Sampler Go off on your own and purchase tickets for holiday shows like White Christmas at the Sony Centre (until Jan. 5, 416-872-2262); Peter Pan at the Elgin (until Jan. 5, 416-314-2901); Christmas With the Rat Pack at the Princess of Wales (Dec. 20 to 31, 416-872-1212); High School Musical: The Ice Tour, Dec. 21 to 30 at the Rogers Centre (416-870-8000 or ticketmaster.ca); and The Wizard of Oz at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (until Dec. 30, 416-862-2222).

Canadian Stage Company Want to see Fiona Reid in The Clean House or Arsinée Khanjian in Judith Thomson’s latest? You can take the family or some friends from work and save 50 per cent on tickets.

Here’s how it works: Between now and Dec. 21, call CanStage’s box office at 416-368-3110 and request either FamilyFlex or CorpFlex.

In either case, you’ll get four tickets for any available performance for any show remaining in the season for the price of $112, all taxes and handling charges included. That’s half of the regular price.

For a complete look at the shows available, go to canstage.com.

Dancap Productions Aubrey Dan’s new production company believes in making things easy for the customer – and that extends to the holiday season. If you’re stuck for an idea, give your musical-loving buddies a $25, $50, or $100 Dancap gift certificate, which they’ll be able to use for shows like Avenue Q or Jersey Boys.

For a full schedule and information on ordering, go to dancaptickets.com.

Mirvish Productions It’s only logical our biggest producer should have the most options. In addition to Christmas With the Rat Pack, they also have We Will Rock You, still blasting out eight shows a week at the Canon Theatre, and there are special holiday packages available at $50 a ticket.

You can also purchase seats for Dirty Dancing and four shows premiering early in the new year, Whistle Down the Wind, Twelve Angry Men and The Life and Times of Nicholas Nickleby. Or give friends and loved ones gift certificates they can use for these shows, or for two not on sale yet: The Ha’penny Bridge and The Sound of Music.

Stage West The popular dinner theatre in Mississauga has a variety of special holiday deals available that can be used all year round. For example, $149 will get you dinner and a show for two – as well as a bottle of wine! Check them out at: www.stagewest.com/festive_season.asp.

Stratford and Shaw Our two major festivals’ box offices open just in time for seasonal purchases. As of today, you can call the Stratford box office at 1-800-567-1600 or go online at stratfordfestival.ca to buy tickets to see Brian Dennehy in All’s Well That Ends Well, Christopher Plummer in Caesar and Cleopatra or 15 other potentially stunning productions next summer.

Shaw becomes available to the general public as of Dec. 14 and they can be reached at 1-800-511-SHAW or shawfest.com for tickets to Wonderful Town, An Inspector Calls, or nine other stylishly staged shows for the new season that starts in April.

Tarragon Theatre The home of Canadian theatre is offering a special “Greatest Hits” package, presenting a trio of wildly successful shows from Canadian authors who are being revived by popular demand between September 2008 and May 2009: Wadji Mouawad’s Scorched, Hannah Moscovitch’s East of Berlin and Daniel MacIvor’s A Beautiful View. All three of these plays got four-star reviews from me in The Star and, at $100 for the package, I can’t think of a better buy. Call the theatre at 416-531-1827 for more details.

For the theatre fan who has everything

What if you have a partner, relative or friend who already buys tickets to everything in sight? Then you’ll be thankful for this: The Noël Coward Collection on DVD from BBC Video. It’s an unbelievable treasure trove consisting of 21 of his plays, along with numerous other documentaries, interviews and special features. The casts include Judi Dench, Paul Scofield, Joan Collins and Deborah Kerr. An absolute must for fans of “The Master.”- Richard Ouzounian

FOR THE CONCERT LOVER

When it comes to a gift for the music lover in your life, nothing beats tickets to see their favourite artist. Some of the most anticipated shows – k.d. Lang, Spice Girls – are already sold out, but here are a few worthy stocking stuffers.

For the hip-hop oriented high-schooler Winterfest with Omarion, Trey Songz and Mario, Dec. 26, Massey Hall, 7 p.m., $66.50 - $98.

For the jazz curious Jason Marsalis, Jan. 11, Trane Studio, 8 p.m., $20 @ 416-913-8197.

For the metalhead Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie, Jan. 21, Air Canada Centre, 7:30 p.m., $58-$108.50.

For the rockabilly John Mellencamp with Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, Feb. 6, Air Canada Centre, 7:30 p.m., $39.50-$150.

For the hot chick Chris Botti, Feb. 20, Massey Hall, 7:30 p.m., $45-$65.

For the suburbanite Matchbox Twenty, Feb. 22, Air Canada Centre, 8 p.m., $49.50-$85.50.

For the church-goer Harlem Gospel Choir, Feb.23, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m., $22.50-$52.50.

For the sophisticate Pink Martini, March 15, Massey Hall, 8 p.m. $29.50-$49.50 @ roythomson.com or 416-872-4255.

For those who remember the good ol’ days Glenn Miller Orchestra, July 9, Roy Thomson Hall, 8 p.m., $64-$78 @ roythomson.com or 416-872-4255.

For the unflagging Céline Dion, Aug. 27-28, Air Canada Centre, 8 p.m., $63.25-$195. 

Unless otherwise noted, all tickets available at ticketmaster.ca or 416-870-8000. At press time, these shows still had tickets available. 

