Serious Eats Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers, $30 and Under
We kick-off our annual Serious Eats Crazy Good Gift Guide run up to the holidays with our Stocking Stuffers series. Today, the $30 and Under edition.
Monogrammed Silicone Spatulas: A cook can never have too many silicone spatulas, and these monogrammed sets will quickly stand out from the rest. Each set includes three sizes and can be emblazoned with 24 characters. $27.50 for a set of three personalized silicone spatulas, from Williams-Sonoma.
Mechanical Pastry Bag and Cookie Press: If there is a cake decorator or macaron maker on your list, save them the mess, expense, and, at times, frustration of ordinary pastry bags. This metal canister comes with a variety of tips, and pumps the frosting or batter to the tip without falling over or spilling out. $24.95, from Amazon.com.
Chestnutter: If the earthy smell of chestnuts roasted on an open fire evokes hearth happiness in frigid temperatures, take the pain out of making them at home with this chestnutter, which slits them before boiling and roasting without any of the hassle. Possibly invented by squirrels, or would at least be much appreciated by one should one happen to be on your holiday list. $25.45, from Amazon.com.
Cut Resistant Kitchen Glove: If you can't bear to watch your loved one whiz her lovely finger across a mandonline or microplane, rip a page from the Crusades and do them and yourself a favor by armoring her with this glove that guards against loss of body or blood. $24.95, from Amazon.com.
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4 Comments:
Sigh. I was fussy at the under 10 dollar items, but good with the under 20.
Monogrammed spatulas? If they are in my kitchen they are mine...no names required...or use a sharpie on a better brand.
A cookie press can be fun if you are making cookies....and if they are big enough I know some pastry folk will use them for cakes (I never do)...but easier to clean?? Please. All those bits to scrape dough out of, and parts to put together, vs. a bag with tip and coupler?
The chestnutter is another pricey one-use item, and for only a few times a year. It takes like .05 seconds to score a chestnut. If it did other things...maybe.
I actually know some folks who could use that anti-cut glove.....but they would never admit it! :D
sadiepix at 5:57PM on 12/03/08
The chestnut scorer has terrible reviews at amazon:
zamboni at 6:07PM on 12/03/08
The monograms don't have to be someone's name. Could be a nice hello or love reminder or something. Seems cute to me.
oneperfectegg at 6:41PM on 12/03/08
A kitchen store near me is giving away personalized spatulas (with the store's name) with purchase at an upcoming sale day. They're quite nice, and the name is a nice reminder of the store, without it being too tacky. Free is a good price, too.
I don't think I'd buy personalized spatulas for myself, but if someone gave me these as a gift, I would think it was a pretty cool thing to do, and I'd think of that person when I used the spatulas.
dbcurrie at 8:55PM on 12/03/08