Birthdays, housewarmings, retirements, major holidays-whatever the occasion, gift giving is usually involved. To avoid having that gift returned or set on a dusty closet shelf, take a look at these ideas for the home cook.
During this economic downturn, it's a good idea to shop for the holidays early to ease the outflow of cash. Simple, practical, and fairly inexpensive, these gifts are easily found on the internet or in any major retail store.
Electric Pepper and Salt Mill
This gift is a great choice for anyone. The mills are battery operated and can be purchased individually or in sets. By simply pressing a button, fresh peppercorns and sea salt are ground, and the size of the grind can be adjusted from fine to coarse. This is a great idea for someone with arthritic hands where using a regular mill can be difficult or painful. Include batteries and packages of peppercorns and sea salt.
Pasta Maker
This gadget can be either electric or hand cranked. A real pasta lover or gourmet cook will enjoy making fresh ravioli, fettuccini, and spaghetti.
Electric Meat Thermometer
This handy item is more accurate than the standard meat thermometer. The great advantage is that the probe is inserted into the meat while it's in the oven, and the gauge hangs outside the oven door for constant monitoring of internal temperature.
Microplaner
Used for zesting fruit or finely grating cheese, microplaners are very inexpensive, but are an essential item for the serious cook. If this doesn't seem like enough, add an electric or hand juicer to round out the gift.
Knife Sharpener
Every cook needs sharp knives, and over time, they dull, which actually makes using them more dangerous. Although many different types of electric sharpeners are available, don't overlook the hand-held type. Some of them are very effective and work better than a more expensive electric appliance.
Decorative Wine Corks
Everyone has opened a bottle of wine and pushed the cork into the bottle or shredded the cork into bits. Decorative wine corks are reusable, pretty, and very useful. They can also be used as a stopper for olive oil.
Fresh Herb Garden
Fresh herbs add flavor to any dish, and serious cooks always prefer them to dry herbs. Pre-packaged gift sets are available year round, but for a more personal touch, purchase a few decorative clay pots and buy an assortment of herbs at a local greenhouse. Herbs are easy to grow and look great on a windowsill.
Trivets
No one wants to put a hot casserole dish on a countertop or table. Those who cook and entertain generally set a pretty table, and trivets are much more decorative than a hot pad. Available in ceramic, wood or metal, a trivet is a gift that will be used every day.
Personalized Apron
Cooking is a messy business, and aprons have saved many blouses from gravy stains. The aprons available today are not the same as Grandma used to wear, and men will enjoy them as much as women. They're cute, whimsical and can easily be personalized. Choose a pattern or saying that reflects the personality of the recipient, or even one that matches the color of their kitchen.
Recipe Box
For those shoppers on a tight budget, nothing could be easier than buying a pretty recipe box. Include a package of blank recipe cards and the home cook will always have their recipes available. To personalize the gift, add a few favorite recipes to start off the collection.
There are many ideas that would be appropriate and fun for the home cook. If nothing on this list seems just right, consider these ideas:
- A favorite celebrity cookbook
- A gift basket filled with kitchen utensils
- A pretty tablecloth and placemats
- A set of wine glasses
- A gift certificate to a specialty gourmet shop.
After the choice is made, wrap it, deliver it, and enjoy a special day with family and friends.
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