For the jazz fan who has everythingFor the diehard jazz lover on your list, consider signing them up for the 35th annual International Association of Jazz Educators conference being staged Jan. 9 to 12 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Aimed at education, teacher training and professional development, the event features an intriguing array of live interviews, panels, workshops and more than 100 concerts. The 2008 lineup includes a U.K. showcase helmed by British saxist Courtney Pine, performances by singer Kurt Elling (below), guitarist Lionel Loueke, The Tierney Sutton Band and trumpeter Christian Scott. Advance registration and membership costs about $540; lower for students. Visit iaje.org.

- Ashante Infantry

FOR THE FILM BUFFCool gifts for movie fans this season come in both small and big packages.

Let’s work our way up:

iPod Touch: The latest extension of the category-killing Apple gizmo looks like the skinny brother to the iPhone, the super cell that still hasn’t come to Canada. But anyone looking for a great handheld movie experience won’t feel shortchanged.

The 3.5-inch screen seems positively huge compared to previous iPod iterations, allowing you to comfortably watch a downloaded or ripped movie in a coffee shop, say – and if that coffee shop has Wi-Fi access, you can also use the iPod Touch to surf the Internet. Just don’t try to make any calls with it.

Bob’s right here: There’s been much ado this fall about Todd Haynes’s I’m Not There, the movie that uses six wildly different incarnations of Bob Dylan to present a tangled-up portrait of the artist.

But why not have Dylan himself show you his various sides? Delight rock and film fans with the new DVD The Other Side of the Mirror, Murray Lerner’s documentary of Dylan’s shape-shifting appearances at the Newport Folk festival from 1963-65.

We watch Dylan evolve from a nervous folkie in the Woody Guthrie tradition into a shade-wearing and ear-blasting rocker. It might settle the argument once and for all about whether the crowd was really booing Dylan during his electric debut in 1965.

While you’re at it, you might also want to pick up the DVD of another rock movie that Lerner co-directed, Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who, which similarly benefits from great vintage footage.

Fantasy corporate T-shirts: Any fool can sell out to The Man and wear a T-shirt proclaiming employment by or allegiance to a real capitalist enterprise like Ford or Coca-Cola. But how cool is it to wear a T-shirt for a fake corporation, like the kind you see in movies?

That’s the idea behind Mike Ford’s Last Exit To Nowhere (www.lastexittonowhere.com), a British firm that makes realistic corporate Ts for fantasy firms. Rock it like a Blade Runner replicant with a Tyrell Corp. shirt or dodge stomach-busting critters aboard Alien’s Nostromo space ship with your Weyland-Yutani Corp. threads. And if you’re getting hot under the collar like the righteous cop in The Wicker Man, grabbing thyself a Summerisle tourist T. Faux is the way to go.

Blade Runner-a-go-go: Guilty pleasure or wretched excess? You be the judge, but watch geek eyes bulge as you present a briefcase packed with all five official versions of Blade Runner, Ridley Scott’s 1982 cult film about a Los Angeles of constant rain and killer replicants. Keyed to the current release of Blade Runner: The Final Cut, this kit includes the original U.S. and European releases, an early work print, the 1992 director’s cut and the new final cut, each with a slightly different version of the story.

The cool extras include a different version of the controversial Harrison Ford voiceover, a “collectible’ model spinner space toy and an origami unicorn. True Blade Runner geeks will understand, and want.

Ford in a box: John Ford received four Best Director Oscars (a feat still unmatched) during his storied career and many consider him the greatest filmmaker ever. His prolific time at 20th Century Fox, where he made more than 50 films from 1920-’52, is saluted with Ford at Fox, a 21-disc set that presents many of the films he’s known for (including The Grapes of Wrath, Drums Along the Mohawk and How Green Was My Valley) as well as many that have never been released to DVD. The latter includes the rarity The Iron Horse, his silent epic about the building of the transcontinental railway.

For the cineaste who has everything

And for the film fan who has everything, and who is brave enough to risk getting a black eye, how about the Movie Spoilers T-shirt from Threadless (www.threadless.com), the T-shirt company that dares to be different? The shirt bellows out the endings to some two dozen classic movies, although a couple made in the last few years. It’s clever and eye-catching, but wearers had better hope that the big guy sitting next to them at the bar isn’t a movie buff, or that he has already seen all these flicks. Mercifully, the shirt leaves out the titles of the films. 

- Peter Howell

FOR THE COUCH POTATO

As if Christmas wasn’t scary enough in and of itself, there’s some spooky stuff out now for the TV enthusiast on your gifting list. Quite a few groundbreaking, and oddly unnerving shows, have recently received the complete-season, fancy-box treatment.

X-Files: The Complete Collector’s Edition The show was eerie, sexy and perfect for approximately the first half of its nine years and this release is packaged in an appropriately pretty fashion, featuring an eye staring you down as you unwrap it. Included on the 61-disc set is the feature film, Fight the Future, and more extras than you can shake a can of black oil at. Featuring character profiles, commentaries, “threads of mythology,” deleted scenes and games.

Also, a comic book, poster and many more happy-making features. ($293.99)

Angel Collectors Set Scary good. Scary poignant. Scary bad in places. (Places like the last episodes of Season 4). Before David Boreanaz became the cheerful Bones guy, he was the brooding vampire with a soul who helped the helpless and looked sexy and Byronian doing it. There is nothing new in this set in terms of extras, but the handy little box makes it easier to cuddle. ($125.99)

Twin Peaks Definitive Gold Box Edition The first season broke all the rules of television and opened the door for many of the arch-having, non-stupid, imaginative shows to come after. The second season was scary in its mega-slide to idiocy once David Lynch lost interest. This edition has all kinds of goodies, including a beautiful little slice of Lynch hanging out in a diner discussing the show. $69.99.

