Best Gift Idea for Foodies and Cooks

Looking for the best gift ideas for the foodies and cooks in your life?! On the following pages, you'll find the best kitchen gadgets, gift baskets, food gifts, small appliances, dishes, and more. We're always on the lookout for gift ideas that'll blow your foodies and cooks away!

Brilliant Organizer for Cans and Other Pantry Items… Even Dishes

December 5, 2022 By Joi Sigers

During the early weeks of the Pandemic (long before the lockdowns or even face masks), I fell in love with something I’ve never done before – borderline hoarding! Not hoarding to the point of interfering with others being able to get things they needed as well, mind you, but I began stocking up for things my family and I would need for weeks at a time.

Cats included, of course!

I figured that the less I got out, the less my chances were of contacting a respiratory disease neither my asthma or I were interested in acquiring. I began using my favorite grocery store’s “click-list” (grocery pickup) and limited running into a store as much as possible.

My youngest daughter and I organized a spare room into a big walk-in pantry of sorts – not only did I want to have everything our household would need but also plenty for my other family members.

Somewhere along the way, this became such a wonderfully agreeable practice and method that I decided I’d never abandon it, even after the pandemic was in the rear view mirror. Why? Not only is it convenient, cutting back on running errands is something I (as a self-embraced homebody) very much enjoy.

It’s also handy if, say, last minute I want to change my dinner strategy – I have plenty of things on hand to work with.

Also… let’s fact it… we’re right smack in the middle of cold and flu season right now and I don’t want to be out and about any more than necessary – to say nothing of when it snows!

If you also like to stock up on pantry items, this is an organizer you may be as interested in as I am – the Adjustable Pantry and Shelf Organizer (Amazon link). While cans can certainly be stacked in front of one another, lifting and peeking to see what you’re working with gets tiresome – trust me, more than once I’ve wished for a better, easier way than playing peek-a-boo with soup cans.

This versatile shelf organizer is very affordable and would be ideal for anyone, whether they love to stock up like me or fly by the seat of their apron (not knocking it, I did it for years!).

See the Adjustable Pantry and Shelf Organizer (Amazon link) for a closer look and more information (the uses they find for this is mind-blowing and I think I want one for the laundry room and bathroom as well!).

Disposable Air Fryer Liners: Perfect for Fast Cleanups!

December 2, 2022 By Joi Sigers

One of my newest obsessions in the kitchen is our air fryer (Amazon link). For some reason, I never really thought I’d use one but, here I am, using it almost daily! It’s MUCH healthier to use than frying foods and, quite frankly, most things get so much crispier in the air fryer.. WITHOUT any greasy feel or taste.

I even use our air fryer for frozen fries and tater tots, simply put in frozen and they’re ready a lot sooner than they are in an oven – to tell the truth, they’re ready to eat in the time it takes some ovens to preheat! What’s more, they’re much better in the air fryer – especially tater tots… much crispier.

I have always used parchment paper to line the air fryer basket, but cutting and fitting is a pain in the backside… even when you buy the pre-cut parchment sheets (which I love for baking), they have to be awkwardly folded to fit the basket.

I just saw a couple of different disposable air fryer liners on Amazon and I think you’ll be as intrigued by them as I am.

The one shown on the right is the GOAUS Air Fryer 100 Pcs Round Paper Liners (Amazon link).

Product Description from Amazon:

Make clean up a breeze: Tired of cleanup after baking and roasting? It’s never too late to settle a GOAUS disposable paper liner inside your air fryer basket. Once you’re done cooking simply toss the liner away, and pop in another liner and continue cooking without cleanup between different foods.
Eco-friendly and Oven Safe: Food-grade premium material and excellent craftsmanship by GOAUS make paper liners waterproof and greaseproof and catch crumbs and grease. With heat resistance up to 428℉, no effect on food tastes itself and no sticky mess. Things you cooked still turn out crispy!
For 5 to 8 Qt Round Baskets: Find out correct capacity of air fryer. GOAUS parchment paper of 7.9-inch bottom diameter is intended for round air fryers whose basket capacity is between 5 and 8 quarts. Moreover, the disposable paper even fits microwaves, ovens, steamer, cookers, roasters, etc.
Avoid Burning: Read the instructions first before use. Do not place cooking paper without food during preheating. Hot air blowing the lightweight paper onto the heating duct will easily cause the paper to burn. Thus, place paper on bottom and weigh down with enough food.
Easy to Use&Tips: GOAUS disposable liners have made life so much simpler as they’re precut and “with sides” design. No mess, no fuss with these liners whether you’re baking, roasting or frying. In a case where you’re cooking something far messy and greasy, doubling the liner would be advised. Definitely worth the minimal cost for such a time saver!

