Are you like me, and you dread selecting holiday gifts for other people? I enjoy buying and wrapping and giving gifts, but I find that I sometimes second guess myself and, in the process, drive my husband crazy. He is the type of shopper who sees something, thinks that it might be a good gift and buys it on the spot. I, on the other hand, feel a need to shop around to find an improved version or better price.
When it comes to buying gifts, I can’t help but be a little biased. Being a cookbook author, I love all things related to food and I assume everyone else does too! That’s why I love to buy food related things for every occasion. One of the greatest gifts I ever got was a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer with a special message engraved on the bowl. It’s so useful for whipping just about anything, and the engraved message is sentimental and timeless. The gift I’ve gotten the most use out of is a pair of Toaster Tongs, unique wooden grabbers for retrieving toast from the toaster. Who knew something so simple could be so useful? They are definitely worth the small investment and would delight someone tucked in a stocking with a special jar of jam or preserves.
When it comes to giving gifts to children and families, I love to give cooking themed gifts. My favorite gift to give a family is a fun mixing bowl filled with Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes, parchment paper, recipe cards, a rolling pin and cookie cutters, topped with a big bow. Voila—instant family creativity and fun!
Giving children’s cooking lessons means I have the opportunity to cook often with children. Let me tell you, they love it! Something as simple as measuring a cup of flour can make a child feel so responsible and proud—it’s great to see! Gifts are a great way to get children interested in food and cooking. A gift certificate for cooking lessons is great for children and teens. Cookbooks make great gifts as well, as they excite the imagination and get kids excited about spending time cooking with you in the kitchen.
More than any other gift, I love to give useful cooking tools, which children can collect over the years and take with them as they become independent and move out on their own. Small toolboxes are great for storing kids’ cooking utensils separately from the household tools. This type of toolbox can be purchased at any hardware store for less than $10.00. And now, to fill it with great kid-friendly tools:
Kid-Friendly Knife:
The best way for children to grow into accomplished cooks is through lots of practice. Small children should begin using a plastic knife and can eventually graduate to a butter knife. This knife, designed by Furi and Rachael Ray, is a great next step for children ready to begin using a small knife, ergonomically designed for children (under adult supervision, of course). The cut-resistant glove adds extra safety.
Head Chef Child’s Spatula:
Who could resist such a whimsical and practical tool? A spatula is a great tool for young children, as they can help mix and scrape safely and still feel involved in meal preparation. This happy spatula would love to help you make pancakes, I’m sure!
Pancake Molds:
Speaking of pancakes, these are a great gift for families who take breakfast making seriously. My sister’s family loves to make breakfast and they are expert at whipping up pancakes and waffles. These pancakes make Christmas morning—or any morning—that much sweeter. In addition to lots of love, the secret to their pancakes is cinnamon and the secret to their waffles is just a touch of Grand Marnier.
Old Fashioned Apple Corer:
I adore this thing. I keep it on my countertop because I use it so often. Apples are my absolute favorite fruit, so I tend to stick with them rather than branch out and eat other kinds of fruit. So, I often peel an apple and toss it in oatmeal or in a salad or just eat peeled apples as a snack. This is great for quick applesauce (to go with Hanukkah latkes): spin an apple through the corer, add to a saucepan with a quarter cup of water and a sprinkle of cinnamon, bring to a boil and reduce. Then use a potato masher to create a chunky or smooth consistency for your applesauce. Healthy and delicious just doesn’t get any better than this!
Ice Princess Ice Cube Trays:
Know a little one who needs to be enticed to come to the dinner table? These crazy cute straws and ice will do just the trick. Freeze fruit in the large star, so that when it melts, there is a fun and healthy treat to eat.
Animal Shaped Fun Cups:
I love to find ways to make food more fun and to give it more kid appeal and avoid adding sugar, fat, salt or other junk. Cooking in and eating from a fun container definitely makes food more fun. While these cups are for baking cupcakes, they can be great for making a mini turkey meatloaf or baking cauliflower and broccoli with a bit of cheese. Who knows? If the container is cute enough, they may actually eat some broccoli!
What kitchen gifts are you giving this holiday? What kitchen gifts do you wish to receive?