This holiday season when your guests gather 'round for a mood-lifting cocktail, consider throwing something really fantastic at them: rim their glasses with edible silver or gold. That'll get their minds off the recession. And with this line of edible Italian silver and gold leaf starting at $26, you don't need to take grandma's jewels to the pawn shop to pay for your little party decorations.

Here's how to rim a champagne flute (or martini glass, etc.) with the precious metal dust:

1. Sprinkle a few shakes of gold or silver onto a flat plate.
2. Moisten the rim of flute using a clean wet sponge.
3. Twist moistened rim into sprinkled-out gold or silver.

Earlier today Dana told us about White Jasmine Sparkling Tea and I can't help but imagine a tall glass of sparkling tea rimmed with gold.

Aside from blinging-up your cocktail glasses, you can also embellish food and other drinks. What about a few flourishes of gold on Christmas morning lattes, or this hot café brûlot. I can see it applied to leafy pie crust cut-outs, painted on truffles, sprinkled on mousse and crème brûlée.

I'd consider this bit of conspicuous consumption (literally) a cheerful little indulgence in an otherwise modest holiday season.

• Buy Easy Leaf Products' Edible Italian Silver Leaf and Gold Leaf at Sur La Table ($26 - $54)