Last Minute Kitchen Gifts

 Christmas is a week away and it's crunch time. Think anything kitchen , from cookbooks to gadgets. These are great presents that will keep on giving. They can be fun. They can be handy. They can be perfect.

A cookbook is always the most interesting gift to open.It not only gives recipes but the stories behind them as well as great tips. International cuisine ones are  also  travelogues with amazing pictures of the food, country and people. The New York Times Food section had an extensive list of them this past Wednesday.There are fourteen choices, from Mina Stone's Greek influenced Lemon,Love and Olive Oil  (Harper Collins) to Michael Twitty's  Rice  A Savor The South Cookbook 0 Noirth Carolina Press). There are cookbooks that revolve around baking like Cookies: The New Classics A Baking Book (Clarkson Potter) by Jesse Szewcyck and  Sheet Cake Easy One Pan Recipes For Every Day and Every Occasion  (Clarkson Potter) by Abigal Johnson Didge. There are cookbooks about Middle eastern sweets and Korean vegetarianism too,. If you do buy a cookbook, get extra little gifts that tie into the book. This can be a sushi mat or a pretty set of measuring cups and spoons. You could even arrange a fun basket full of the ingredients too.

Anyone loves a gadget. They're so much fun to receive and try out,An air fryer is a definite must give for any home chef. They can cook up anything from chicken nuggets to even cinnamon rolls. They will definitely be much appreciated and will be used for months to come. Another fun and necessary gift is an immersion blender. These can easily whip up smoothies but they're also great for creaming and blending soups and sauces. They're also very easy to handle as well as to clean. Bakers will appreciate fun baking gifts like cookie presses. A plus is that they're easily attainable. Everyone from Target to Walmart has them.Throw in a variety pack of sprinkles for decorating. For those non-bakers who still want a holiday treat think about giving a gingerbread kit. These are fun and also perfect for the budget. Five Below is selling them for around five dollars. Target and Walgreens also have them for as low as $2.99. There are also have sleds and trains too that already come with icing and candies to decorate.

Yes, Christmas is coming. There's no need to go frantic over what to give any home chef or baker. The list is endless , from cookbooks and gadgets to gingerbread house kits. Have fun picking out the right gift.

All That New Stuff

 Many home chefs around the globe probably received a lot of fun kitchen stuff yesterday. Yes, you're excited but take it slow. There's a lot to take in and and much as you want to make everything in that accompanying recipe book, don't . Take it easy. Start small.

One of the most popular kitchen items gives is the air fryer. It is a must have in any home, alleviating all the trouble of using your conventional oven. As much as you want try to cook everything in it , go easy these first couple of uses. Some home chefs may become frustrated trying to adjust a food's cooking time and temperature. The best bet is if the instructions say "Cook at 450 degrees" set the air fryer at 400 degrees F. It's basically  a convection oven so the food will be crisp and well cooked  thanks to the hot air circulating around it. Another trick is taking the cooking time and halving it. If the package says cook for fifteen minutes ,halve that to seven or eight minutes. Check the food, turning it over so its' completely browned and then cook for  a lesser time, like three or four minutes at a lesser temperature. Think 350 to 370 degrees F. Another Christmas gift is the Instapot. Many home chefs are probably beyond thrilled at this new "toy". Keep in mind that your dishes will not be instant. (that's what microwaves are for). They will take some time to cook. An important must not is don't place it on your stove top. It's for counter use only!! Please keep it away from external heat sources. Remember to also include the sealing ring otherwise you will have a ruined meal. It is key in pressure cooking.

Many bakers love what they've received for Christmas. I'm sure many have unwrapped cookie presses. These produce beautiful professional looking cookies, worthy of any bakery. However it takes a lot of practice and the right dough. You have to use the spritz dough, a mix of sugar, egg  butter and flour and then roll it into logs. The logs are then chilled in the fridge and inserted into the gun or tube of the press. That's the easy part. it takes practice and patience, trite as that sounds.If the dough is too warm, it sticks to the tube and also produces blobs  - not defined shapes as its' extruded through the tube. Try it out with one or two shapes is another good idea. The dough wields two or three big batches which can also be tiring to make. Another gift that many bakers probably have received is a cake decorating kit. There are probably visions of creating fancily frosted cakes and cupcakes. Again, go easy with this. Those rosettes aren't always simple to make. Even something as basic as leaves can be exasperating especially on the first few tries. Start with small fleurettes that can be piped on the edge of the cake. As for cupcakes, don't go fancy. Just do  squiggle and then work your way up to more elaborate flowers and shapes.

