10 December 2010 - 0:00Gifts for the Cook

If there is someone in your life who loves absolutely everything about cooking you might want to indulge them this holiday season with a gift they’ll feel was purposely selected with them in mind and that’s always an added bonus when receiving a gift. Following are five items we feel are sure to delight. 1.DeLonghi Slow Cooker: With the winter months fully upon us, there’s no better time to enjoy slow cooked meals and there’s no better slow cooker than this one. The programmable timer with three heat settings automatically switches to warm when cooking is complete (up to 10 hours). Removable 5-qt. white ceramic pot goes straight to the table for elegant serving.2.Herb Keeper: Cooks love to cook with fresh herbs, but they’re not always available from the garden and buying them at the grocery store can sometimes lead to costly waste when not stored properly. New innovations in herb keeping now offer a clear plastic keeper that has a removable insert with water fill line and perforated cup for easy draining. The green silicone gasket provides resistance, allowing herbs to rest in a raised position for easy access and lengthened shelf-life. 3.OXO Stainless Steel Mandoline: Holiday meals call for garnishes, and there’s no more precise way to get custom looking garnishes than with a mandolin. This model combines straight and serrated edges for different foods and the crinkle/waffle blade cuts traditional and wide crinkles. It also features julienne and french fry cuts. Stainless runway is textured to prevent sticking. Slice thickness adjusts with the turn of a dial. Safety features include soft-grip food holder, non-slip feet and blade coverage for storage.4.Lodge Cast Iron Deep Skillet and Deep Fry Basket Set: There are few better cooking methods than a cast iron skillet, and this handy duo makes deep frying a snap. The pan is ready-to-use and pre-seasoned and the deep skillet style affords opportunities for not only deep frying but for stews, soups, roasts and more. Let your imagine run wild. 5.Calphalon Waffle Maker: Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh Belgian waffles cooking on a weekend morning? This model features four oversized, deep-pockets and premium opti-heat performance to deliver the yummiest of waffles in the simplest cooking method possible. And cleaning is a snap with the model’s high-performance non-stick interior.