Thanksgiving is a day devoted to spending time with family and friends. The day after Thanksgiving is devoted to buying gifts for family and friends. If you're wondering what to get the wine lover or budding chef in your life, have no fear. Here is a list of cookbooks and wine gadgets that every gourmand will love.
Cooking for Geeks - Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food by Jeff Potter ($35) - published by O'Reilly - This is the perfect holiday gift for the 20-something math and science geek in your life who might be a little intimidated in the kitchen since it demystifies the art of cooking by explaining it in science terms, much like a lab experiment. It has charts, graphs and even a flow chart (how to cook pizza) to translate cooking theories into scientific notation. Recipes are used to enforce the cooking concepts and cooking oriented interviews are included with science minded individuals, such as Adam Savage from Mythbusters. Don't worry -- this book expects you to think outside the box and be creative as well, and no special equipment is required. No rolling pin? Substitute a wine bottle.
The Cookie Party Cookbook by Robin L. Olson ($19) - I don't know about you but I love a good cookie. It is my definition of a perfect treat -- small in size, big in flavor, has texture and satisfies the sweet tooth craving with the added bonus of serving a few and freezing the remainder for later snacking. Baking cookies as gifts for friends, neighbors, and office parties is a holiday tradition. Unfortunately, it is also a time consuming labor of love. Robin Olson's fun solution is a Cookie Exchange party, which she has been doing for years. Everything you need to know to host your own -- or to be a responsible participant in one -- is explained in this book along with the classic, international, and bars and tartlets recipes that are sure to be your new favorites. Mine? Rolo cookies, Russian torte, and lemon bars.
Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich ($26) - What's not to love about that title? OMG! Cookies are my weakness and this cookbook will keep me baking throughout the winter months. There are a number of recipes that are wheat-free or dairy-free. Many recipes have suggested 'upgrades' -- variations to enhance the end product such as a dusting of freshly ground nutmeg.
Quinoa 365 by sisters Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming ($30) - Are you looking to make a healthful dietary change next year? Though not technically a grain -- it is actually related to spinach and beets -- quinoa can substitute for nearly any grain in cooking. It is rich in protein, iron, and various minerals and is also an excellent source of dietary fiber. I tried a sampling of the recipes from this book that were all well received by my picky family. Additionally, I have been covertly sneaking the super-healthy quinoa flour into our meals and they haven't even noticed.
The Dirty Life On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball ($25) - Not everyone has the strength to throw in the towel on their old Sex and the City lifestyle and start anew ala Green Acres, but that is exactly what Kristin Kimball did. Out with the designer duds and in with the jeans and back breaking labor. We all have days, now and then, when we fantasize about simplifying our life and getting back to nature. Kristin shows us that this transition is not as simple as it seems. It takes creativity, strength and a lot of patience. A vicarious way to get back to nature.
A number of wine gadgets by Trudeau - I don't know about you but I frequently have a difficult time unscrewing the screw cap from wine bottles. Trudeau makes a handy gadget called simply Wine Bottle Screw Cap Remover ($10). It does just that, yet allows one the feeling of ceremony of 'opening' a bottle ... minus the 'pop'. It'll come in handy for folks who have difficulty gripping due to arthritis, etc.
Did you forget to open the bottle to breathe? Try their Aerating Pourer ($25). It introduces air to the wine as you pour making decanting by the glass simple. Just insert the aerator into the bottle and pour. When finished, rinse with hot water. The spill collar removes easily for cleaning. Trulever Corkscrew and foil cutter ($60) - It is sleek in design and lightweight with a smooth gliding action upon use. The foil cutter fits a wide range of bottle sizes.
In my experience, wine buckets frequently leave condensation drips, rings, or puddles when used depending upon ambient room temperature. The Wine Chiller ($35) has a modern, contemporary design and reusable gel packs that are placed inside the container to avoid condensation.