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.
My favorite gift was from my kiddos a few years ago….two framed poems they wrote for me…treaures! :)
I still love the personalized jewelry box my hubby gave me!
My mom had gotten me a dollhouse kit for Christmas when I was 11. My dad and I were going to put it together but never did. For my 21st birthday he had put it together and it was beautiful. He worked on it for months and everything was perfect down to the tiniest detail. Most heartwarming and thoughtful gift I have ever received and something I will get to hand down to my children.
One of my all-time favorite gifts is a wool scarf that my little sister knitted for me. I get compliments on it all the time and I love being able to tell people that my sister made it for me!
The best holiday gift I received was a dyson vacuum. That thing sucks up all the dirt and pet hairs in my house!
The best gift I have ever received was a mixer. I could do so much with it and I always wanted one.
It’s hard to pick one favorite gift ever so I’ll limit mine to foodie things. I got a KitchenAid Mixer from my Mom a few years ago at Christmas and I love using it!
My kitchen Aid Epicurean Stand Mixer & Cuisinart Food Processor – 2 of my very favorite kitchen helpers.
The best gift I received was a pestle and mortar from my kids. Every year I create new spice mixes and grind them myself to give away as gifts (sneezes and all) to family and friends. My forearm muscles have become very defined from hand grinding pounds of spices!! :)
My favorite gift has been a cheap small wooden cutting board that I received about four years ago. A fourth of the cutting board has since fallen away but it is the first thing I run to when prepping ingredients for a meal. If it isn’t clean I am deterred from cooking.