A Few of My Favourite (Affordable) Things...

I must confess: I’m a sucker for any kind of gift guide, but the ones dedicated to books and cooks are definitely among my favourites.

Each year, I enthusiastically anticipate reading about what inspired my favourite bloggers, and magazine and newspaper editors over the past year, and I love to see which products they have learned to love in their own kitchens.

This week I’m sharing two gift guides based on some of my own personal favourites. The first is dedicated to affordable gifts for the home cook, something I don’t think we see enough of. Every item listed is something I use almost daily myself, and only one suggested gift costs more than $30. The items can be found and purchased easily online, and in a few cases you’ll even have luck sourcing them locally in your own town. Big is nice, but I honestly do believe the very best things sometimes come in the smallest packages, and all of the items on my list are definitely included.

I’ve purposely avoided the inclusion of any books as I have an entire post dedicated to my favourites of 2013 scheduled for later this week; there may even be a copy or two of a few favourites up for grabs for you! Stay tuned, and let’s get started….

             

World's Best Pot Scrubber (also available here):: I use this foam sponge almost daily to take care of the tough-to-clean spots on my delicate pots and pans. It doesn't scratch the surface of my Le Creuset Dutch oven, can be used to remove sticky maple syrup drops from my wooden table, and carefully cleans my non-stick skillet without any trouble. I've gifted them to my mom and sister for Christmas, and to my girlfriends for their birthdays, and we all agree these small colourful sponges really are the world's best. ($3.50)

Weck Juice Jar :: I use these glass juice jars for red wine, cider, sparkling water, flavoured water, Italian sodas, plain water, iced teas and coffees. Each can be filled with a different beverage flavour and set on display when hosting a party, and they look especially pretty when placed on a display shelf in your kitchen, dining room, or pantry. An added bonus is that they don't take up as much room as a traditional pitcher, which is important if you happen to be concerned about small tables or a lack of storage space like I am, and the wide mouth makes for easy, gentle pouring. ($8.00)

Spice Trader Spices:: I purchase a majority of my spices from The Spice Trader, located here in Toronto. I love their custom blends, like this fantastic baking spice, and the fragrant vanilla powder is put to use frequently in my kitchen. They produce the best smoked paprika I've tasted yet, a staple ingredient in most of my soups, and the boxed sets, which are perfect for gift giving at any time of year, come in a variety of themes and flavours. ($6.50 - $50.00)

Williams-Sonoma Striped Pot Holder:: I love these cheerful cotton potholders and use them daily in place of oven mitts. They hang from the bottom of my spice rack, close to my stove, and are easy to slip on and off my hands when I'm moving about in the kitchen. An added bonus is that they double up as trivets and look pretty on the table, too. ($13.00) 

Linen Tea Towels:: These vintage linen dish towels are totally worth the splurge. I purchased one at the One of a Kind craft show in Toronto two years ago, and use it as often as possible. The material holds up well to regular washing (don't dry it), and remains soft despite being well-loved. You can order online from their shop, and the turn around time for shipping is impressive. ($25)

P.S. I may have bought myself a Christmas gift from their shop again this year.

Whirly Pop Popcorn Popper: We recently chatted about my deep affection for the Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper, and whether you do or don't have one yourself, I can say from personal experience that they make a rather charming gift. I gave one to my best friend years ago and she loves it. Include a recipe for your favourite caramel corn, alongside a mason jar full of kernels to complete your package. ($20 - $30)

So, what's on your Christmas list this year? And what would you add to my list of affordable favourites?

Other gift guides you might be interested in: Jenny from Dinner a Love Story shares her 2013 picks for the parent, child, and cook. Aimée from Simple Bites has a post dedicated to the her selections for the best books of the year, and Ruth Reichl has a daily gift guide that she publishes every December. 

Comments

[Chocolate Shavings]

Love all of these Jan -- especially the juice jar ;)