Masters of Horror, Season One All of the masters of horror from the excellent first season live in a cute little house/DVD box. But there is nothing cute about these hour-long efforts from the likes of John Carpenter, John Landis, (shudder) Dario Argento and (double-shudder) Takashi Miike. The episodes have director commentaries and some long and very interesting making-of featurettes. ($69.99)

The Addams Family: The Complete Series The scariest thing about the Addamses is how much more of a functional family they are than most non-monstery families you’ve ever come across. The set has commentaries, a guest star featurette, theme song karaoke and a bit on the whole snap-snap thing and how it came about. ($69.99)

Also scary: Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Collection (scary mostly because of how heavy it is. And the many, many hours of your life you will spend on the massive amount of special features, old and new). $311.11. Miami Vice: The Complete Series (scary mostly because of the fashion). $149.96; Seinfeld: The Complete Series (scary mostly because of Elaine’s hair in the early years). $244.27; Northern Exposure: The Complete Series (scary mostly because you realize John Corbett used to be all kinds of hot). $149.96; The O.C.: The Complete Series Collection (scary mostly because the first season already seems oddly aged) $148.18; Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series (scary mostly because of the super-cutesy and pastelly packaging) $213.15; Chappelle’s Show: The Series Collection (scary mostly on account of how it makes you pee your pants) $40.43.

Not scary at all, but really, really season-appropriate: Christmas Time in South Park with seven episodes of sacrilegious fun. $16.99.

The prices listed are from chapters.indigo.ca and amazon.ca and are subject to change(s). They’ve probably already changed 11 times since yesterday.

For the channel surfer who has everythingIt’s not just a collection of some 90 episodes of dirty, funny Family Guy. No, no. With the Freakin’ Party Pack, you’ll get ping-pong balls, net and paddles as well at poker chips and cards and dice. It all comes in a handy-dandy see-through container, which can easily be used as a lunch box at a later date. Stewie says: “Beautiful. And while we’re at it we can light up a doobie and watch porn?” $143.98

 - Malene Arpe

FOR THE STUDIOUS TYPE

There are books we buy for ourselves, books we buy for others and books we wish others would buy for us.

These latter two categories are at the heart of holiday gift-giving. Think of a book you might hope to receive and then turn that thinking around when looking at the readers and book lovers on your list. The book should also qualify as an extravagance, either because it’s a tad too expensive or possibly a title you already own in another form.

Most of the recommended books on this list fit that principle:

Roald Nasgaard, Abstract Painting in Canada (Douglas & McIntyre) $85 There is more to abstract painting in Canada than the iconic works of Paul-Émile Borduas, Jean-Paul Riopelle and Guido Molinari, as is illustrated in this thorough and thoroughly gorgeous survey.

Anne Newlands, Canadian Paintings, Prints and Drawings (Firefly) $69.95 This handsome survey of 164 familiar Canadian works of art, ranging from the 17th century until now, touches all the bases, from Tom Thomson’s The Jack Pine to Jack Chambers’ 401 Towards London No. 1 to General Idea’s AIDS.

Helen Humphreys, The Frozen Thames (McClelland & Stewart) $24.99 Proof that not all attractive parcels come in big packages: This small but fetching title packages 40 short, colourful narratives set on occasions between 1142 and 1927 that London’s Thames River froze, an original and imaginative approach to historical fiction.

Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner: Illustrated Edition (Doubleday Canada) $37 Hosseini’s hugely popular novel about life in Afghanistan during the reign of the Taliban has been refurbished to include colour and black and white photographs taken in that war-torn country.

Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace (Knopf) $47 Too busy, lazy or Cyrillic-challenged to learn Russian but have always wanted to read Tolstoy’s mammoth epic, set during the Napoleonic Wars? No worries. Here’s a new translation by the acclaimed husband and wife team of Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

Yann Martel, Life of Pi: Illustrated (Knopf Canada) $45 Given the continuing popularity among younger readers of Martel’s Booker Prize-winning novel, its transformation into an illustrated text by Croatian artist Tomislav Torjanac makes perfect sense.

Lana Slezic, Forsaken (Anansi) $45 Photographer Lana Slezic’s eye-opening photographs of Afghan women are insightful, often disturbing and, yet, somehow affirming.

Melanie Dunea, My Last Supper (Bloomsbury) $49.95 No, not an investigation of Leonardo’s famous painting or even a collection of menu preferences by death row inmates. Instead, this book tells you how and what 50 famous chefs, including Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, would eat for their culinary exit.

Jane Urquhart (editor), Penguin Book of Canadian Short Stories (Penguin Canada) $35 Canadians write short stories as well as anyone in the English-speaking world, what with internationally recognized masters Alice Munro, Mavis Gallant and Alistair MacLeod leading the charge.

- Vit Wagner

FOR THE GEEK AT HEART

Considering the plethora of licensed goods out there, two thoughts hit me while constructing this gift guide of gloriously geeky products. First, we truly are living in the golden age of geek chic as there are action figures, toys, clothing and collectibles for all stripes and inclination of fandom. And how insanely difficult would it actually be for completists to collect all of these things? While one might be spoiled for choice, here’s a list of a few things we saw that should please the nerdy out there.

