Gifts for your Favorite Foodie

Every year I always say I’m going to do a gift post and every year Hanukkah and Christmas come and go and I never manage to get a gift-giving post up. So this year I decided I was damn well gonna get that post up. Everything on this list are things I have and use in my own kitchen and can be easily found on Amazon. If they’re not utensils or appliances, they’re from companies I trust and whose products I have enjoyed constantly.

So, without further ado…

Stocking Stuffers

It doesn’t matter if you’re a baker or just work your butt off to get dinner on the table by six o’clock. These are the things that absolutely no kitchen should be without.

Measuring spoons and cups

I use the OXO measuring spoons and cups All. The. Time. They’re durable and unlike other measuring cups and spoons out there, these don’t just have the standard 1/4 teaspoon or 1/2 cup. They have extra cups and spoons in the set that measure out popular measurements you find in recipes, like an 1/8 of a teaspoon or 3/4 of a cup. Even if your favorite foodie has a set of measuring cups and spoons, it might be time for an upgrade and these are the perfect choice.

Tongs

A set of tongs is an absolute must in the kitchen. What surprises me though is how many people don’t own a set. People often think tongs are just for serving salads, but I’m here to tell you that’s just not true. They’re also great for serving spaghetti or flipping chicken breasts and pork chops in skillets and on the grill. I use mine so often they might as well be an extension of my hand. But like all utensils, some are better than others. My tongs are from OXO. The nylon heads grip the food really well and they clean up easily so you can use them for more than one course in the same meal.

Whisk

A whisk is a handy tool to have when you don’t want to use your hand or stand mixer. It’s great for beating eggs, mixing pancake batter and a variety of other things. I use mine so much I actually have several in a variety of different sizes.

Manual lemon & lime squeezer

This is a handy little tool when you need to juice one or two lemons or limes. It’s great for adding a dash of citrus to savory entreés as well as cakes and muffins. But I use it most when I need to add an ounce or two of lemon or lime juice to a cocktail. While there are a lot of hand squeezers, I like this one best because it’s two-in-one. See, there’s an extra dish so you have the option of juicing a lemon or a lime.

Zester

There are so many recipes out there that call for lemon and lime zest, this is another kitchen necessity. While mine is definitely older, it works just as well as the newer ones out there and is a great gift for that foodie who has everything they think they need.  If they don’t have a zester, it should be number one on your list.

Gifts for Under the Tree

Immersion Blender

I never had one of these until I attended a cooking class and the chef said it was a must-have for every kitchen. I never understood why until I owned one. The chef was right, it’s awesome. This little tool is great for making sauces or soups because you don’t have to transfer everything you’ve been cooking in your pot to a blender in order to make it all nice and smooth. All you need to do is plug in your immersion blender, press the button and presto, instant soup or sauce right in the pan! Not only does it make life easier, it also means you have one less appliance to clean, which is a serious plus in my book.  I have the Cuisinart Smart Stick which came with a whisk and chopper attachment so it’s a little more expensive. But if you don’t want the extras, Cuisinart’s cheaper 2-speed smart stick is also a great choice and comes in a variety of colors.

Kitchenaid Stand Mixer

My mother had a Kitchenaid mixer that we used constantly to make everything from cookies to muffins. I absolutely loved that thing. So of course when I got married, it was number one on my registry. It’s been almost 10 years and my Kitchenaid is still going strong. Just like my mother, I use the mixer for everything from making cookies to beating whipped cream. I even have a few of the extra attachments so I can make pasta or juice a bunch of lemons when I want to make lemon bars. It’s a wonderful appliance that’s perfect for your favorite foodie. And with the array of colors it comes in, you could even get it in their favorite color.

Food Processor

Another countertop appliance, the food processor, is perfect for those chefs who hate to chop or grate by hand. I’m one such chef. I used to use a grater all the time growing up, and I can’t tell you how many times my fingertips or knuckles got grated as well. Then I got a food processor and grating vegetables became a thing of the past. I’ve owned several different food processors since college but my newest and most favorite is the Kitchenaid 13-cup Food Processor. It has several different blades and two different sized bowls. But the best thing about it is the ExactSlice system which allows me to change the thickness of my slices while I’m slicing. The slices can be super thick or paper thin, all with the flick of a switch.  It’s a wonderful machine and a great addition to any foodie’s kitchen. Unlike the mixer, the food processor only comes in five colors, but with three of those choices being black, white or chrome, you’ll be hard pressed to find a reason not to purchase this gadget.

Food Baskets

If you prefer to give food and wine over utensils or appliances, Melissa’s Produce has several options to choose from.

Looking for a great basket to bring to your host’s house for the holidays? The Royal Treatment Wine Basket is the perfect choice.  It’s not just a bottle of red wine and fruit. There’s also salami, cheese, crackers and a variety of nuts.  This sampling of Melissa’s produce comes stylishly arranged on a reusable tray so it’s the perfect hostess gift. All the guests will be able to nosh while the host finishes cooking in the kitchen, then after they’re all gone she will be left with a stylish tray to use at her next party.

If one gift isn’t enough for you, Melissa’s Exotic Fruit Club is a great choice. The recipient of this gift will get at least a pound of fruit each and every month of the year ranging from Baby Pineapples in January to fresh Chestnuts perfect for roasting in November. And since it’s an exotic fruit club, we‘re not just talking oranges and bananas, here. They’ll get Cherimoyas, Strawberry Papayas, and Feijoas as part of their monthly shipment. If you have a friend who loves fruit and loves juicing, this is the present for them.

Looking for something to give that little chef in your family, but aren’t quite ready to hand over the cutting board and kitchen knife? Melissa’s My First Cooking Kit is the ideal present. Not only does your little chef get a matching chef’s hat, oven mit and apron, they also get all the ingredients necessary to make Baby Banana Crepes or Ambrosia Applesauce. It’s the perfect gift to introduce your little foodie to the kitchen and get them excited about cooking with Mom or Dad.

So, those are my picks for this gift-giving season. Feel free to give them to your favorite foodie or add them to your own wish list. But whoever you decide to give them to, there’s still plenty of time to order.

Please Note: This is not a sponsored post. All these items I own and use constantly and all opinions are my own. As for the gift baskets, Melissa’s provided me with a free basket to enjoy, but did not compensate me for the post.