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Seriously Simple: Holiday gifts for food lovers and cooks on your list

By Diane Rossen Worthington, Tribune Content Agency on

It's that time of year again. Do you know what to get for the food lover or cook on your holiday gift list? I have been compiling ideas all year long to help you streamline the shopping process. You'll find sweets, bubble bath and kitchen items for the amateur cook as well as the pro, not to mention the sugar lover on your list.

Some tasty and pampering sweets...

--The Candy Club s the perfect gift that keeps on giving. Each month a new box, beautifully designed and filled with sugary treasures, will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth. Each shipment is carefully curated from a selection of popular, premium candy from timeless classics to contemporary favorites. Each variety is packed in a pretty container. There are a number of subscriptions available. For more information contact candyclub.com.

--Williams-Sonoma Hot Chocolate Sampler includes a set of three delicious flavors: classic dark chocolate; peppermint bark with white and bittersweet chocolate; and salted caramel. All are made with Guittard couverture chocolate, finely grated into fluffy shavings that melt with hot milk. If you want to gild the lily, add a package of Williams-Sonoma mini marshmallows. For more information go to Williams-sonoma.com

--Philip B has exclusive hair products that are featured on "Project Runway." I have had the pleasure of knowing him for many years. His hair products are truly amazing and even include white truffle oil. But his Philip B Chocolate Milk Body Wash and Bubble Bath is truly delectable. Give this to the chocolate lover on your list who would appreciate an extra splash of chocolate milk in their bath or shower. It's hard to argue with a formula rich in oat proteins, cocoa butter, aloe and wheat amino acids. You can find this on Amazon.com.

Cooking gear...

--Le Creuset Signature Cast-Iron Round Braiser, 3 or 5 quart, comes in blazingly beautiful colors. This is one of my essential pans, a multitasker for sauteing, egg making, and braising meats, fish, poultry or vegetables. For a small group, go for the 3 quart. I also love that these enamel pans can go safely from the top of the range into a 500 F oven. I recommend this for a serious cook. You can find these on sale at Williams-Sonoma and also at Amazon.com.

 

--Elizabeth Karmel, executive chef at Hill Country Barbecue in New York City, has produced a line of Everyday Essentials. I am hooked on the Anything Pan, a 9x13-inch black porcelain casserole dish. It is great for baking desserts and also for cooking pasta casseroles. The cook can freeze the finished dishes right in the pan. The Everyday Essentials line also has a fabulous pie plate worth considering for the baker. Find it online at the BBQ Pro Shop.

--The SteakChamp Thermometer, a first-of-its-kind product, is engineered to ensure the perfect steak every time. It's perfect for the steak lover on your list, and simple to use. The cook just inserts the 3 1/2-inch device into the side of a steak, grills it until the red LED light double flashes, and then removes it from the grill. When the flashing light stops the steak is the perfect temperature to eat. The SteakChamp is available in four different model options: Rare, Medium Rare, Medium, and Medium Well. Find it at Amazon.com or Sur La Table.com.

--The Waring Popcorn Maker comes in two models. The deluxe one just has a popcorn maker. The larger one has the popcorn maker and a side warmer for butter or other toppings. Either one would make a perfect gift for the movie lover or popcorn enthusiast. Key features of both models include a halogen heater with a built-in stirrer system that reduces the amount of oil needed to pop, as well as large vents for steam release to maintain freshness. I love the durable plastic lid that doubles as a serving bowl when popping is complete. Waring Deluxe Popcorn Maker is available at Amazon.com. Waring Popcorn Maker with Melting Pot is only available at Williams-Sonoma until January 1, 2015. After that you can find it on Amazon.

--Cuisinart Cook Central MSC-800 is a multi-cooker that does it all. This creative multi-cooker browns the ingredients right in the pot so you only use one pan. This versatile tool also allows for slow cooking, roasting, browning or steaming with a touch of a button. It also has a 7-quart capacity for large quantity stew or soup recipes. This is the perfect gift for the working family that wants a home-cooked meal at the end of the day. Order this from Chefscatalog.com.

(Diane Rossen Worthington is an authority on new American cooking. She is the author of 18 cookbooks, including "Seriously Simple Parties," and a James Beard Award-winning radio show host. You can contact her at www.seriouslysimple.com.)


 

 

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