Cooking/food related holiday "love-it" gifts - I'm making a list for next year

[marilynfl]

I have the triple-tier cooling racks from Wilton and HATE them.

In fact, they're in the yard-sale pile. And they were much more expensive than this (3x) when I bought them from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Guess other folks figured out how lousy they were and so the price has reduced.

The thing just isn't very stable which means you have to be very careful when adding more cookies. The bars between the stacking feet impact where cookies are laying, so you have to constantly shift cookies around. And the vertical lifts collapse at a heart-beat so the whole thing can come crashing down.

Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.

Maria's version looks much more stable.

http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Excelle-Elite-3-Tier-Cooling/dp/B00030CGKY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1262035184&sr=1-3

 

[judy-mass]

Dawn, it makes me smile...

that they were well-received. It's why I keep making stuff!

Happy holidays and thanks for the feedback.

 

[cheezz]

ME THREE!!! Only thing necessary is to adjust the head of your mixer a little higher -

the SideSwipe sits lower for some reason, and you don't want to mash the little blue fins off of it.

 

[colleenmomof2]

Homemade marshmallows and GBH mini's for the hot chocolate mug

I'm thinking of making marshmallows, the mini gingerbread houses and sending a mug with homemade hot chocolate mixes. AND I may include a color copy of the recipe Deb-in-MI suggested from Fine Cooking for the hot chocolate layer cake as a suggestion for how to use the marshmallows. Colleen

http://thebittenword.typepad.com/thebittenword/2009/12/hot-chocolate-layer-cake-with-homemade-marshmallows.html

 

[colleenmomof2]

Thank-you, thank-you for sharing all of your winners!

I'm going shopping! Colleen

 

[colleenmomof2]

I have 3 of those whips - love 'em! I also love their mini serving spatula

for all kinds of tasks. We used our spatulas so often that they needed to have their plastic handles JB Weld(ed) back on! Great suggestions, as always - thank you! Colleen

http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=16763&catId=123&parentCatId=123&outletSubCat=&viewAllOutlet=

 

[amanda_pennsylvania]

Wooden spoons with great handles. Finally got some this Christmas!

 

[angak]

Mimi's Christmas Cookie Book with cookie cutters and aprons and a silpat. big hit

 

[angak]

don't laugh, but I gave some of those Starbucks instant packets as stocking stuffers. for travelers.

 

[colleenmomof2]

I have been making instant iced cappuccino using 8 oz bottles of water

At home, I drink about 2 oz of the refrigerated water, add 1 pack of Tasters Choice "d" or regular, shake well, add cream and shake again. Foamy! I carry the instant and mini bottles in the car and sometimes make myself ice coffee (which is easy in Michigan) on the road - while stopped, of course!

I have to try some VIA! Colleen

 

[barbara-in-va]

Dear SIL made an apron for me. She bought a blank apron at either Michaels or BB+B,

Then made some iron ons with images she found on the internet and included my silly family name. She said it was very easy and inexpensive and it was customized to the recipient. It was very fun and I wore it cooking all weekend!

 

[cheezz]

YES! I have one of those little spatula's too and it's used all the time. I gave the whips

as gifts last year - perfect stocking-stuffers.

 

[cheezz]

I did that, too, one year for a nephew who liked to cook - along with a chef's hat.

 

[mariadnoca]

How lazy am I, that I bought this decorating pen?

Pretty darn lazy apparently.

I went from not wanting to deal with bags & tips I had to wash, to bags I tossed, to folding parchment bags so I could toss the whole thing when writing, to this. Though it doesn't mention icing, I don't see why I couldn't use it for that. At some point when we least expect it I'll remember to use it and will report back if it's a winner.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018Z02T0/ref=oss_T15_product

 

[elaine]

Looks great to me. By the time the writing comes around I am usually too tired to be careful. This..

will cure that. I have put it on my list.

 

[amanda_pennsylvania]

A while back, my MIL gave me a plastic cookbook stand.

Let me see if I can describe this: you put the book in the stand and it's covered by a stiff, clear sheet of plastic to protect the page. I've linked to one below--it's not that one, but pretty much like that one. It's been a really great kitchen tool.

http://www.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=315329&cm_mmc=GoogleShopping-_-6-_-77-_-MP677

 

[evan]

Home made spice rubs. Friends beg me to make them some for Christmas.