Almost nine months ago, now, I made this post about the encroaching fingers of crass capitalism, stretching themselves over this blog, beckoning you (dear readers!) to buy, buy, buy. I added some (tastefully unobtrusive) advertisements over on the sidebar that would encourage you to click through, and support this site by indulging your wicked taste for online shopping. And then I never mentioned it again.
Well, dear readers — welcome back to Mammon!
That’s right. In this season of darkness — of bare trees and short days — a light approaches in the distance. It is the cold fluorescent illumination of big-box stores, the red-and-green flashing light of Christmas, the twinkling candlelight of the Hanukiah. And to that light, we here at Twice Cooked say: ME TOO!
And so, for your benefit and mine, I have compiled a multi-part holiday gift guide — offering some thoughts about what to get for that hard-to-shop-for foodie in your life. Click through on any of these (reasonably-priced and eminently useful) items, and support Twice Cooked, even as you’re doing the shopping that you otherwise so desperately need to do.
And if none of these items catch your fancy, click through to Amazon, anyway.
Because the shopping you do today will help keep Twice Cooked going in the year to come.
Part I: Gadgets for Foodies
- ThermoWorks The Original Cooking Thermometer/Timer
: Far and away my favorite probe thermometer on the market. Durable, reliable, quick-reading, and accurate, it has been rated #1 by Cook’s Illustrated.
- Dexter-Russell 5-Inch Stainless Steel and Walnut Turner
: An excellent little spatula. Not safe for non-stick surfaces, but just right for turning pancakes, or omelets, or fish on cast iron.
- OXO Good Grips Silicone Flexible Pancake Turner
: My other favorite flipper. It’s almost impossible to find a non-stick spatula that’s wide enough, really wide enough, to do pancakes reliably, or to efficiently scoop up roasted vegetables. This is the one for that!
- Cuisipro 8-Inch Silicone Egg Whisk
: Kitchen rule number one in my house is that you can never have too many whisks. One in every drawer, I say. This one is especially well suited to non-stick pans.
- KitchenAid Flex Edge Beater for Tilt-Head Stand Mixers
: I don’t have one of these, but I’ve been eyeing it for quite some time. A scraper and beater, all in one, it all but solves the problem of unincorporated ingredients in your batters and doughs. Highly recommended!
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer Cover
: Much as I use it, my stand mixer ends up covered in dust, and flour, and kitchen muck frustratingly quickly. Doesn’t yours? Solve this problem the simple way, with an attractive, unobtrusive slip-on cover.
- Cuisinart GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly 10-Inch Open Skillet
: Sometimes I need a non-stick pan. But never do I want toxic Teflon in my food. This pan uses a ceramic coating to easily release sticky foods, while decidedly not killing your pet birds and small children. I call that a win!
- Lodge Seasoned Carbon Steel Skillet
: I bought my carbon steel pan for omelets. It turns out, though, that I use it for everything, from breakfast potatoes, to fish, to getting a good sear on a piece of meat. Properly seasoned, carbon steel is almost as non-stick as non-stick. And not only is it far more attractive, it’s more broadly useful in the kitchen, too.
- Lodge Logic Pre-Seasoned Skillet
: My single favorite kitchen tool. It’s sturdy, it’s cheap, and well cared-for, it will last for generations. Highly recommended!
- USA Pans 13 x 18 Inch Aluminized Steel Jellyroll Pan
: The best jellyroll pan I have ever used. Coated in silicone, it’s safe, durable, and non-stick. It is corrugated for even cooking. And it’s super easy to clean up, even when covered in the most baked-on of messes. Again: highly recommended!