Do you know someone who enjoys cooking?
In our house, Tim is the grill master and creates dishes to rival any five-star restaurant. Some of his signature dishes include Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburgers, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeños, Grilled Corn on the Cob, and a wide variety of steaks. He even makes pancakes on the grill!
As for me, I prefer baking. Perhaps you have tried my Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, New York Cheesecake, or Blueberry Scones?
Our family eats at home most of the time (going out to eat is typically reserved for vacations, special events, or - occasionally - after sporting events) so having quality cookware and bakeware is important to us.
Below are kitchen gifts that will be appreciated by anyone who spends time preparing meals, cooking, or baking.
My favorite pan in our kitchen, hands-down, is our sauté pan by 360 Cookware. The website describes their products like this: "...these stainless steel products have a special power: they're designed with technology that allows for healthy vapor cooking, which heats food faster and at lower temps, locks in flavor and nutrients and eliminates the need for added oils or fats." I would heartily agree with the above statement. We've had our sauté pan for 5+ years and it still looks brand new! Even more importantly, it cooks evenly and is super easy to clean. I recommend 360 Cookware's pots & pans with enthusiasm. In fact, I would rather have just 2 or 3 pans by 360 Cookware than have an entire set by many other brands.
This "blender of the future" does everything. Two nights ago, we made a rich + creamy tortilla soup. Tomorrow, we will likely make strawberry banana peach smoothies. The Designer 675 offers a touchscreen design - you can't even see the buttons until you plug your blender in! Five preprogrammed cycles enable one-touch blending: Smoothie, Frozen Treats, Whole Juice, Hot Soup, and Clean. The Designer 675 automatically speeds up, slows down, and shuts off when it is finished.
We hosted Thanksgiving on our back porch last week for just under 40 people. The weather was lovely and the afternoon was laidback with plentiful conversation and steaming cups of hot cider. The tables were decorated (beautifully) by our 12-year-old daughter and the Close to Home Caddy {pictured above} was on-display and in-use on our master serving table. The rich natural wood is elegant enough for any setting (wedding reception, baby shower, birthday party), while also being exactly right for casual events. You can even have the caddy personalized with a short message or monogram.
I bake scones about once a month. They are delicious, crumbly, not-too-sweet, and relatively-easy-to-make. I tend to alternate between strawberry scones and blueberry scones, depending on what fresh fruit I have on-hand. Frozen fruit works in a pinch too, but fresh is preferable.
We've been longtime fans of Lodge's cast iron pans so when I saw this scone/cornbread pan, I was intrigued. The 9-inch pan has 8 triangle-shaped sections for perfectly symmetrical scone pieces.
Good dessert sauces are hard to find in traditional grocery stores so ordering a set from an esteemed candy company is a special treat. This best-selling gift set by Sanders includes four jars: Dark Chocolate Hot Fudge, Classic Caramel, Extra Dark Chocolate Hot Fudge, and Milk Chocolate Hot Fudge. All four sauces are gluten-free and made with no artificial ingredients. Perfect for drizzling on sundaes, cheesecake, or on top of warm drinks with whipping cream.
If you are stuffing a stocking for someone who enjoys cooking & baking, start by thinking of the gift recipient's favorite foods and go from there. Do they love oranges? Consider a simple citrus juicer. Are they crazy about olives? Go with a pitter. Do they serve up soup frequently? Try a ladle. The ideas below might be of help. Note that I have included only items with high reviews on Amazon (not always the most reliable rating system, but it's something).
OXO
When we got married almost 17 years ago, I remember registering for quite a few handheld utensils by OXO. Fast-forward to the present, I use an ice cream scoop, whisks, and a pizza wheel by OXO almost every week! OXO's designs are simple + streamlined - plus you can easily find them in most local stores.
RSVP
RSVP International has a plethora of kitchen accessories and cooking utensils at very reasonable price-points. Again, start with a food that your recipient likes, type it in the search bar, and you should find a number of different products to choose from.
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What are YOU getting for the foodies & chefs on your list this Christmas?
BROWSE the complete 2018 Christmas Gift Guide to get ideas for everyone on your list!