Gift Ideas

[Bunk]

I'm suprised no one else has started a thread on this yet. I am running out of time and will now rely upon all of you for gift ideas.

Specifically for my Mom. Her passion is kitchen and cooking gadgets, appliances, etc - so naturally she has pretty much everything. So any ideas for cool things from all the cooks out there would be appreciated.

[stray]

I'm not much of a cook, but.. does she have a rice cooker? Everyone needs a rice cooker.. but they usually don't know it. 

[Yegolev]

8" chef's knife

[Bunk]

Has a rice cooker, but prefers to cook it in a pot.

I've always been afraid to get her a really good knife - I'll feel responsible if she slices her finger off.

[Yegolev]

Crappy knives are more dangerous.  Serrated ones suck unless you are cutting cans.

What sort of mixer does she have?  Might get a fancy KitchenAid one.

Does she have a springform cake pan?  Those are neat, especially for making ice cream cakes.

[Bunk]

Worst part of this is in the end I'll have to run all the ideas by my sister, since the family all live on the island and I'm not heading over til the 24th, and I can never remember for sure what new gadgets she's gotten.

Got her a high quality mandolin last year.

[rattran]

Perhaps a gift pack of Baconsalt? Or a set of nice silicone bakeware. Still new enough to be novel, but damn handy.

[Yegolev]

I have not yet decided if I like silicone bakeware.  Leaning towards dislike, but perhaps I am doing this wrong as well.

[Mrbloodworth]

what kind of budget range are we talking about? and does it have to be something that fits on your lap if you are flying?

[Yegolev]

I'd like something to sit in my lap while I'm flying.

[Mrbloodworth]

I'd like something to sit in my lap while I'm flying.

 

[Bunk]

No flying, I drive and take a ferry, so as to have a vehicle to haul back all of the loot in.

As to budget, probably around $100, $120 max. I'm po this year.

[Trippy]

I would assume she already has a primary knife that she likes. They are also hard to buy for somebody else since the feel of the grip and the weight/balance are personal things.

If she doesn't have some already I would suggest Microplane graters:

http://us.microplane.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2

[Ookii]

My cousins got my Grandma a woven blanket of her kids, it was fantastic.  I would highly recommend it for any Grandmas out there.

http://www.treasureknit.com/

[Viin]

How about some nice spices?

http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/c-Gift_Boxes.html


Edit:
Btw, if you know she has a crappy rice maker then that's probably why she doesn't use it. What she needs is one of these:
Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer

She will never use anything else. (Get the bigger one if she feeds more than 4 ppl rice often).

[sidereal]

Crockpot, bread machine, or a pasta maker

[Signe]

I've never really found an electric bread or rice maker all that useful.  I can make perfect rice and bread without them.  Instead of a bread machine, I would suggest something like a KitchenAid mixer and then start adding attachments.  You can mix and knead your dough with it and once you get into the attachments you can even stuff your own sausage, make ice cream, etc.  It even has a pasta attachment  although I don't know how good it is, I've only ever used my mother's old-fashioned pasta maker.  KitchenAid attachments are usually pretty excellent though, albeit expensive.

[KallDrexx]

Pearl sauce cookbook.  It's probably something she doesn't already have 

[Yegolev]

I've never really found an electric bread or rice maker all that useful.  I can make perfect rice and bread without them.

Well LA DEE DA!

I could use a rice cooker that doesn't suck balls.

[Signe]

I don't know why I said that.  I think I must have meant to say that I'm perfectly capable of cooking rice and baking bread without those things.  I've burned more bread than I want to admit.

[Stewie]

Dude, you mother has everything she needs in the kitchen.
Every year you get her another kitchen gadget. These all are so that she can cook for others.

This year get her something that is totally self indulgent. Something like a spa day.
here is one that is close to them and you could pick it up on the way to their place.
http://www.level10eurospa.com/packages.html

or for another that is highly recommended but a bit of a drive http://www.level10eurospa.com/packages.html

[Mrbloodworth]

Dude, you mother has everything she needs in the kitchen.
Every year you get her another kitchen gadget. These all are so that she can cook for others.

This year get her something that is totally self indulgent. Something like a spa day.
here is one that is close to them and you could pick it up on the way to their place.
http://www.level10eurospa.com/packages.html

or for another that is highly recommended but a bit of a drive http://www.level10eurospa.com/packages.html

I agree with this, don't you think your mom has spent enough time in the kitchen?

Get her something fun.

[Special J]

I got my Mom a digital picture frame.

[Signe]

Buy her a sexy negligee and a pair of Freudian slippers!

[Yegolev]

I don't know why I said that.  I think I must have meant to say that I'm perfectly capable of cooking rice and baking bread without those things.  I've burned more bread than I want to admit.

I don't know why I made a joke that might not have been too funny.  Whoops.  I can't cook rice for shit and I don't know why.

If the kitchenware is out, try a fancy vacuum or washing machine.

[apocrypha]

Crappy knives are more dangerous.  Serrated ones suck unless you are cutting cans.

Could I be really rude and mini-hijack this thread to ask for advice on good kitchen knives? I really need a decent, general purpose knife, but I really don't want to spend an obscene amount of money.

And on-topic, maybe your mum would like a present that *isn't* kitchen/cooking related, for a change? Something that's just for *her*? I'm pretty crap at picking presents for people though and rely on Amazon wish lists far too often 

[Signe]

Get her a kitten!  Sure, she'll shout at you but then she'll go all mushy with loooove! 

God, I love kittens.

[sigil]

Crappy knives are more dangerous.  Serrated ones suck unless you are cutting cans.

Could I be really rude and mini-hijack this thread to ask for advice on good kitchen knives? I really need a decent, general purpose knife, but I really don't want to spend an obscene amount of money.

And on-topic, maybe your mum would like a present that *isn't* kitchen/cooking related, for a change? Something that's just for *her*? I'm pretty crap at picking presents for people though and rely on Amazon wish lists far too often 

search around here and you'll find some pages of threads of knife porn and the pwning of those  buy the guy who uses cheap restaurant equipment.

I like Shun, but I'm biased...

[Bunk]

She has a cat, and my sister got her a Lassa/Pekinese two years ago that is her new baby, so no need there.

The thing is, she doesn't have a whole ton of hobbies - cooking is one of her favorite things to do. She expects me to get her cooking related things :)

I already picked her up a Microplane (now I want them - they look sweet). I may look in to getting her something "crafty" as she does like making things. She's also an avid gardner, but you can't exactly buy someone a cool new plant in the middle of winter.

[Yegolev]

Could I be really rude and mini-hijack this thread to ask for advice on good kitchen knives? I really need a decent, general purpose knife, but I really don't want to spend an obscene amount of money.

My knife, it cuts:
http://www.amazon.com/R-H-Forschner-Victorinox-8-Inch-Fibrox/dp/B000638D32/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1229632167&sr=8-2

You will want one of these to go with it:
http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Quality-16-Knife-Sharpening-Steel/dp/B0012BM5VS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1229632256&sr=1-5

Wintertime is fine for buying gardening tools.  I'm not really a gardener so I don't have much to input, except perhaps a can of diesel for killing weeds and ants.

[apocrypha]

Alrighty, cheers Yeg & sigil (I'll have a search).

Hmm, gardening tools. How about one of those things you kneel on for gardening? Hang on, let me find a link... here we go. They rock and are especially useful for over-50's gardeners.

[Sky]

Also good if dad needs a BJ.

[Bunk]

*Naa naa naa* Didn't hear that

Got her a slew of gardening tools either last year or the one before, including a kneeling pad - which was a great gift.