Those kitchen Christmas gifts are beckoning their new owners. Go easy. Yes, be enthusiastic, but proceed with care. Learn first and get used to this fun new present.

Your Holiday Baking Goals

Now that it's December , it's time to start thinking about goals - namely your holiday baking ones. What do you want to achieve. The perfect array of cookies? Delicious pies and cakes? Traditional fruitcakes or airy mousses? It's all up to you.

First of all, any goal requires a plan. With baking it's simple. Make sure you have enough flour and sugar along with mixes, milk , eggs and butter. Also make sure your cookie cutters  and cake pans are up to par. If not go out and get yourself some new ones. Make sure you have extras such as a sieve or strainer for sifting confectioners sugar as well as for dusting onto baked goods. A pastry brush comes in handy , especially for brushing breads and rolls with melted butter or beaten egg.Also  have or get a ruler. This is important when you're making the pieces for gingerbread houses and you have to have exact measurements. I can't stress how crucial it is to have a roll or two of parchment paper. This is  a must if you/re baking certain cookies and definitely meringues. Holiday cupcake papers should also be part of your holiday baking plan. You know you're going to bake at least two dozen whether for a family or school party. Now is also the perfect time to test out your cookie press, making sure that one, the barrel isn't cracked and two, that the press still works. Make sure you have the holiday imprint discs too for those candy canes, angels, wreaths and trees. This is the time to assess baking extras and frills. Do you have to go out and get candy decorations? White and dark chocolate for dipping cookies into and for drizzling onto  surfaces? Do you have any sanding sugar left over from last year - and it's good to use for three to five years.

Now that you have your arsenal loaded, the next question is what to bake. I've been asked to bake  whole gingerbread families  including their dogs. Of course these families require housing. I know from my Mom baking  them, gingerbread houses require a certain level of skill, to bake, assemble and decorate. I know I can't handle the first. It would just be non-stop baking, while putting everything else on hold. I plan on just buying the kits (I have about three to four houses to "build" and frost). Luckily Target has Wilton's Ready To Decorate gingerbread houses that are not also already baked but assembled. All you have to do is just put a few icing swirls here and there, outline the windows and doors, and ice the roof. The kit also has extra silver and gold candy discs to create a front path.My one goal is a simple and elegant one : a two layer chocolate cake with a peppermint buttercream icing, dusted with silver sanding sugar. The only fanciness will be how the icing will be piped. I'll be looking through Carey Madden's great book Buttercream Basics : Learn The Art of Buttercream Decorating for inspiration for the cake's sides. I've also been asked to make scratch cookies and I'm thinking peanut butter blossoms and cookie press cookies in pink and green.

This is the time to think about your holiday baking goals. What do you want to achieve this season? Some elaborate masterpiece or a family classic? It's all up to you and what you can handle.

Your Fall Kitchen Arsenal

Now that we're swinging into the holiday cooking season, it pays to reassess your kitchen arsenal. Take stock of what you have and what you may need. Having a kitchen that's ready for all that cooking and baking is a plus. It makes for easy, headache free experiences , without any unnecessary drama.

The first and most important task is assessing your bigger appliances. Is the stove working properly? What about the broiler? If you feel your oven isn't working to full capacity, either get it checked out or replace it. You don't want it conking out on a heavy cooking day like Thanksgiving. The same goes for the microwave and the toaster oven. If they're acting wonky, then it's time to replace them. Another must is checking out the appliances that you only bring out for Thanksgiving and Christmas. How is the electric carver working? Again replace it if there's a problem or it's not working right. As for the carving knives, make sure they've been sharpened ahead of the holidays. You can take them to any knife sharpener or buy your own whetstone. Amazon has a wide variety of the last  and they 're all reasonably priced  from $12 .00 for a simple brick like whetstone to a more elaborate one for $34.00. Keep in mind that you can use these all year round and will also come in handy when you have to use your knives on barbecued roasts. Also check your turkey basters. You may need to get a new one or you may just need to wash it after being dormant for almost a year. Again, every grocery store and big box store like Target and Wal-mart sell themThey're an easy find.

