Gift Ideas for your favorite home cooks!

 Hi! How are you feeling about the holiday season? Some years I'm mentally ready to deck the halls Nov. 1, and other years I like to take a little longer to enjoy the fall season. This year is more of the latter. However, I am all for putting up your decorations and starting your celebrations whenever makes you happy - enjoy the magic! But, I am definitely getting started on the gift idea train this year. 

One of my most valuable ideas I've had in recent years is to keep a running list of gift ideas for my family members/close friends. Whenever I have a good idea (any time of year!) of a gift for someone - I see something in a store or shared on Instagram, etc. - I put it down on my list. Sometimes when I'm under the pressure of time constraint (have a gift by Dec. 25), it blocks my creativity! Lol. And truthfully it just helps to feel like you aren't starting from scratch every birthday/holiday. 

But! These are some of my ideas for kitchen-related gifts this year, as well as some gifts I've enjoyed getting in the past. I hope this helps!

Salt Cellar and Pepper Grinder. These are two things I am hoping to get, lol! I feel like this is the kind of thing that elevates a home cook, but isn't something you think to buy for yourself. Does that make sense? Also, there are so many neat options out there, and you could really personalize this aesthetically to whomever you are gifting it to. This marble salt cellar is beautiful, and this wooden pepper mill is, too! There are tons of gorgeous handmade options on Etsy, like this stunning concrete set! This would be a great way to shop small this season. 

Your favorite cookbook! I think this is such a sweet and personal idea. Flag all of your favorite recipes in the book with notes ("great weeknight dinner", "perfect with salad on page x", "I add nuts to this!"), or perhaps make a batch of your favorite recipe in add! My favorite cookbooks are Pretty Simple Cooking, Love Real Food, and Midwest Made (that one is mostly baked goods). 

A virtual cooking class! The Bakehouse Nola (which Joy the Baker hosts) is presenting virtual classes they can sign up for: https://www.thebakehousenola.com/events. I think this would be such a neat gift! If you know of a chef, Instagrammer, local kitchen goods store, etc. that they like, you could see if they are doing anything like this. 

Some house shoes or slippers would be a great gift for someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen (and on their feet!). I bought these over the summer and find them to be super comfortable. They come in lots of different colors, too! There are tons of comfy slipper options out there - consider if the person you're buying for prefers open back, flip-flop style, or sturdy slippers they could wear to run outside and get the mail. 

I was gifted a milk frother for my birthday this year, and it has turned into something small that makes my mornings more delightful! It does a great job of making homemade beverages feel fancy. Sometimes I even use it to make frothy chocolate almond milk. It's a simple gift that will bring a little joy to your gift-recipient's day. 

Lastly, sometimes the best kitchen gift of all is to *not* have to cook or do dishes! Ha. Consider getting your recipient a gift certificate to their favorite local restaurant. This does double duty in supporting local, small businesses, and giving the gift of a night off from the kitchen! Love. 

I hope this helps give you some ideas this holiday season! What are you gifting?