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Continuing our 2018 Holiday Gift Guides (Moms & Littles, and your BFF), here’s one from Allison, our Food Writer, with some of her favorite picks for the home cook on your list! xoCandace
Ahhh, the kitchen. One of my favorite places to be! (Well, besides curled up in bed with a bunch of blankets, hot peppermint tea on the nightstand, aimlessly scrolling through Instagram. Ha!) The holidays are a great time to be in the kitchen, and there is nothing like giving or receiving a gift to use in that special room. Check out what I’ve got, from small items to that KitchenAid Mixer you might not need but really want. (Treat yo’ self.)
1.) Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush ($8) I’ll never spend time cleaning a fibrous basting brush again! This cleans up like a dream; nothing grosser than scrubbing oil out of a traditional bashing brush…ugh…
2.) Donut Baking Pans ($10) If you live some place like me where donuts are $4 a pop – hey, New York City! – investing in a donut pan (or two!) is an excellent idea. You get more bang for your buck, and the combinations you can make are endless!
3.) Silicone Spatula Set ($10) – Nothing worse than a spatula that is janky or dirty! These spatulas bend well, last long, are easily washable, and you can’t go wrong with a snappy orange flair!
4.) Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Set ($12) Hey, I worked in Infection Control for 9+ years. I know that clean hands (and clean countertops) save lives! Being germ-free in the kitchen is a MUST. Ain’t nobody got time for norovirus this holiday season!
5.) Microplane Zester / Grater ($13) Where would my life be without this? Seriously, if you need finely grated chocolate, cheeses, or citrus zests, nothing grates it better than one of these babies! It’s a must-have for any kitchen.
6.) Fire Extinguishing Aerosol Spray ($13) Flame-ups are scary! I’ve given myself a few heart attacks in the past. Best to be prepared! Peace of mind is a wonderful gift.
7.) Kitchen Bowls ($15) From meal prep to mise en place, a good set of kitchen bowls are worth their weight in gold!
8.) Bamboo Cutting Board ($27) I love bamboo cutting boards because they are the kindest surface to my nicest knives!
9.) The Inspiralizer ($30) Not only is the Inspiralizer useful, it’s a LOT of fun to use. It has definitely *inspiralized* me to get more creative with prepping fruits and vegetables! Ali, the creator of the Inspiralizer and founder of Inspiralized, is such a BOSSSS!
10.) 7" Professional Chef's Knife ($35) Investing in at least one good knife is essential, plain and simple!
11.) Ballarini 12" Non-Stick Pan ($50) – I was gifted one of these last year as well, and I can attest to how well it works! This is especially good at frying up a perfect batch of fried eggs, yum!
12.) Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillets - 3 sizes! ($60) From stove top to oven, cast iron is a GODSEND! And yes, you’ll need ‘em in all three sizes. Trust me!
13.) Ninja Blender Set ($170) I got this from my parents last Christmas; for years, I didn’t understand why people went so crazy over high-speed blenders. Now…I GET IT! Ha! 😆
14.) KitchenAid Stand Mixer ($350) Because we’re all a little extra! Get it in copper, baby!
15.) Le Creuset Signature Enameled Dutch Oven ($339) – This is a classic piece every kitchen needs, in my humble opinion. Great investment and it’ll last you a lifetime. When the weather gets cold, I’m using this dutch oven at least once a week. Ever make bread in a dutch oven? No?! You haven’t LIVED yet!
16.) Sony Alpha 6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera Kit ($448) – Every home cook wants some good photos of their food, right? You may be the next big name in food blogging, but you may not know it unless you pick up this camera and start taking photos of your kitchen creations. 😉
And what home cook gift guide would be complete without a few of my favorite cookbooks?
Cravings: Hungry For More, Chrissy Teigen
Inspiralized and Beyond, Ali Muffucci
Cook Like A Pro, Ina Garten
Molly On The Range, Molly Yeh
Joy of Cooking, Irma S. Rombauer
I’d love to hear what favorite kitchen items you’ve been loving this year!