What’s Hot in Food and Cooking – Gifts for Your Favorite Foodie
Although not originally a Jewish tradition, it has in many places become a custom to exchange gifts with both family and friends on Chanukah. When selecting a gift for your favorite foodie you may be a bit overwhelmed by all of the options. In the UNORTHOBOXED Test Kitchen we have some favorites and are more than happy to share them with you. Some of these items have been written about in previous issues and there are a few new items that will thrill anyone who likes to cook.
A Pizza Oven
Of course pizza and all things crispy and melty on top can be made in a conventional oven but nothing beats a pizza oven! Here are a few made especially for the home cook.
$200 plus – Any of the many options offered by Ooni, a Scottish-based company that was born from the founders’ search for an affordable portable pizza oven. This is the benchmark in home pizza ovens today.
$100 – $200 – There are a number of home pizza ovens in this price point, although there isn’t one in particular that stands out. The most intriguing ones are the upright wood burning ovens.
Under $100 – In this price range the pizza ovens are outdoor grill toppers that are not able to function on their own as they have no heat source. These look similar to the standalone table top models.
One under $50 – The Betty Crocker electric pizza oven has become extremely popular over the past few years. It is light and portable and can be packed in luggage for travel.
Enameled Cast Iron Cookware
One of the most well-known of this type of cookware is Le Creuset brand from France, manufacturing colorful enameled cookware since 1925. Although pricey the pans last a lifetime and most home cooks would be thrilled to have one of these pots. The Dutch oven is perhaps the best starter piece for a home cook’s collection as it is extremely versatile and can be used for anything from baking bread to making stews and roasting meats.
A Pasta Roller/Machine
This is another gift that no self-proclaimed foodie would be disappointed with. Whether it is a self-contained hand-cranked machine, electric or an attachment to a KitchenAid or other stand mixer, having one’s own pasta machine opens up a whole new level of recipes to the home cook.
A Great New Cookbook
A perfect example would be The Giving Table by Naomi Ross that just happens to be reviewed in this month’s edition. If going for a classic is more your style then there is nothing wrong with giving a cookbook that is tried and true. A cookbook that would be a real heartwarming gift is a collection of personal recipes or family recipes. With all of the online software and self-publishing tools available, creating a family cookbook of heirloom recipes is relatively easy. One that looks super easy and reasonable in its pricing is Create My Cookbook.
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