Holiday Shopping Guide- 10 Kitchen must-haves!

Whenever December rolls around I blank on what I want to give and receive as gifts. I hope some of these food related ideas will help you with your list! Nothing makes cooking more enjoyable than a well stocked kitchen (well maybe a glass of wine!).

These are some of my favorite things. However unlike Oprah, will not be giving you these things for free. Sorry. You can find out where to find these items by clicking on the word in green. Happy shopping!

Knives are so important. If you have good knives you won’t mind chopping one bit. If they are cheap and dull, you will hate cooking. We got these Henckels Knives for our wedding and I think I’ve sharpened them a couple times over the last 6+ years. They are magical. Macys also has them on sale right now. You don’t have to buy them in the block if you are looking to collect slowly.

Hello lovely. My favorite pot in the world by Le Crueset. These cost a pretty penny, but they are truly wonderful. I can’t wait to be reunited with mine (we left it behind in storage). They come in all different sizes and beautiful colors. If you can’t fathom spending that much on one pot, remember you will have it FOREVER and will be able to pass it down to your kids and grandkids someday…..and if you still can’t imagine spending that much, find someone (preferably a friend) who works at Williams Sonoma and use their discount. Not saying that is what I did, but it might be what I did.

A microplane is a must for zesting and grating garlic into your dressing. There is a bigger version I have too that I use for cheese and zesting bigger items like oranges, but you really just need one. Pick your size.

I use this Kitchen Aid mini food processor all the time for my pesto and salsas. You have to own this. It is so affordable and convenient. Who wants to wash the giant food processor when you’ve just made a small batch of something? I think the best place to get this is Bed, Bath and Beyond where you can use those 20% off coupons they always send in the mail. I noticed it comes in a 4 cup (I think mine is the 3) which I think would be a nice upgrade for $10 more. This one runs $39.99 without the coupon.

Holiday plate chargers. I love these and own at least 20 (back in storage). I have all colors and I use them for entertaining year round. The silver and gold go well any time of year. I use the red for Valentine’s, Christmas and other special occasions. They really make the dining table look festive and they are so cheap! I recently picked up some more in silver for $5 (4 in a pack) at Walmart. Bed Bath and Beyond carries a 6 pack for $9.99.

Perfect stocking stuffer for the man or woman in your life. I bought this salt and pepper holder last year for me and my Dad. I adore it. I always keep sea salt and coarse black pepper in there and makes my daily cooking a little bit easier (two less things I have to pull out of the cabinet!). Plus it’s perfect for adding that “pinch of salt and pepper”. Can’t beat a nice gift like this for $10.00!

First off, let me say that I could quite possibly put everything at Crate and Barrel on this list. I’m not though. I love these glass dishes for serving and storing…..then you don’t have to transfer from the plastic tupperware to another bowl if you are heating up left-overs. This set of 4 is $19.95.

I think everyone needs a fruit bowl that sits out on the counter. I couldn’t fit all my produce in the fridge even if I wanted too! I wouldn’t put grapes in it though. That would be weird. I love this footed base which allows it to take up less space on your counter….and I love white dishes! This one (and a few others like it) can be found at Pottery Barn.

Everyone needs the cooking bible on your kitchen shelf. I got mine for my wedding and don’t think I’ve cooked a single recipe from it, but has provided me with great knowledge. I love this review that I found on amazon- I think she sums it up perfectly: “This is not a luxury item, it is a necessity for the beginning or intermediate-skill cook. It prevents panic when faced with cooking dilemnas, and provides far more than a collection of recipes. The owner will learn how much to buy for a given number of guests, which cuts of meat to buy to make what you desire, what they are called and where they come from, make sense out of the reason for some ingredients and provide the understanding that baking anything is more of a formula than a recipe. I could not have survived in the kitchen for 50 years without it beside me; it’s a “Mom” without criticism”.

and lastly, when you cook, you have a mess. I love dishclothes to clean up so I don’t waste paper towels. These William Sonoma dishclothes and matching towels are my favorite.