With holidays come baking. Since Thanksgiving is a big pie day, reassess your pie plates.Can they hold up for another season. Do you feel like you need pie weights? You can buy these but keep in mind that you can sub in everything from beans to even a metal chain. Pie weights are used for blind baking - that is baking the crust and not the filling. This is good for cream pies more. Also if you're thinking about making sweet potato or apple pies, make sure you have good paring knives to get rid of the skin. Some home chefs like to take this month to test bake Christmas cookies.  If that's the case, then  make sure you'll have a roll or two of parchment paper and baking sheets for cookies. How are your cookie cutters? Plastic ones can crack while metal ones can rust. Replace them if yours are not in the best shape.  How is your cookie press? Again, get a new one if the barrel or nozzle are cracked.  Also if you want to change up the designs , now is the time to get the Christmas themed ones. Try to buy the ones from the company that made your press. The discs will be easier to fit into then gun then. Candy makers should also look over their molds. Are the molds OK and usable? Or are they cracked and misshapened thanks to hot sugar and chocolate being poured into them. If so, then head to your craft store for new ones.

Holiday time is stress time. It can be even worse when your kitchen arsenal isn't up to par. Make sure everything is working and up to par before the big days arrive. You'll feel better along with creating better meals and treats.

Doodads And Gadgets

Every kitchen should have an array of gadgets and appliances that will help to facilitate cooking and baking. However should a home chef have every thingamabob available. What should your kitchen have? What's considered a frill or a necessity.

Of course every home should have mid size appliances. Microwaves and toasters are a must. Where would we be without them. The first helps in reheating leftovers and cooking quick sides. As for the toaster, many go for a toaster oven because it does more than the average toaster. It can bake frozen pizza and cinnamon buns along with giving leftovers a nice , crispy surface. A toaster is  a  good choice if you strapped for kitchen space.it's smaller and compact and fits perfectly on a counter or table.  You should have one even if you don't eat toast on a regular basis.Toasted bread adds  something to egg or tuna salad sandwiches and BLTs. Should you add an air fryer to your arsenal?I'd say yes, simply because it's a best alternative to an oven. It cooks everything from fries to meat cuts evenly and some larger models allow you to bake in them. There's a timer which is always a plus. Another must have gadget or appliance (depending on how you look at it) is the crockpot or Instapot. These are great stand ins for your cooktop and oven. A crockpot allows you to make sauce or chili, without having to slave over a hot stove. Also the slow cooking adds more complexity and layers to simple recipes.

What about those other gadgets and doodads? You know the ones. There in those ads between games.  One company, Esfranki, has a whole range of fun gadgets and doodads for every aspect of your life.I've bought a couple of their products such as their reusable toaster bags which I can use to make no mess grilled cheese. and their silicon leak proof bags for leftovers.. I have yet to use them but will - eventually.Their strawberry huller looks interesting and it makes it easier to get rid of the stems. Yet a, paring knife can also do the job.Their stainless steel watermelon cutter also could be  useful, although a good all purpose knife can do the trick. I often think I should buy a cookie dough scooper.It would make it easier to drop dough on the cookie sheet .Using a regular spoon can get sticky and messy, making for unevenly sized cookies. However I found that my family's ice cream scoop, sixty years old and thick like a hammer works perfectly if it's sprayed with a cooking spray.As for my cookie press, it needs a bit of finesse to get perfect cookies. Will I use it again after all the angst it caused?Or will I just make scoop cookies?I'll try it again, maybe for a get together or possibly Easter.

A kitchen doesn't need so many gadgets and doodads.You can make do with what you already have. If it does the trick keep it. Yet it's no sin to expand. If you see an interesting doodad, buy it.