Superhero sort of Lit With graphic novels enjoying a wonderful resurgence right now, there are plenty of new cool books on the shelves. For the old school fan, the Marvel True Believers retro pop-Up books are big, colourful representations of Marvel’s finest. So far, Spider-Man and the X-Men have their own versions of these books where our favourite heroes literally burst from the page. $27.95 from the Silver Snail (367 Queen St. W., 416-593-0889)

In terms of actual prose, the two hot books out there are Austin Grossman’s Soon I Will Be Invincible, a thinly veiled take on a Justice League-like group of heroes. It’s told from the perspectives of a new heroine, Fatale, and Dr. Impossible, the brilliantly flawed Lex Luthor-type villain of this world. The other one is Hero, a gay coming-out story by Perry Moore.

Doctor Who doesn’t love remote control stuff The Mini R.C. Dalek Battle Pack is all kinds of cool. Coming with two Daleks so they can fight each other, any scarf-wearing Who fan will love this. $54.95 from Suspect Video (619 Queen St. W., 416-504-9116).

Robotic games More than meets the eye might be the perfect way to describe chess, and the Transformers Chess Set is the perfect gift for old school and new fans of Autobots and Decepticons. One problem? They don’t transform. But hey, Mindgames (various locations) has marked the set down from $49.99 to $29.99.

New movies or bust While last year’s big hits still have interesting product all over the place – anyone for a 300 Spartan cape ($274.99) and sword with belt and scabbard ($191.99)? – geeks like to be ahead of the game. Two big flicks coming next year include Iron Man and G.I. Joe and The Silver Snail has two awesome busts, one of Iron Man’s helmet for $459.99 and a great limited edition bust of the original American Ninja, Snake Eyes, for $389.99.

Skull-picking: For the history buff, why not turn them on to the bunk science of phrenology, the ancient art of reading bumps on a skull to diagnose illness and personality? Cool design shop Morba (665 Queen St. W., 416-364-5144) has phrenology heads that point out just where to feel to see what ails you. A 12-inch head goes for $118.00.

For the geek who has everything

Any big-time music nerd is probably still hanging onto their vinyl or cassette tapes, even though most likely the bulk of their music-listening is done through the computer these days. Ion’s Tape2PC USB Cassette Archiver (below) and USB Turntable ($200 and $150 at Urban Outfitters, respectively) are the perfect devices to help bring their music into this century by converting it to MP3s.

- Raju Maduhar

FOR THE GAMER IN YOUR LIFE

Video games, and related accessories, make for ideal stocking stuffers for the young and young at heart – but with so many products to choose from, shopping for a gamer can be an overwhelming experience.

In other words, how do you know which games are worth getting blisters over and which ones will likely become beer coasters? Here are some games and accessories worth putting under the tree:

Band in a box Easily one of the best games of the year is MTV Games’ Rock Band, a music rhythm game that includes a guitar peripheral (which can also be used as a bass), collapsible drum kit and real sticks, and a microphone so the whole family can rock out in front of the same TV to hit songs from yesterday and today (or even over the Internet with friends in another city). The game and instrument bundle sell for $169.99 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3; the stand-alone game sells for $59.99.

Taking charge While the Nintendo Wii’s motion-sensing controller is one of the most exciting things to happen to the gaming industry in a long while, it’s no secret the AA batteries in the Wii remote can drain faster than the pipes in a Mario Bros. game. Good news: the “Nyko Wii Charge Station” ($38.99) includes rechargeable batteries for two Wii remotes, a docking station to recharge them and rubber-lined controller backs for greater grip.

It’s alien to me From Edmonton-based BioWare comes one of the most ambitious fantasy epics in recent memory: Mass Effect ($59.99). In this Xbox 360 exclusive, you assume the role of commander of the S.S. Normandy, who travels throughout the galaxy to face a vicious enemy before it destroys everything in its path. Handpick your squad-mates and vehicles and engage in strategic combat on various planets, asteroids and spaceships – but each decision you make has its own consequence.

It’s-a-me, Mario! In Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy ($49.99), everyone’s favourite plumber is back, and this time he’s out of this world. In fact, this space-age single-player game is one of the best Mario games in recently memory.

Players can use the Wii’s motion-sensing controllers to zap to various planets, collect items, solve puzzles and fight baddies. Colourful graphics and a terrific soundtrack add to the fun.

For the gamer who has everything

You haven’t played Halo 3 unless your tush has rumbled while firing at aliens. The Renegade Game Chair ($299.99) features 12 vibrating motors so you can feel every bump or zap in your favourite games. This comfortable recliner also includes headrest-mounted 3D-stereo speakers and coordinated lighting effects and is compatible with Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Windows PCs, Macs and portable music players. 

- Marc Saltzman 

FOR THE AUDIOPHILE

Megadeth, Warchest (Capitol/EMI) Yeah, Rhino Records’s new Heavy Metal Box is a handsome package, but don’t insult your favourite metalhead by treating him (or a way-cool her) like a generalist – go deep and go specific with this bad-ass, four-CD, one-DVD monument to the on-again/off-again genius of Dave Mustaine. There’s a steep tail-off from the glory days of “Peace Sells” and “Hangar 18″ to the present, admittedly, but the 1990 live show from Wembley Stadium captured on Disc 4 will still singe your eyebrows. Some of the studio versions actually seem slow and restrained by comparison. And, dear lord, you’ve gotta see Warchest’s 3-D packaging to believe it. Nicely done.

Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures (1979), Closer (1980) and Still (1981) Separate the poseurs lining up to cop some of the Best Band Ever’s cool after perusing Control at the multiplex by sitting ‘em down with two-and-a-half of the most brilliant and soul-scrapingly ugly post-punk albums of all time. Rock doesn’t get any better – or more unsettling – than it does on Rhino Records’s pristine reissues of Joy Division’s original, suicide-truncated three-album Factory catalogue, but the bonus live discs included in each package will inspire renewed awe in serious fans, who will be further awed if presented with the vinyl box set that Rhino is offering of all three double LPs. Buy one of them, at least, for your idiot nephew who thinks My Chemical Romance is “tortured.”