Amazon also has the beauties shown on the left, the Palksky 100Pcs Air Fryer Baking Paper Square Liners (Amazon link).

Like the GOAUS liners pictured above, these come in a variety of sizes. Simply measure your air fryer’s basket and order accordingly!

Naturally, there are a lot of other liners available, these are simply the two that caught my eye. Click through either link or image for more information about these particular liners or to search for others. These are wonderful for everyone, but for those of us who have to eat gluten-free, they can cut down on your chances of getting cross-contaminated.

If you’re giving an air fryer to someone as a gift, these would be an excellent, very thoughtful addition!

Torani Strawberry Flavored Syrup Makes VERY Memorable Tea, Matcha, Milkshakes, Smoothies…

November 2, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Torani Strawberry Flavored Syrup (Amazon link)

If you have tea lovers on your shopping list, a fun, unexpected gift idea is flavored syrup. Torani makes about a gazillion flavors and each is a knockout. Strawberry is a personal obsession, so it’s one of my favorite flavored syrups.

Adding a little Torani Strawberry Flavored Syrup to tea or matcha (whether you’re drinking your tea hot or iced) gives your drink a wonderful flavor, but the possibilities don’t stop there. You could also add a little unexpected zip and flavor to coffee or, if you choose to… hot chocolate. Personally, I wouldn’t dare of adding anything to or taking anything away from a hot cocoa but to each their own!

In addition to adding a little fun personality to tea, I love the idea of adding a little flavored syrup to milkshakes or smoothies – especially in the winter when you have to use frozen fruit. They need the extra flavor a great syrup brings.

I’ve also used flavored syrup to sweeten homemade whipped topping for iced matchas and iced coffee drinks.

You can find Torani’s complete line of extraordinary syrups – and more! – on Amazon (Amazon link to Torani products). You can even find Torani Flavored Syrup with dispensers (Amazon link)!

Gorgeous Purple Dutch Oven… My Ideal Soup Pan!

October 31, 2022 By Joi Sigers

I couldn’t possibly be MORE in love with this Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven (Amazon link). Seriously, I’m half-certain it’s going to be a Christmas gift TO me, FROM me this year. I love the Amazon Basics brand (phenomenal quality at very, very reasonable prices) and the color (purple) is my absolute obsession.

If this particular color doesn’t float your boat (what are you thinking?!), know that this gorgeous Dutch oven comes in a wide variety of colors:

blue
gray
white
navy
red
pink
green
matte white
orange (very good looking)
teal
purple (some things are worth repeating)

Features:

6-quart cast iron Dutch oven pot for cooking and baking in the oven or on the stovetop; Oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Smooth enamel finish provides long-lasting durability and non-stick convenience
Cast iron provides even heat distribution and retention; Hand wash only
Dual side handles and fitted lid
Roast meat, bake bread, marinate food, sauté vegetables, prepare soups, stews, casseroles, and more
Backed by an Amazon Basics limited 1-year warranty

See Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven (Amazon link) for more information and to see the other gorgeous colors…. in addition to the stunning purple.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds Make Fancy Pies Possible… Just in Time for Pie Baking Season!

October 15, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Pumpkin Pie

It’s here… Holy cats, it’s finally here! Pie season is upon us and I couldn’t be more excited. Making, baking, and eating pies is one of my favorite things in the world and this is basically my Super Bowl. Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Chess, Pecan (my favorite!), chocolate, apple… never met a pie yet I didn’t adore.

