Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Gifts For The Foodie In Your Life

I first posted this last December, after Christmas, but this is the perfect time to repost and update this list, as there are only 11 shopping days left until Christmas!!

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It's no secret that I'm a foodie. Big time. I absolutely love to cook, and love to find new gadgets and tools to make my meals even more amazing.

My sweetie is my guinea pig. He eats each and every one of my experiments without question.....and usually without complaint.

There aren't many fails, although there have been one or two.
Not only does he eat all my concoctions, he encourages me to experiment more and more.

And he regularly gifts me with amazing kitchen tools to aid me in my efforts.

Last Christmas was no different, and I am so blessed. Sweetie consulted a chef friend of ours in order to find me the very best knives.


Let me tell you something, I really thought my knife set was a good one. I had a full set of Calphalon knives, which I've been using for about 6 years. I cooked a LOT of great meals using those knives!

But I have to admit they are absolutely nothing compared to these Shun knives. Oh my goodness, just amazing! The feel in my hand, the weight, the sharpness....oh my gosh, the sharpness. Do you know you are more likely to cut yourself when using a dull knife than when using a sharp one? True.

My daughter will inherit my Calphalon set when she moves out....it's already boxed up for her.

Sweetie also surprised me with a new set of cookware - I guess he really, REALLY wants me to keep cooking for him!


This is the newest set that Calphalon makes, with a ceramic nonstick interior. Gorgeous cookware, and replaces an older Calphalon set that....guess who.....gave me as a gift about 5 years ago.

Guess who will inherit the older Calphalon set?

She's going to be in good shape, kitchen wise, when she moves out!

Isn't that a gorgeous set of cookware? They clean up so beautifully with  no effort at all - love it!

I have already shared a couple of my other favorite kitchen items in a previous post, but here's a reminder.


My red Le Creuset Dutch Oven is one of the most used items in my well stocked kitchen. I simply adore this pot, and I'm so glad I finally bit the bullet and bought it last year.


I also told you recently about the new toy I had discovered a while back - my Sous Vide. Well, I used it to cook my Christmas Dinner last year and it was so amazingly fabulous, without a doubt the most perfect cooking gadget I own.

I made a roast tenderloin of beef, and I wanted it to be between medium rare and medium, so I set the Sous Vide for 140 degrees.

I cut the large tenderloin in half, seasoned each half well with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Each half went into a gallon size freezer Ziploc bag with a drizzle of good olive oil, some rosemary from my herb garden on the deck, and 5 smashed garlic cloves.

When we were just about ready to sit down, I took out the tenderloin and browned it in a hot pan.

It was done exactly the way I wanted it - no guessing, just perfect! I served the beef with mashed potatoes, peas & pearl onions, a creamy horseradish sauce, and a beef demi glace. And warm, fluffy dinner rolls, of course.

Heaven....pure heaven. The perfect Christmas dinner, without a doubt.

The next night when I was heating up the leftovers, the Ziploc bag went right into the Sous Vide again. That beef was heated up perfectly, still amazingly moist, and still at the perfect temperature - pure genius, this thing, I'm telling you! Worth every cent and then some, without a doubt.

bought mine at Amazon over the summer, using credit card points I had to bring the price down. But it truly is a gadget that's worth the money.

OXO Potato Ricer at Amazon
I also recently told you about my potato ricer which makes the whole process of making mashed potatoes super simple - I never peel potatoes any more, which makes me very, very happy! You can't keep an Irish girl from her potatoes, you know!

Another great gift for a foodie would be a really good pair of pepper and salt mills. 

William Bounds Salt Mill at Amazon
I have had my salt and pepper mills for a long time now, and they get  used daily. The William Bounds mills are wonderful, they are such high quality and grind the pepper and salt to exactly the right consistency for your taste with the adjustable mechanism. They also come with a lifetime warranty and are made in the USA!

One other gadget that I'm really enamored with is my air fryer. I first told you about it in this post, and my love for it has not diminished one bit!

 Avalon Bay Air Fryer at Amazon
Avalon Bay Air Fryer at Amazon
I'm telling you, you do NOT have to give up your 'fried' foods if you are trying to eat healthy! You just need one of these babies to 'fry' without any oil!!  My sweetie craves the buffalo wings I make with the air fryer, it's one of the few meal requests he makes regularly!

Even if you have already finished your Christmas shopping, there are always other gift giving occasions such as Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries.

Keep these gifts in mind for the foodies in your life.

They will repay you with amazing meals, time after time!

34 comments:

  1. My youngest son has a sous vide cooker, uses it all of the time, and loves it. But that just seems kind of out there for me, surprisingly. Potato ricers have intrigued me for sometime, so perhaps I should look into getting one of those. Fun post.

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    1. I'm surprised with all you cook you wouldn't be more interested in the sous vide, Pattie - I use mine at least twice a week! Last night was pork tenderloin, tomorrow will be split chicken breasts! The potato ricer is heaven sent - that got used last night also!

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  2. Great post! I enjoy seeing all your nice cookware and knives and all your fun gadgets!! And yes, your sweetie is absolutely absolutely loving all your good cooking! I would too, it all looks delicious

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    1. We certainly eat quite well around here, that's for sure! I truly enjoy cooking, I am very lucky!

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  3. You have an amazing amount of nice cooking utensils! I wonder if I had all those if I would be a better cook! LOL Naw! I don't think so! Enjoy Christmas! Nancy

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    1. Ha ha, well, not everyone really enjoys cooking, Nancy - I guess it's either in you or it isn't!! Merry Christmas to you also!

