Friday, December 11, 2020

Top 10 Kitchen Gifts for Christmas

Christmas 2020 is about two weeks away! It sounds unbelievable right?! While some people may have already selected, bought, wrapped, and organized their gifts you might still be searching for the right present. This year has turned a lot of people into involuntary homebodies, and as the old saying goes the kitchen is the ❤️ of the home. That being said kitchen gadgets, gizmos, and goods are more in demand than ever. Read on for some popular kitchen gift ideas! 

1. Dutch Oven. Probably the most cliched kitchen item on the internet with more glamorous photos on social media sites than any influencer. Its reputation is well earned however as dutch ovens can be both beautiful and practical moving from stovetop to oven to table. So many comfort and holiday meals can be made in a dutch oven, from bone broths, to soups and stews, roasts, and so much more. Dutch Ovens come in a variety of colors and sizes, and if you are a true fan you know one isn't enough. Fond family memories of mealtimes can be recalled as a Dutch Oven is gifted and can even be passed down the generations. 

 2. Cocottes. Its as if the Dutch Oven had a cute little baby!  These tiny darlings resemble miniature Dutch Ovens and are primarily used to serve food in.  They are so great for a variety of reasons.  One of the reasons being that it's not your typical way of serving food.  Portions can be evenly distributed among each Cocotte and can be delivered to the table upon a tray, making both delivery and after meal cleanup a breeze.  They can also be great for keeping hot food warm by keeping the lid on the dish.  These little gems make storing leftovers easy as well, whatever food someone doesn't finish at mealtime can simply have the lid placed back over it and then stored in the fridge.  It's also great for outdoor dining as the lid makes keeping pests off food easy, and it's good for those who can't make it to the dinner table and have to eat elsewhere in the home.  A set of 4 Cocottes make an excellent foodie gift.

3.  Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls.  Mixing bowls are a vital part of any kitchen.  Plastic bowls can degrade with time and use, and ceramic bowls are prone to chips, cracks, and breaking.  Stainless steel mixing bowls can endure a long and hardy life in the kitchen.  They can be used for everything from mixing up recipe ingredients, to making salads, and even storing leftovers.  They're also a great space saver as they can be stacked to take up less storage.  

4.  Stand Mixer.  A stand mixer is one of the most eye catching small countertop appliances that can add razzle dazzle to the most dreary kitchen.  The colors, size, and even the name brand of a stand mixer can display culinary personality, not to mention the fact that it's such a great time saving tool.

5.  Utensil Holder.  A utensil holder and sometimes more than one is a necessity of any functioning kitchen.  They can be made up of different materials from cast iron to pottery to metal and can be different patterns, textures, colors, shapes, and sizes.  A clever gifting idea would be to include some basic utensils such as a spatula, whisk, laddle, and tongs within the utensil holder as an additional bonus.

6.  Ice Bucket and Ice Tongs.  Gift giving an ice bucket and tongs isn't as boujie as it sounds.  Although it may evoke images of hotel suites and chilled champagne, ice buckets in a home have many practical applications.  Having a bucket of ice at hand during a family meal gathering eshews the need for repeat trips to the kitchen.  It's also handy when someone is watching the game, or if you're outdoor dining.  Ice bucket tongs themselves can even be conversation pieces as there are so many creative designs out there.

7.  Square End Grain Cutting Board.  A focal point of the kitchen, a cutting board can be a make or break piece of kitchen ware.  This type of cutting board offers up a traditional feel in a kitchen and is great for cutting, chopping, slicing and dicing a variety of food on.

8.  Bread Box.  The Bread Box is one of the staples of a kitchen and can hold anything from homemade to store bought bread, french bread, rolls, and so much more.  Like most pieces in the kitchen it can show a lot about it's owner.

9.  Agate or Geode Coasters.  The internet has gone wild for these beautiful coasters that blend the elements of natures artwork with the practicality of a drink protector.  Coasters aren't just for coffee tables and can be used on dining room tables, end tables, nightstands, countertops, patio tables, and more.  Each coaster has its own personality and no two have the same size, shape, cut, or color.

10.  Gift Card.  What may seem like the easy way out of selecting a particular gift for someone, a gift card given for a shop that stocks household goods can allow the recipient the freedom of personal choice to choose something that fits their aesthetic, as opposed to being gifted with an item that they may not want or need, or that they already have.  Gift cards can also be a great choice when mailing a gift is the only option.





Thursday, December 10, 2020

Thank You...

Thank you all for following my humble blog throughout the years. Its been a while since my last post but I hope you continue to check in every now and then for new posts. I also hope you are staying happy, healthy, and safe, and that brighter days are on your horizon.