Having to eat gluten-free poses a bit of a challenge in most areas in the kitchen, but never more so than when it comes to bread and pastries. Gluten-free flours simply behave differently, period. Fortunately, I’m almost always up for a challenge, so I’ve stuck with them until I’ve mastered the situation.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds (Amazon link)

Making a Fancy Pie Crust

When it comes to making a pretty pie presentation, let’s fact it, most of us just don’t have the time or energy for all the fuss. The old-fashioned (and, let’s face it, pretty darn impressive) fork tines pressed around the edge serves most of us well. Yet, we often yearn for a real show-stopper pie on our table.

One of the most-respected names in the business, Wilton, has come to our rescue. I’m, by nature, a very brand-loyal person and this brand is one of the ones I have an unwavering devotion to.

Something about never being let down has something to do with it. Another thing I love about them is pictured right here in this post… they never stop or rest on their laurels. The creativity keeps flowing and they keep coming up with new tools to help home cooks and bakers make their dreams come true.

They make us look good and, by gosh, I love them for it.

These Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds are among their newest products and I absolutely love them. They’re incredibly easy to use (and reuse and reuse and reuse…), VERY well made and durable, and work like an absolute charm.

Back of a Pie Crust Mold Package

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Mold Features:

Create impressive pie crust designs with this silicone mold
Color: Red
Material: Silicone
10.5 x 5 in. (26.6 x 12.7 cm)
Top-rack dishwasher safe; however for best results, hand wash in warm soapy water before first and after each use; rinse and dry thoroughly

I was sent two of these wonderful pie crust molds in exchange for telling my food blog readers about them and I recently put them to use with my first pie of the season, a delicious pumpkin pie.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds

I made a double batch of pie crust, one for the pumpkin pie and one batch for “playing” with the molds! The photo of the pumpkin pie shows the fluted edge and a few of the cut outs I placed on top. For those of you who don’t have to eat gluten-free, you have it made in the shade… you can use store-bought pie crust dough and play all day! Those of us who have to make our own gluten-free dough have to be very judicious with our dough lmao!

Fortunately, these molds are so easy (and outrageously fun) to use that anyone can do it. Heck, I did it with my 4 year old and 3 year old grandbabies playing King Kong vs Godzilla all around me! I was even told at one point, “Be a Skull Crawler, MiMi!” so I did my best. I’m guessing skull crawlers roar and chomp their teeth?

Back of Pie Crust Mold Package

As you can see from the directions on the backs, the instructions are incredibly clear and straightforward – so easy a skull crawler can follow them.

I 100 percent recommend these molds for the best and most beautiful pies this Thanksgiving and Christmas. They’re very thick, sturdy, and do an outstanding job. The dough doesn’t stick to the molds and you can let your creative juices really flow.

Please click through for more information:

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Molds (Amazon link) – This link goes to the Pie Crust Mold pictured first, the one with a gorgeous apple pie on the front.

Wilton Silicone Pie Crust Mold – This link goes to Wilton’s website where you can find the mold set with the leaves (the one pictured second!) – This one doesn’t appear to be on Amazon, unfortunately.

I hope you’ll click through either link and give these a try. I just love them so much! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Pumpkin Pie

Monin Flavored Syrups with Pumps (So Many Delicious Options!)

September 29, 2022 By Joi Sigers

One of my daughters (brilliant girl that she is) had a Monin Peppermint Syrup (Amazon link) on her Amazon Wish List, along with a set of pumps to use with it. Another daughter… her sister… saw the syrup and pump and (brilliant girl that she is) added the Monin Lavender Syrup (Amazon link) with pump to her own Amazon Wish List!

Their mother (that would be me) just informed their youngest sister… and, thereby, my youngest daughter…. that she has (at last count) found 7 different flavored syrups she wants!

Pretty clear where they got their brilliance from, am I right? Of course I’m right.

These fun, creative syrups make being your own barista insanely fun – PLUS it can save you trips (and money in the long run) to the coffeehouse.

I have my eye on the lavender (perfect with so many different teas, as well as great for flavoring whipped toppings), raspberry, coconut, toasted marshmallow (!!!), peach, blackberry, and strawberry.

