So it’s December 22nd and you still haven’t finished shopping yet? What’s wrong with you? Did you think the world was going to end and you wouldn’t have to do it? Well guess what cuckoo nutball, it didn’t and people are expecting presents from you. Have no fear, I’m here to help. As long as you’re buying for someone cool that is. If you’re buying for someone who cares nothing for food and wine and cooking and baking then I think they probably don’t deserve anything. Just kidding (but actually no, I’m pretty serious). I thought I would just throw some ideas out there in case you’re feeling burnt out, tired, and just overall sick of the holidays to the point that your brain is mushy and gross. I’m almost there, but since I work in retail even a zombie-me knows the coolest kitchen do-dads that everyone must have.
1. Microplane Zester – around $16.95
I use this bad boy all the time. Zesting lemons, limes, or oranges, grating garlic, ginger, nutmeg, chocolate, or cheese? Yeah this one piece can do all that. It’s pretty awesome. Don’t argue. Word to the wise, save the little case that slides on it otherwise you or your loved on will cut your fingers up something fierce on this when it’s just sitting innocently in the drawer minding it’s own business.
2. Chef’n Citrus Juicer – around $20
Weird that my first two items have to do with citrus but what can you do. My love affair with this thing started at the beginning of this year and Chef’n Citrus Juicer, I just can’t quit you. Look at how it has completely eviscerated those lemons in the picture. It’s amazing and really easy to use and everyone should have one.
3. Wusthof Classic 7″ Santoku – $99
If given the opportunity I could talk about knives for an entire afternoon. Actually probably longer than that. Having a good knife is so important and can make or break your cooking experience. There is nothing like having a really good knife to use and honestly you don’t need a whole set. You really only need a few and this is the most important one. You can do any kind of prep work with it, it holds a sharp edge for a long time, and it has a lifetime guarantee. You will never need to buy another chef knife. Totally worth the cost and one of my favorite items to gift.
4. All-Clad MC2 5qt Saute Pan – around $255
This is the pan I use the most in the kitchen. It works for everything and it is just the best. The finish really doesn’t matter, this is just the one I have and love. If you want to get someone something truly nice that they will use over and over, this is it. Plus it’s an American-made product so that’s kind of nice.
5. Epicurean Cutting Board – anywhere from $20-$100 depending on size
These are my very favorite cutting boards. They’re knife-friendly (meaning they don’t dull your knives on contact like glass or ceramic cutting surfaces), naturally anti-microbial since they’re made of a wood composite, and made pretty locally over in Minnesota out of skate-ramp remnants. Tres cool, no? Cook’s Illustrated gave them a poor review a few years ago that I’m still upset over. I can categorically say that they were wrong and that these are the best. Got it? THE BEST!
6. Kitchenaid Artisan 5qt Stand Mixer – $349.99
This little beauty is one of my favorite gifts ever from my husband and I truly think everyone who loves to cook or bake needs one. It’s another American-made item which I guess is sort of turning into a theme on this list. Huh, normally I get really annoyed when people make a big deal about that but it turns out some of my favorite things are made right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. And before you get all mad at me, just know that some really nice things are made in China. They just are. The thing that bugs me is when people just turn their noses up at everything that’s made there. If we had to fill the store with only American-made products it wouldn’t be very full and everything would be pretty expensive. Thems the breaks kids. Okay tirade over.
7. The Cheese Knife – $17.95
Would you believe this is our best-selling item in the entire store? It does not look worth the money, but boy-howdy it is. It can cut any kind of cheese (hard, soft, medium) without sticking and you can use it on other typically hard to cut items as well like butter, hard-boiled eggs, cheesecake, etc. They are outstanding and everyone needs one. And it is a perfect gift because everyone is always really skeptical of them but amazed once they try it. You can be all smug-like and say “I told you so.” Doesn’t that feel good?
8. Casabella Silicone Pie Crust Shield – around $7
This little item seems silly, but is actually pretty fab. It keeps your pie crust from over-browning and since it’s made of silicone it’s pretty cool to the touch even when coming out of a screaming-hot oven. Plus it’s adjustable so you can use it on any-size pie! Perfecto!
9. Silpat – $32.95 for the half sheet pan size
Kind of spendy but I have had mine for five years and use it multiple times a week and it’s still solid as a rock. It’s basically reusable parchment paper from France and I could use about 5 more of them. Love, love, love them and anyone who likes to bake will too.
10. Le Creuset 5.5qt Round French Oven in Flame – $280
Did you think any gift list by me would be complete without a Le Creuset item? I didn’t think so. There are no words for how much I love my Le Creuset pieces. No words! But I will try. They are beautiful, last a lifetime, and conduct heat so evenly I could cry. Seriously. They are the best. They come in tons of fun colors and sizes but this color and size are my fave.
So there you go. These are the things I think all food-loving people should have in their lives. I could think of about a billion more but when I really sat down and thought about what I use most often and love, this is what I came up with. There is a price point for everyone and I hope this helped at least one very last-minute person find a cool gift for someone.
Heyo! So I just got back from a trip on Wednesday and I’m still not back in the groove. Is that weird? I was gone from the 20th-27th and it feels like I was gone for a month. Seriously, vacation is fun but getting back to regular life afterward is weird and seems to take forever. So here’s what you missed:
A very talkative gentleman on my flight from NC to FL bought me my first birthday beer of the day. It was at like 9:30 in the morning but try not to judge, it was my birthday after all.
This is basically what I did the entire time in FL. I mean, sure we went to St. Augustine and saw The Fountain of Youth and learned about how Ponce de Leon is the real discoverer of America (at the time it felt like I was learning a lot about history but in retrospect I feel like the info might have been a bit biased…) and obviously we went out to eat a lot but mostly we spent the whole time just chilling out. The weather looked like this pretty much every day:
Feel free to hate on me a little bit. I spent some great quality time with my mom and my sister-in-law and soaked up several weeks’ worth of Vitamin D. So I flew back to the Midwest and then took the Amtrak back to the frozen tundra on Wednesday and then this last weekend I went to visit a friend who just bought her first house. I thought I would be helping them move but it turned out they were pretty much done with that, so we did a 5 mile run instead. Yeah, 5 miles. It was a long one for me. Pogs and a few buddies were already signed up for the run, but one of them had a sinus infection so I used her bib and gave it a shot. Just call me Cathy Wisinger.
I ran at a consistent and slow turtle’s pace and finished the run in an hour and 3 minutes. So yeah, I rock a 12 minute mile. Just sign me up for the next Olympics guys, I’ve already bought the trophy case. We got a few of these as a reward:
And then I took a little rest on the bar
I’m glad I did it, but my legs are still sore as…….I don’t know, something that is really frickin’ sore. Don’t worry folks, our regularly scheduled programming of cooking and baking starts again tonight. I made the grocery list, I have the recipes, I’m getting back on track.