Pink Floyd, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (EMI) Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall are cool and everything, but it’s about time Floyd’s epochal, acid-gobbling 1967 debut and its sadly departed architect, Syd Barrett, got some proper love, too. This “deluxe,” triple-CD reissue – mono and stereo versions of Piper, plus another CD of early Floyd singles like “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play” – has next to nil to offer in terms of undiscovered material. But it comes in a nifty, cloth-bound package reminiscent of a children’s book like The Wind in the Willows, from whence the album drew its name, and contains a booklet reproducing most of Barrett’s original artwork for the record. Plus, it’ll be awesome to bust out “Lucifer Sam” on Christmas morning. Buy it for your favourite burnout.

Radiohead, In Rainbows “Discbox” (Independent) vs. Radiohead, Album Box Set: 1993-2003 (Parlophone/EMI) Anyone within reach of a computer and who has a casual interest in Radiohead already has In Rainbows, obviously. But true acolytes who can’t spare the $80 or so required to nab the forthcoming “discbox” version – two CDs, two vinyl LPs, the downloadable file, extra tunes and a whole mess of new artwork by longtime pal Stanley Donwood –will be blown away by your thoughtfulness and Internet prowess if this prize package (see www.inrainbows.com) turns up in their hands. Anyone who has never heard of Radiohead before the In Rainbows hype is ripe for education by the seven-disc box of the band’s previous catalogue that spurned EMI subsidiary Parlophone Records is offering in retaliation. It’s also in a USB “stick” shaped like that bear logo from Amnesiac, naturally, to suck collectors and completists in.

U2, The Joshua Tree (Island/Universal) Twenty years on, the thought of any more Bono than absolutely necessary horrifies, but “Bullet the Blue Sky” alone ranks this breakthrough album as one of U2’s finest. The two-CD “anniversary” edition adds some unreleased tunes, a concert DVD and … uh … an essay by the Edge.

For the rock fan who has everything

Led Zeppelin, Mothership (Atlantic/Warner) As much as it hurts to pimp another re-re-remastered greatest-hits cash grab by a bunch of disgustingly wealthy dino-rockers, if there’s a single music fan on your list who’s never felt the full might of “When the Levee Breaks,” this mixed-for-maximum- loudness compilation is the rock version of the Children’s Bible. Two discs and 24 tracks plus a live DVD if you’re into Robert Plant’s “package.” For the Zep aficionado, there’s also a wicked new double-disc reissue of The Song Remains the Same soundtrack with smokin’ tunage previously heard only onscreen and, of course, as much spiffed-up “Dazed and Confused” wankery as anyone can handle.

- Ben Rayner

FOR THE CLASSICAL AFICIONADO

Since Sam’s closed and HMV downsized, the place to go for classical discs in Toronto is Atelier Grigorian (you can visit them at grigorian.com for info). All the chosen items cost less than $50:

Noël noël There’s a rich tradition of Christmas carols from France that are a refreshing break from ’round-the-clock “White Christmas” in every public place. Montreal-based Baroque specialists Les Boréades have just released Noëls (ATMA), 12 carols gorgeously arranged for recorder player Francis Colpron, violinist Hélène Plouffe, gambist Susie Napper, keyboard player Marie Bouchard and others.

Rare opera French record label Naïve is part of a massive Italian effort to record all of the music of Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) preserved in the Turin branch of the Italian National Library – about 400 works in all. The project started in 2000 and is set to run for another eight years and a total of about 100 CDs.

So far, the period-performance interpreters have produced consistently rich, vibrant readings. This world-premiere recording of the opera Atenaide, which had its premiere in Florence in 1728, raises goosebumps with the Technicolor sounds of ensemble Modo Antiquo. The fabulous singing cast on this three-CD set is led by French soprano superstar Sandrine Piau, in the title role, and tenor Paul Agnew.

Chamber greatness The Alban Berg Quartet, born in Vienna in the mid-1970s, will dissolve into history at the end of this season, leaving a rich, glorious legacy of sensitive, expressive playing.

To mark the milestone, EMI has released a value-priced five-CD box set of recordings made between 1979 and 1997. The box contains a wide range of pieces to please the chamber-music fanatic as well as a newbie listener – from Josef Haydn and Beethoven to Johann Strauss Sr. and Leos Janacek.

Glenn Gould to go Besides a steady stream of reissues from Sony, CBC Records has released two particularly interesting box sets. The first, Glenn Gould: The Young Maverick, contains six CDs providing a cross-section of music he recorded before he signed up with Columbia Records.

This is young Gould at his most energetic, including a 1954 recording of the Goldberg Variations that is substantially more charged than his famous Columbia debut version.

There are also great Beethoven concertos with the TSO and conductor Ernest MacMillan as well as 20th-century Viennese fare, such as Anton Webern’s Variations for Piano. For people who want words with their music, there is a five-disc set called Glenn Gould: The Radio Artist. This box includes the famous radio docs The Idea of North, The Latecomers and The Quiet in the Land, as well as portraits of cellist Pablo Casals and conductor/arranger Leopold Stokowski. This is a treasure.

Sony’s Christmas special is offering an 80-disc boxed set of Gouldiana where each CD sits in a miniature reproduction of the original LP dust jacket. Grigorian’s has it at a special price of $249.98.