After seeing the recipe for the Peppermint Shake, I’m also pretty interested in the Peppermint Syrup that began the whole obsession. At least that brings it to an even 8 that I have my heart set on. I do appreciate balance in life.

Click through any of the links to take a closer look at these wonderful syrups. These would make absolutely phenomenal gift ideas for the tea, coffee, smoothie (oh my gosh, this just opened up a whole new world to me), or milkshake lovers in your life.

The Deviled Egg Tray of My Dreams… (Great Gift Idea for Cooks Too)

September 23, 2022 By Joi Sigers

One of the foods we have every single holiday is deviled eggs… except we call them “Kangaroo eggs” because one of my daughters gave them this nickname when she was 4 and, by gosh, it was so cute, it stuck!

Speaking of stick (nice, unexpected segue here), my beautiful glass heirloom tray looks fantastic on the table, but in the fridge is a whole other situation – the plastic wrap I have to use always sticks to the eggs, messing up the paprika sprinkled on top while smooshing the nice little mounds completely.

This is the year I am finally investing in a set of great looking Deviled Egg Trays with Lids (Amazon link). Not sure where this set has been all my life but now that it’s in my sights, a whole new world just opened up.

This wonderful set includes three trays with lids, which means you can make enough Kangaroo eggs for everyone to take plenty home with them!

From Amazon:

Lightweight plastic is great for toting from kitchen to party without being too flimsy to ruin your wonderful deviled eggs.
Not only do you get high quality but comes in a great 3 pack for extra eggs at your big event.
Keeps your eggs exactly where you need them to be so they aren’t sliding all over the place and making a mess.
Easily stack these handy deviled egg trays one on top of another for easy storage in the fridge before the big party.
Strong and sturdy foodsafe BPA free plastic makes for a high quality deviled egg carrier that you can use again and again.

One of the reviews left on Amazon pointed out that these are very easy to store also – another plus!

Take a closer look: Deviled Egg Tray with a Lid (Amazon link)

Gorgeous Soup Bowl and Sandwich Plate Combo (Great Gift Idea for Cooks)

August 21, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Mentally and emotionally I have turned the corner…. I’ve left summer behind and have launched myself right into Autumn’s crisp leaves and gentle breeze!

The house is already decked out with creepers, happy ghosts, pumpkins, and bears dressed up for Halloween. We’re all ready for fall.. now all it has to do is show up!

I’m also making the summer to fall transition in the kitchen as soup and chili begin to replace salads and grilled burgers. In fact, today marked the first day that a pot of chili returns to the home. I served it with pimento cheese sandwiches and it was fantastic.

As I thought about the number of times (during fall and winter) that we take our soup or chili and hot dogs/sandwiches into the den to watch football (Go UK Wildcats! and Go Broncos!) or October baseball (Go Cardinals!), it occurred to me that I needed to find handy coup and plate trays. Truth be told, I wasn’t even 100 percent sure such a thing existed, I just knew what would be extraordinarily cool.

I went directly to Amazon to see if the coolness existed and badabing!… of course Amazon had just what I was looking for.

They always do.

The Artena Bowl and Sandwich Plate Combo (Amazon link) is EXACTLY what I need. I love that it’s available in different colors (I honestly had no idea I’d find any this gorgeous).

Available in teal blue, lake blue, mint green, and soft pink.
Ideal size – perfect for fitting a sandwich or chili dog on in addition to the generous mug of soup or chili.
I also love the options these would provide for breakfast food – grits or oatmeal with French toast or biscuits yum!
When you click through and take a closer look at the colors, be sure to check out the video that’s available – you’ll get a better idea of just how gorgeous, well-made, and roomy these are.

Ingenious Over the Sink Drying Rack: Perfect for Dishes and Produce

August 18, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Amazon has a GENIUS for showing me things they know I’ll love. I mean, I will venture onto their website (honest session, here… the Amazon window is always open on my desktop computer) and BADABING! Right there is something I don’t just want, but need.

Case in point: Earlier I breezed onto Amazon to buy some Halloween decorations for the yard. With two daughters who are OBSESSED with Halloween and three grandbabies (two 2 year olds and a 4 year old), I always do Halloween up BIG. Long story, short (too late??), they showed me a couple of kitchen items I honestly have no idea how I’ve lived without.