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  4. I remember this post from last year and I love it as much this year as I did then. ;) My dream is still to get a Le Creuset large Dutch Oven but after looking at the prices, unless I find it at a thrift store or am gifted one, it is not happening here. This year I am really wanting one of the InstantPot things. I think it would allow me to get rid of some other appliances and free up space in my cabinets.

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    1. That would be an amazing find at a thrift store, Debbie, no doubt! Perhaps an estate sale? Or maybe craig's list? I haven't been tempted by the instant pot yet....I think I'm officially out of room for any more gadgets!

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  5. One of these days I am going to bite the bullet and get a Le Creuset dutch oven too. All cooks have favorite kitchen gadgets don't they? I love my silicone spatulas, three sizes of wisks, ice cream scoops, lots of hand tools for various things. I got rid of my food processor, and hubby gets me a new knife for my set every year for the past few years. He got me a Knife Skills book too.

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    1. I love my silicone spatulas, also - I have quite a few of them, there are always one or two in the dishwasher. Same with the whisks, I'm like you - I have a few different metal ones and then a silicone one as well. Hey, that's nice that your hubby gets you a new knife every year, you must have quite the set by now, Carole!

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  6. Can you believe I've only just heard of potato ricers recently? I believe I need to get one for my kitchen!

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    1. I believe you do need to get one, Karen Ann - you won't regret it! My only advice to you would be to soak it before putting it in the dishwasher!

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  7. You are a lucky woman to have such a sweetie and he is lucky to have you!

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  8. You have so many fun and useful kitchen gadgets. No wonder your recipes always come out so yummy.
    Happy Cooking.
    Kris

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    1. You should see my collection of cookbooks, Kris! I've been collecting them since I had my very first apartment at the age of 19!!

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  9. I have a good friend who has every kitchen gadget known to man. She is a wonderful cook. Thank you for sharing all these gift ideas.

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    1. I bet she has quite the cookbook collection as well, Jilly! Us foodies can't resist a good cookbook with tons of gorgeous food photos!

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  10. Wow, I think I have to have my husband just read this post! I want every single one of these items! Frying with no oil? I'll take that one first!

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    1. I love that air fryer, Ann Marie - I was missing buffalo wings, but didn't want to give in to the deep fried ones - the air fryer makes them every bit as crispy but with zero oil - yes, please!! It's worth it for those alone! The only thing that was a bust was mozzarella sticks - all the mozzarella dripped out and I was left with just an empty shell, ha ha!!

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  11. I want an Air Fryer. If Santa does not bring me one, Im gonna use my Christams money to get myself one!
    Lisa

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    1. I think you will love it, Lisa. I know you try to keep calories down, like me....the air fryer is a dream!

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  12. My husband picked up a Shun knife this past summer. Definitely our favorite. I wish I had your love of cooking...just the two of us now and I'm trying very hard to only cook 50% of the time. Honey is cooperating which I'm very thankful for! It would drive me nuts to be with someone who can't boil an egg! I know a few. On that note better get back in the kitchen. The Christmas baking is something I do enjoy.
    Have a great weekend
    Jeannette

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    1. Oh those Shun knives are amazing, Jeannette! My sweetie has a great set of Wusthof knives at his house and when I'm cooking over there I miss MY knives so much, his are so dull in comparison! They are totally worth the investment, I feel that I will have them forever, no doubt! Same with my Le Creuset dutch oven, that will be with me forever and ever! I have to say my sweetie spoils me - we go out ever Weds and Fri to dinner in a local restaurant, and that's really enough for me - with working full time I don't really want to go out more often than that, I crave quiet nights at home!

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  13. I really appreciate your reviews of your favorite tools, Debbie. These posts stick with me, even if I don't have most of them. Having a credible reviewer is critical when you want to buy an item for yourself or someone who you know can use the item. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Rita!! I always read reviews on everything before I buy it, I agree - reviews are critical in this day and age!!! Hopefully my post will help someone out there who will be buying a gift for a foodie loved one this holiday season!

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  14. Believe it or not, my Christmas list is filled with kitchen gadgets this year. Don't fall over! I think you're inspiration is rubbing off on me. Who knows, next year I may even start a garden! Shhh...don't tell the poor plants! ;-)

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    1. You're scaring me, Kim!!! :) Did you fall and hit your head or something? Perhaps those craft paint fumes are getting to you? :)

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  15. There are certainly many wonderful tools for cooking. I had a laugh looking over this because I was reminded of a Christmas several years ago. My sister and BIL had gifted me with a super sharp set of knives.

    About a month later, I used one of those knives to cut up carpeting in my house to remove it. Yep, some kitchen knife, lol...it worked :)

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    1. Oh how funny, Deb!! Do you still use the knife for cooking? Was it ok after cutting up all the carpet?

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  16. I WANT the air fryer!! I saw one recently that was in combination with a toaster oven, which I do not have either due to lack of counter space.... Great suggestions!

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    1. You would love it, Mountain Sister! I'm telling you, chicken wings are every bit as crispy as if they were deep fried, absolutely amazing! I haven't tried a ton of stuff in it yet...I must get busy with that! I want to make Pork Egg Rolls....yummm...and fried ravioli....and who knows what else! After the holidays I'll have to experiment more!

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  17. I have a question about your new set of Calphalon Ceramic Cookware Set. Can it be cleaned in your dishwasher? I had a similar set and it was not dishwasher safe and I put it in anyway. Ruined the set!!

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    1. Hi Deborah, No it can't go in the dishwasher. I hand wash them using mild scrubbing pads that are safe for non stick cookware. They clean up sooooo well there's really no scrubbing involved, though!!!

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