As soon as the snow begins to fall, the holidays are top of mind—decorations go up, carols play on the radio and you hit the stores in a shopping frenzy, which tends to last straight through to the New Year, leaving you exhausted and your wallet empty. This year, save your sanity by preparing for the holidays now with our Top 10 list of ways to get ready. Once December rolls around you’ll be relaxed and ready to entertain!1. Card CoolMake your holiday card list—then make your holiday cards! Craft stores and dollar stores stock up holiday supplies in the fall, so now’s the time to pick up pretty card stock and accessories, from stamps to ribbon to decorative decals, to make your holiday cards unique.2. Present SenseMake your list and check it twice so you can give great gifts this year. Finding inspired gifts that your recipients will love takes time, which you’ve still got right now! Next time you’re at your sister-in-law’s house, take note: does her toaster take two hours to heat up? Are her wine glasses mismatched? Do her slippers have holes in the soles? Pay close attention each time you see a person on your gift list and once you start shopping you’ll have plenty of useful gift ideas for everyone on your list!3. Who’s to HostBy mid-December, you always seem to get burnt out travelling to three holiday parties in one night—at opposite ends of the city. To save your sanity this season, consider hosting your own party so that you’ll get to see all your family and friends in one night without leaving home! Whether you’re hoping to host Christmas dinner or a holiday open house, send your invites now. By December, invites will be fast and furious and if you want to make sure your loved ones can come to your fete, make sure your invitations are the first they receive. This way they have time to respond and plan, especially if travel and accommodations are involved. Want to escape the hoopla altogether? Book your getaway now, before prices soar.4. Show StoppersLooking for a way to spend time with your family without having to cook a huge meal or entertain? Buy tickets to a holiday show (try a ballet production of The Nutcracker or a choir performing Handel’s Messiah). Tickets for these type of performances will go on sale in early winter, and picking up a block of seats is not only a good way to spend time with relatives or friends you don’t see often, but can also make for great gifts—so you’ll be done before you even starting stressing about shopping!5. Make and BakeInstead of bringing another bottle of wine or chocolates to each holiday party you attend, create a unique gift that your host will remember. Try preserves such as strawberry-rhubarb jam or peach salsa. Place them in sealed jars and store in a cool dark place until it’s ready to be gifted. Love Christmas cookies? Try baking one recipe every weekend until the holidays. Store the dough (or the finished sweets) in airtight containers and freeze for a few months. For a twist on fruitcake (and great for a holiday brunch) try zucchini-raisin or cranberry-lemon loaf.6. A Decorative PlanYou don’t have to string the lights to your roof just yet, but early winter is the time to plan out how you’re going to decorate this year. Now is the time to plan your decor and start stocking up on supplies. Want to make your own wreath? Head out on a hike while the weather’s nice to collect pretty coloured leaves, nuts, twigs and berries you can dry before use. Want to sew a new tree skirt? Head to your local fabric store and choose your fabric, and ask a sales associate for help with a pattern—they’re happy to help you with a long-term project.7. Plant Your TreeInstead of chopping down another Christmas tree, only to have the needles fall off mid-December, plant your Christmas tree outdoors this year. Fall is the ideal time to head to the garden stores for end-of-summer sales, especially on a small fir, pine or spruce. Then, find an ideal spot in your yard where you can watch your Christmas tree grow for years. Or, pick up a large planter box and pot the tree, so that you can keep it right outside your window and enjoy it while you’re having breakfast. Add lights and secure shiny, weather-durable ornaments or red velvet bows with wire gauge. It sure beats hauling the old fake fir out of the basement.8. Class ActionSign up for a class that you can turn into a gift-giving idea. Try a pottery class (then make letter ornaments for each member of your family), a knitting class (try scarves or slippers), or a sewing class (yoga bags, tea cozies, shoe bags or wine bags are easy and popular gifts). Not only will you have a chance to not think about the stressful holidays for a few hours a week, you’ll have half your shopping done before others have even started.9. File HighHoliday issues of magazines are a great source of inspiration when it comes to hosting, cooking, baking, decorating and gift ideas. But by the time those magazines come out, and you rip those pages out, it’ll be far too late. Head to the library and look at back issues of December issues of your favourite magazines. Photocopy pages you like and then pick up a three-ring binder from your local office supply store. Hole-punch each of your inspiration pages and use dividers to create sections: Baking, Cooking, Crafts, Decorating, Gift ideas, etc. Use sticky notes to give yourself reminders (i.e. Gift for Susie, Bake for Office Party).10. Take NoteFor the ultimate way to be prepared, keep a holiday notebook with you at all times. Pick up a small book that comes with a pen loop, and slip it into your handbag. Always changing purses? Buy one for each. Then, make a heading at the top of each page (Gift ideas: Mom, Appetizers: Party). Whenever you get inspired, jot it down. Then, when you’re ready to start your shopping, you’ll have your lists ready to go!