One was the dish drying rack pictured here (available in many sizes). While most of my dishes go directly into the dishwasher, there are plenty of special coffee mugs and sippy cups for the littles that I do by hand. This is exactly what I need for them to dry without taking up precious counter space.

I also love the idea of washing produce and leaving them to airdry on the rack. Genius. Absolutely genius.

Click through for more information and to see the sizes available.

Oh… and the second thing I saw that I absolutely need may or may not have been Gluten-Free Macaroons (Amazon link).

Narrator: “It absolutely WAS macaroons.”

Mule Sauce, from Sticker Mule, Responds to the Global Chile Pepper Shortage

June 18, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Photo Credit: Sticker Mule Mule Sauce

There have been quite a few shortages lately (food, paper products, etc..). While most of us have become pretty good at rolling with the punches and saying things like, “It is what it is..,” when it comes to food, even the mildest-mannered foodies get their dander up. ESPECIALLY when it has the potential to effect something as delicious as hot sauce.

I mean, how would eggs ever get along without it?!

A shortage I certainly didn’t see coming was the global chile pepper shortage. Recently, Siracha sauce made news for getting rocked pretty hard by the shortage and people everywhere seemed to scramble to find the last bottles on shelves.

The following is a press release from Sticker Mule regarding their popular Mule Sauce. I love the attitude… to take shortages like the ones we’re experiencing and turn them into opportunities. Read on, then head over to Amazon to order some of their Mule Sauce (Amazon link) to try for yourself!

A global chile pepper shortage is decimating current stocks of popular hot sauce brands, like Huy Fong Inc.’s Sriracha sauce, but craft brands like Mule Sauce, the Kick-Ass hot sauce from Sticker Mule, encourage hot sauce fans to use the shortage as an opportunity to try new tasty options.

The sriracha pepper and general chile pepper shortage is a result of changing weather conditions, primarily in western Mexico, New Mexico and California, where droughts, extreme heat and wildfires pervade normal growing conditions. Mule Sauce relies on habanero, yellow Scotch bonnet and bhut jolokia (also known as ghost pepper) to add a fruity, floral heat to its base of red bell pepper mash for its hot sauce. These peppers are grown widespread in a variety of environments, making them readily accessible for Mule Sauce production.

“We have been fortunate to skirt around current supply chain issues related to chile pepper production and maintain a steady stock of ingredients to make our Mule Sauce,” said Sticker Mule founder Anthony Constantino.

The Sriracha shortage (Sriracha accounts for 10 percent of the $2.17 B U.S. hot sauce market) creates an opportunity for brands like Mule Sauce to entice hot sauce aficionados to try a new-to-them sauce and boost sales for craft businesses.

Mule Sauce is quick to adapt to ongoing supply chain issues during the pandemic and credits its nimble start-up roots with Sticker Mule as the reason. “We have carefully gauged our rate of growth to be sure we are never outpacing our abilities to expand. Producing smaller batches of Mule Sauce and basing our production schedule around projected times of higher demand and fluctuations in growing seasons means a fresher hot sauce without preservatives, delivered directly to our customers,” Constantino said. Using multiple trusted purveyors for ingredients – especially chile peppers – mitigates production disasters with a single supply source.

Mule Sauce is already seeing an uptick in sales based on the Sriracha shortage. The addition of ¼-ounce individual easy-open packets of Mule Sauce are popular with the expanded take-out dining market and with outdoor diners during the summer recreation season. Mule Sauce offers piquant heat with notes of floral sweetness and a hint of molasses, measuring 3 out of 5 on the heat intensity scale. It has an impressive cache of 5-star reviews on Amazon, comprising 80 percent of its nearly 800 reviews.

ABOUT MULE SAUCE: Mule Sauce was originally created by the folks at Sticker Mule in 2019 for one of its summer barbeques the company was hosting for its team members. The hot sauce was so delicious that Sticker Mule decided they should share it with the world and launched its hot sauce manufacturing operation and began distributing it online.