Guess who I saw on the Dufferin street bus in Toronto on my way into work this morning? Here’s a hint: He lives in California and is the biggest glutton on TV. Yup, the one and only Bob Blumer . He was sitting across from me at the back of the bus, squeezed between two teenagers. I kid you not. Once I figured out who it was, I was faced with a conundrum. Do I surprise attack/introduce myself? We’ve never actually met in person but spoken on the phone for his Ask a Host feature. Or do I let the man ride the public transit in peace? You know I surprise attacked him. No question. It turned out he was in town visiting his girlfriend who happens to live on my street. Holy serendipity or what? It doesn’t stop there. I even strong-armed him to coming into work with me to tape some more Ask a Host feature! Well, to be honest, he was on his way to Food Network HQ to discuss his Food Network Canada show Glutton for Punishment . Bob was gracious, funny and super nice! He answered some of your questions which we’ll be rolling out as part of Ask a Host feature in a couple of weeks. Bob even showed us some boxing moves (more on that later). Anyway, here’s a tease of things to come. Related: Interview: Bob Blumer on His Most Punishing Competition Ask a Host with Bob Blumer: Does Cheaper Meat Equal Poorer Quality?

What a treat! Bob Blumer , host of Glutton for Punishment , is our guest blogger today. Our reigning king of the Toastermobile sent this great recipe for the holidays. I say, move over Schweddy Balls (you MUST watch Alec Baldwin’s skit on SNL if you don't know what I'm talking about), here’s Blumer’s Festive Nuts. It’s been a tough year on many levels, and lumps of coal may make a resurgence as this year's stocking stuffer of choice. But don’t let anything short of complete financial ruin dampen your holiday spirits. To paraphrase the old adage, happiness is the best revenge. I am always at my happiest when I am cooking with friends. Though, for the most part, “cooking” with friends is a euphemism for me cooking while my friends enjoy a glass of wine and wax poetic from the built-in couch at the nose end of my Toastermobile. But there are a few friends whose cooking skills I respect enough to actually share my kitchen with. One of them is Elizabeth Karmel , my grilling guru and author of Taming the Flame . After enjoying each other’s culinary company in the kitchen and backyard for so many years we recently co-authored a book on making pizza on the grill. It is called—not coincidentally— Pizza on the Grill (shameless plug: it makes an awesome Christmas gift for anyone who likes pizza, likes to grill, or believes—or ever believed— in Santa Claus). Whenever Elizabeth and I get together to cook, Elizabeth sets out a few small snacks to fuel the cooking process and accompany the inevitable bottle of wine. Many of these little nibblies have made their way into my repertoire. My favorite is her recipe for candied nuts that will transform even the staunchest Grinch into a deliriously happy holiday reveler. It is so simple to make that the results defy the amount of energy it takes. And the taste is so rich that you would swear a pound of butter was used—where in fact a single beaten egg white does all the magic. Elizabeth’s Sugar & Spice Nuts are a festive beginning for any holiday cocktail or dinner party, And if you are looking for a fabulous hostess gift or a yummy stocking stuffer, a jar full is guaranteed to please—at a cost that’s barely more than that lump of coal. Sugar & Spice Pecans Ingredients: 1/3 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 pound pecan (or walnuts) halves 1 egg white...