by Susan on 12/10/09 at 10:54 am
Last week, we made a dozen suggestions for a variety of holiday gifts for the special people in your life (or for you, if you have some spare change from which you can part). Today we have a baker’s dozen to complete the list of 25 top gifts for foodies.
Maverick Remote-Check Wireless Thermometer With 2 Probes - Cook up to two different pieces of meat simultaneously with this dual probe wireless digital food thermometer, which beeps when it reaches the correct internal temperature. You’ll never worry about undercooked or overcooked meals again with this affordable kitchen pal.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking (2 Volume Set)- No serious foodie should be without this important work of master chef Julia Child. Volume one is the original 524-recipe cookbook released in 1961 and Volume II is her follow up, published in 1970. A thoughtful gift for the consummate food aficionado.
Microplane Grater/Zester- Citrus peels, nutmeg, hard cheese and chocolate are just a few of the foods that will benefit from a grater/zester. With its extra fine teeth, you’ll get delicate shavings for your salads or garnishes. A must for every kitchen.
Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus Mandoline – Slice, shred, cube or dice with this versatile kitchen tool that makes quick work out of boring kitchen preparation. Your favorite foodie will achieve uniform cuts that lend a look of true professionalism to their culinary dreams and creations. This gift will make them happy.
Silpat Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat – Never pry another cookie from your baking sheet when you use a Silpat baking mat. Instant release of any sticky substance makes this the preferred way to line metal pans and a foodie favorite. Forget about greasing or flouring surfaces when you use a Silpat mat.
Cuisinart Stick Hand Blender – This great immersion blender will make short order of blending batters, pureeing soups, mixing beverages and more. You determine how smooth you want your liquid to be. There’s no need to drag out the hand mixer when you have this compact immersion blender.
Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned Square Grill Pan- Enjoy the taste and exquisite look of grilling year-round with this obscenely affordable cast iron grill pan. Already pre-seasoned to eliminated sticking, your meat, chicken, fish and veggies will have perfect sear marks to retain their juices.
Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator – Enjoy your preferred wine with just the right amount of aeration with this solid, no-gimmick tool. Why wait for your wine to decant and slow up the holiday cheer? With this little darling the wait is, well, finally over. Give your favorite wine enthusiast (or win-o) something that will yield results and happiness for decades to come.
Wüsthof 2-Stage Knife Sharpener – There’s nothing worse than having a drawer full of dull knives! There’s no need to waste precious money on a new set? This two-stage knife sharpener will bring your best knives back to life with precision sharpening, just like new. As a bonus, it also sharpens scissors.
Cuisinart Mini-Prep 4-Cup Food Processor - This miniaturized model of a full-size food processor is great for small jobs. Whether you’re grinding nuts, chopping onions or making pesto, this small-fry version is great for those everyday chopping and grinding jobs in the kitchen (and perfect for an NYC apartment..hint…hint)
Presto 8-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker - At just under $50, the new pressure cookers make fast work of preparing meats and vegetables without losing their nutritional value. Turn inexpensive and tough cuts of meat into tender morsels by cooking under pressure, where a roast can be cooked in less than 45 minutes without heating up the whole kitchen.
J.A. Henckels 5-inch Santoku Knife - This is an incredibly well-balanced and extremely sharp Santoku knife. It can cut through tomatoes, breads and other soft foods with ease and without tearing and dulling. This knife is a must for everyday task and is priced to be nice on your bank account.
KitchenArt Pro Auto Measure Carousel Without Spices – An innovative way to store your favorite spices, this rotating carousel measures the precise amount of product for any recipe. Choose the spices you use the most to store in this handsome looking unit.
These are some of the most popular and well-rated appliances, tools and accessories for kitchen mavens. Everything on today’s list is at an affordable price point of $50 or less. Part I has suggestions for pricier gifts, if you really want to show “your care.”
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- Top Holiday Gifts for Foodies – Part I
- Five Holiday Gifts from the Heart and Kitchen
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