christmas elves

Confession time: I love holiday gift guides. It’s total window shopping, full of both intrigue and hilarity. Some of the things that exist amaze me.

So I made my own. It has things I have, things I would like to have, and things that I would consider buying for others. Or, let’s be honest, myself. Let’s begin, shall we?

For the cook in your life

• A Microplane zester (thanks, Kimberly, love mine!): options include a spice grater, box grater, zester, and coarse grater, among others.
• Companion gift for the above? Microplane cut-resistant gloves to prevent grating your hands. Also useful for mandolines!
• Salt cellars are great for seasoning while cooking – just grab a pinch when you need it. Here is one from Pottery Barn, and this pear-shaped cellar is so pretty! And check out this cute little salt pig from Crate&Barrel — only $5!
• Fancy spices from Penzey’s are a fun way to give cooks new blends or high-quality treats they might not think to buy themselves. Check out their gift boxes — I’ve received two of these as gifts and loooooooved them.
• To go with those spices, you might as well add a mortar and pestle (totally on my wish list), like this blue one from Le Creuset.
• Nesting bowls and small prep bowls help with mise en place.
• And you can never have too many wooden spoons.

For the baker in your life

• Sorry baker dudes. You’re missing out on all the cute and classy and bright aprons for baker ladies. Bummer.
• One of my favorite gifts ever was when my mother-in-law gave me an extra bowl for my KitchenAid stand mixer. It’s awesome. Just make sure you get the right size!
• After they mix up cookies in that bowl, they’ll want to bake them on non-stick silicone baking mats. I want some! Easy clean up means more time to bake.
• Splurge on something useful-but-still-decorative and get someone pretty bundt pan. Or a castle-shaped one. Y’know.
• Their fancy cake is going to need a home. How about a classic white cake stand, or this cute ruffly one?
• Now that ruffly cake stand needs a ruffly pie dish. I’m all about themes.
• Oh, and you can never have too many tea towels.

For your favorite blogger

• Comfy knit lounge pants and warm slippers for toasty blogging.
• An extra memory card for all those food photos.
• Books published by other bloggers so we can dream about publishing our own.
• All that typing and dish-washing equals dry hands, so this Burt’s Bees Hand Repair Kit would be awesome. I love the lemon cuticle creme, it smells delish.
• Or how about a restaurant gift certificate for inspiration and a day off from cooking?
• And do you like blogs and tea or blogs and coffee?
• Also, see all the items in the first two lists. XOXO.

Whew!

I may throw up a few more ideas or even more categories later this weekend, but I’m cold and have cookie dough in the fridge that needs to be rolled and baked for my husband’s lunch tomorrow (I promised). My plan was to have this up earlier, but it takes a lot of searching and typing. At least I didn’t have to edit photos since that seems to take me ages lately. I’ll try harder.

Ok, cookie time! I’m taking my camera with me.