Carve some fun into fall with a day of pumpkin picking, jack-o’-lanterns, and treats to get everyone in high spirits.Legends of the FallGrown on every continent but Antarctica, the pumpkin was once thought to be a cure-all for freckles and snakebites. But what this vine-grown fruit does best is symbolize everything magical and spooky about the season. If you don’t believe that, just ask Ichabod Crane.How to Select a Pumpkin to CarveWhen choosing a pumpkin for carving do, be sure to:Examine the rind. It should be firm, uniform in color, and free of cuts, bruises, and blemishes.Make sure that the stem doesn’t look brown and dry. And don’t use the stem as a handle, since even a healthy one can break off. Pick up a pumpkin by its base instead.Give the pumpkin a knock. A thumping sound means the pumpkin is solid, with no internal defects, rot, or soft spots.How to Carve a Jack-o’-Lantern1. With a serrated knife held at an angle, carefully cut an opening around the stem, making a small notch in the back (to guide you when replacing the lid).2. Use a large spoon to remove the pulp and scrape the sides clean of stringy bits.3. Draw on a face (washable markers allow kids to draw, rinse, and repeat).4. Carve, then add a tealight.*Pumpkin-Carving Tip*Don’t carve your jack-o’-lantern too early or it won’t survive until Halloween night. Once cut, a pumpkin lasts about four to five days, then starts to rot.Toasting Pumpkin SeedsGive kids the job of separating the seeds from the pumpkin innards while adults handle the carving. Put aside the seeds to be toasted later for a crowd-pleasing snack of roasted pumpkin seeds. Click here for the recipe.Music to Carve By“Beetlejuice: Main Titles,” composed by Danny Elfman”Ghostbusters,” Ray Parker Jr.”In the Midnight Hour,” Wilson Pickett”I Put a Spell on You,” Nina Simone”I Want Candy,” Bow Wow Wow”Spooky,” the Classics IV”That Old Black Magic,” Ella Fitzgerald”Thriller,” Michael Jackson”Werewolves of London,” Warren Zevon”Witchcraft,” Frank SinatraHow to Make Your Pumpkin LastPumpkins don’t need to be carved to be decorative, and left intact, they should last until U.S. Thanksgiving (and are perfect for cooking).But they do need warmth on cold nights: When pumpkin rinds freeze, the insides deteriorate and then collapse. Cover them with a blanket or bring them inside. A display on the mantel can be as charming as one on the porch.And last but not least: 4 Recipes perfect for Halloween Parties.

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

Seeds from 2 medium pumpkins

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin

Heat oven to 300 degrees F. Remove the seeds from the pumpkins. Discard the pulp.

Spread the seeds (no need to rinse them) evenly on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until dried, about 1 hour.

Toss the seeds, olive oil, celery salt, and cumin in a large skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, until the seeds are lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 152(77% from fat); FAT 13g (sat 2g); SUGAR 0g; PROTEIN 6g; CHOLESTEROL 0mg; SODIUM 54mg; FIBER 0g; CARBOHYDRATE 44g

Caramel Apples
To make quick caramel apples for a crowd, melt three 14-ounce bags of caramels with 2 tablespoons water, stirring until smooth. Serve in individual bowls with apples cut into wedges for dipping.

Pumpkin-Leek Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 leeks (white and light green parts), sliced 1/4 inch thick and rinsed
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 medium pumpkin or 1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the pumpkin cubes and canned puree, then the broth. Simmer until the pumpkin is tender, about 25 minutes. Stir in 1 3/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Working in batches, ladle the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Divide among individual bowls and top with the rosemary.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 167(16% from fat); FAT 3g (sat 0g); SUGAR 7g; PROTEIN 8g; CHOLESTEROL 0mg; SODIUM 484mg; FIBER 4g; CARBOHYDRATE 32g

Warm Mulled Cider

1 navel orange
1/2 gallon apple cider (not juice)
2 tablespoons honey
5 whole allspice berries
6 whole cloves
Pinch ground nutmeg
1 1 1/2-inch piece ginger, thinly sliced
8 cinnamon sticks

Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest from the orange to create long strips.

In a medium pot, bring the cider, honey, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and orange zest to a simmer. Do not boil. Heat, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Ladle into cups and serve warm with the cinnamon sticks.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 142(2% from fat); FAT 0g (sat 0g); SUGAR 33g; PROTEIN 0g; CHOLESTEROL 0mg; SODIUM 8mg; FIBER 0g; CARBOHYDRATE 35g

The only thing better than finishing cleanup duty? Not having to do it again for a while. These techniques will make your efforts last longer.

Keeping the Kitchen Clean

Cabinets
Set jars of liquid or jelly on coasters, or line shelves with nonadhesive cork liner. When drips occur, just replace the coasters or the lining.

Countertops
To repel stains on countertops, twice a year apply grout sealer (available at hardware stores) to tile, and stone sealer (also at hardware stores) to stone countertops. Follow the package instructions.

Instead of using wood cutting boards, switch to plastic. Since wood shouldn’t be sanitized in the dishwasher (wood can warp when wet), it can harbor bacteria, which gets on knives and can invade your food-prep area. Pop plastic boards into the dishwasher after every use to kill germs.

To make cleanup faster when you cook, cover countertops with sheets of wax paper, parchment paper, or butcher paper before preparing food. Juices from meats, chicken, and fish never hit the counters, so there’s no need to disinfect. When finished, crumple up the paper and toss.

Freezer and Refrigerator
Place a box of baking soda in the freezer and another in the refrigerator to absorb and neutralize smells; replace them every three months. Alternatives: a mound of charcoal; coffee beans in a bowl; or a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract and kept in the refrigerator until dry.

Every month or so, dump ice cubes from the trays and make a new batch. Stale ice traps odors, like those from frozen fish or meat.

Sink
Grind the skins of oranges, lemons, and limes in the garbage disposal with a handful of ice cubes. The rock-hard texture of the ice cubes sharpens the blades; the citrus scent of the grated peels clears the air. Or make ice cubes of vinegar instead of water. The vinegar will deodorize the disposal.

Stovetop
Reduce grease splatters on the stovetop and the hood by putting a mesh splatter screen over pans when cooking.

