I really love kitchen tools and what you’ll find in my kitchen is a good mix of super-specific items and general use. I don’t tend to get a lot of one use items, but when I do, I think long and hard before I purchase. This is my ultimate kitchen gadget-y wish list – a mix of high-end and affordable products. To make these products even more affordable, you might be able to find some voucher codes! I would love to receive any of these items this holiday season and I’m sure the cook in your life would too!
Ever since I tried rigging up a ghetto-sous vide machine to make Momofuku’s 48 hour short ribs, I’ve been wanting a sous vide machine. Nomiku just came out with a new wifi home sous vide machine and I backed it because I was so impressed with their past incarnation. Essentially, a sous vide machine lets you cook food (usually in a vacuum sealed bag) in water bath set at an extremely low temperature. The sous vide machine both heats and circulates water and your food is gently cooked to scientific precision.
If you’re going to ask for a sous-vide machine, the next thing you might want to add to your wish list is a Searzall. I don’t have one of these (they just finished their kickstarter and are gearing up to sell on Amazon), but it’s definitely on my radar. It’s basically a portable salamander – use to sear sous vide steaks, melt cheese, or finish dishes off with a blast of heat.
The above two items are things that I think I’ll love, but they’re definitely more things I wish I had rather than things I need. These spatulas on the other hand, I have in my drawer right now and reach for all the time. I’ve talked about my love for silicone spatulas previously and I’m still a big fan of them. These colorful guys from Get It Right make me happy every time I reach for them. They make a perfect little gift. They’re unibody (which means no grotty parts to clean), hold up to heat well, and are dishwasher safe.
One of my favourite kitchen tools is a garlic press. I actually like mincing garlic (I’m weird, I know) but I don’t really like my fingers smelling like garlic every time I do it. Garlic presses take that problem away. This press from Savora is both pretty and functional. It’s an excellent gift for a garlic lover.
I wish I could send everyone a holiday present but since I can’t, I’m doing the next best thing and hosting a little Le Creuset Giveaway!
Giveaway: I’m giving away a Le Creuset Cherry Wok, a Le Creuset Balti Dish and a cute little Le Creuset Condiment Pot. They’re cherry red and perfect for the holiday season – thank you Le Crueset!
Enter: Leave a comment letting me know what the best gift you received was and why and then use the widget to enter. Open to US residents only. Winner will be selected at random and contacted by email. Good luck!
Update: Congrats Vicky! Get ready to start cooking! :D Look for an email from me shortly.
After complaining to my daughters that did not have any current pictures of them together, they decided give me just that for Christmas. They went out one day with a friend who had a camera and took all kinds of pictures, candid shots, casual and then some close-up more portrait shots. They put all these pictures together in a book that they had printed and gave it to me for Christmas. When I open that book and saw all the pictures of my two girls it just brought tears to my eyes I had a whole book of just them that I can look at whenever I want.
The best gift I ever got was a gift certificate to the humane society – so my husband and I picked out 2 kittens to be part of our family!
My favorite gift I have gotten in the past few years was a panini maker. Now every week me and my roommates have panini Mondays, and it makes the beginning of the week something to look forward to.
I loved getting a mini camcorder a couple of years ago, it’s helped by capture a lot of fun memories.
the best gift i have ever received was a pair of clog maryjanes that my mom gave me. they were perfect!
The best gifts that I’ve ever received were always foods, because they promote happiness and health (that is, when the foods are healthy, which they usually are in my case). For instance, my family often gives away vegetables that we’ve grown in our garden to relatives and friends, and they also give us yummy food in return. Wishing someone a longer life by encouraging their health is one of the most meaningful things you can do to show your appreciation for that person.
a pendelton blanket because I use it every day.
When I think about it, I think the best gift I ever received was my garlic press. I definitely agree with you on the smelly fingers part! Mincing has never been more easier.
Cooking wise, it has to be my beautiful stock pot. I get so much use out of it and it’s such a nice piece.
I’d have to say it was the pair of Radiohead tickets my sister bought me a few years back, mostly because I was able to give her the second ticket and have an unforgettable experience seeing my favorite band with my big sis!