Keeping the Bathroom Clean

Shower
After showering, run a squeegee down the shower doors and walls in long, vertical strokes. (No need to use any cleaner.) Soap scum, mildew, and hard-water marks are less likely to materialize on a dry surface.

Spread out the shower curtain after use. Mildew grows faster in bunched-up folds. Another idea: Turn on the fan while showering to dissipate the steam in the room. That way, mildew has less chance to grow.

At the first sign of black mildew in tile grout, soak a cotton ball in bleach and dab it on the spot. In about 30 minutes, the mold will most likely be gone. Apply a sealant (available at hardware stores) to grout twice a year, following the manufacturer’s instructions, to prevent staining. Stone vanity tops also benefit from the application of a sealant once a year.

Toilet
Pour a cup of water and a splash of bleach into a plastic or porcelain toilet-brush caddy (metal-trimmed caddies tend to rust). From then on, your disinfected brush will be at the ready to swish the bowl anytime.

Tub
Before you throw away that empty can of peanuts, save the plastic lid and set it underneath a can of shaving cream to prevent rust from forming on the rim of the tub. Or brush clear nail polish on the metal ring around the bottom of the can to ward off rust altogether.

Smooth white paste car wax (available at hardware stores) onto a cloth and rub it on the sides of a porcelain-enamel tub, but not on the nonslip surface. (If you wax the areas on which you walk, they could become dangerously slippery when wet.) Not only will it leave a shine but it will also create a protective barrier against water-and-soap buildup.

Keeping the Living Areas Clean

Artwork
Before rearranging paintings on walls, slip on white cotton gloves. Natural oils from your fingertips can seep onto artwork, damaging the color over time.

Floors
Eighty percent of dirt in the home is the dry, tracked-in kind. Set a doormat of toothed, bristly material, such as Astroturf, outside the door to leave dirt and grit where they belong — outdoors. (Muddy shoes can stay out there, too.)

Slice wine corks into disks and glue them to the bottoms of furniture and heavy pottery, or stick on adhesive felt pads. Dust settles into gouges made by furniture on floors and turns into grime, making it tougher to clean.

Furniture
Keep a dusting cloth in various handy places throughout your living spaces — on a nightstand, in a coffee-table drawer — so you can grab it to dust furniture anytime you notice an accumulation.

Opt for patterned upholstery, which conceals dirt better than solid fabric.

Wipe pets with a microfiber cloth, a dry-cleaning sponge, or a specialty pet wipe each day to reduce the amount of dander on the upholstery.

Light Fixtures
Once a week, mist a few squirts of room deodorizer on cool lightbulbs. (A note of caution: Moisture can seep into the light socket and damage the bulb, so spray from about a foot or so away.) The next time you turn the light on, the heat from the bulb will activate the scent.

Walls
Arrange furniture six inches from walls instead of flush against them so there will be fewer smudges from bumping to tend to later. You’ll also have easier access to dusty corners that need a visit from a dust mop.

Window Coverings
Open and close window treatments (blinds, curtains, shades) often to displace dust from the fabric instead of letting it sit until you get around to cleaning it. When it falls to the floor, run a dust mop over the surface.

Keeping the Laundry Room Clean

Dryer and Washing Machine
Leave the lid of the washer open for at least an hour after using the machine to let moisture evaporate and discourage the growth of mold and mildew.

When you’ve accidentally left a lipstick or a crayon in the pocket of a garment, squirt a bit of WD-40 onto a cloth, then rub it on the oil-based marks inside the washing machine. One note of caution: WD-40 is flammable, so don’t use this trick inside the dryer. Instead, use a cloth drenched with water and dishwashing liquid.

Floor
Put a rug or a carpet swatch in front of the sink to sop up splashes when you hand wash items. A highly absorbent material, like cotton chenille, is easy to care for; just toss it in the washer. A rug made from a natural fiber, such as jute or sea grass, will conceal water stains.

Consider purchasing a small water alarm, which will alert you if the washing machine leaks or overflows. It sits on the floor, and a battery-operated sensor sounds when water touches it. Basic models sell for less than $20 at home-improvement centers.

Shelving
Stack liquid detergents, stain-removal solutions, and anything else that can leak in plastic bins or caddies to contain drips. Because these liquids are highly concentrated, drips can deteriorate the paint on shelves and the finishes on appliances.

MiltonSearch.com recommends this tasty dessert just in time for the Fall apple season

Crisp apples work best in this recipe. Enjoy this warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

4 apples, peeled and cored
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons golden raisins
1 tablespoon butter
¼ cup water

For crust:
1 cup white whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
pinch salt
½ cup cold butter, cut into pieces
¼ cup ice water
1 tablespoon raw sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place apples closely together in a 9-inch cake pan. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, almonds, cinnamon and raisins. Spoon the sugar mixture into each apple core and pack it in with the back of the spoon, sprinkling the remaining mixture on top of the apples and into the baking pan. Dot each apple with a sliver of butter. Pour ¼ cup water into the pan.

In a food processor, combine flour and salt, pulsing to mix. Add butter, pulse until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Drizzle in just ice water while pulsing until the dough comes together. Transfer dough to a smooth surface dusted with flour, knead a few times to combine, then flatten into a ½-inch-thick disk by hand or with a rolling pin, checking frequently to make sure dough isn’t sticking to surface.

Drape the dough over the top and sides of the apples. Cut slits in the dough to vent steam. Bake in a 350 degree F oven until the apples are tender yet firm when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour.

Serves 4.