Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Gifts for the cook often come back in delicious way

KAREN FERNAU

The Arizona Republic

Chances are Santa's cookies were mixed in a KitchenAid, baked on nonstick silicon sheets and cooled on a collapsible wire rack.

Americans might be cooking less, but we're buying more kitchen gadgets, cookers, utensils, appliances, pots and pans than ever before, especially during the Christmas season.

Kitchen tools, gadgets and appliances again top this season's must-have toys for grown-ups.

Following is a handful of gifts retailers expect Santa to pack in his sleigh this year. Most are sold at specialty kitchen shops such as Williams-Sonoma, discount retailers and by online retailers:

Food Loop: The Food Loop is a bright pink, flexible silicone cord that ties food together for roasting, baking, steaming or sautéing. Unlike traditional kitchen twine, it won't shred, get soggy, stick to food and is heat-resistant up to 675 degrees, reusable and dishwasher safe. Sells for about $16.50 at kitchen stores and www.foodloop.com.

Ceramic grinder: Tired of telltale pepper dust on the counter? The Kuhn Rikon Vase Grinder grinds from the top, which prevents spillage. The ceramic grinder can be used for pepper, salt, coffee and herbs such as rosemary, saffron and coriander. Sells for about $32 at kitchen stores. Check out www.kuhnrikon.com.

Griddle supreme: The Cuisinart Griddler makes serving panini sandwiches a cinch. With four separate cooking options this contemporary griddle also cooks pancakes and sausages. It also comes with a 40-recipe cookbook. Sells for about $129 at kitchen stores and www.CuisinShop.com.

Crock-Pot super-sized: When you talk ribs, it's all about slow-cookin' and for today's busy home cooks, hours on the grill are out of the question and slow cookers have become the best alternative, providing savory barbecue that falls off the bone and pulled pig (pork shoulders) that comes out of the pot ready to shred ("pull") with a fork. Finally, there is a solution to all that wasted slow cooker space taken up by bones and limited to small racks of ribs - Rival's new Crock-Pot BBQ Pit. The roaster-sized pit can be used on a counter or tabletop and has a two-position rack that allows you to make up to three large racks of ribs or you can flip it over and roast two whole chickens or up to a 12-pound roast or turkey. For holidays, think duck or goose. Available at kitchen stores, department stores and other retail shelves for about $89.99 or www.crockpot.com.

Coffee deluxe: Jura-Capresso Impressa S9 Avantgarde makes everything from doppios to Caffe Cubanos. This sleek matte black machine adjusts coffee strength and includes dual heating to eliminate down time between cups. Sells for $2,399 at kitchen stores.

Double-duty fondue: Get a jump-start on holiday entertaining with a fondue set from King Arthur Flour. The set includes a porcelain bowl with stainless steel pot that are perfect for cheese or chocolate fondue. The pot and bowl double as a stovetop double-boiler, or a pot for soup and stew. Sells for $99.95 at www.bakerscatalogue.com.

Ergonomic pots, pans: Lifting pots and pans can put a real strain on your wrist. The ergonomically friendly arc42 line of cookware, which includes a fry pan and a variety of saucepans, is designed so you'll use forearm muscles rather than wrist muscles when picking up pots and pans. The handle is bent at a 42-degree angle, which minimizes stress on the wrist and allows for pouring away from your body. Prices range from $85 to $125 and are available in kitchen stores and www.cooksite.com.

Tongs with muscle: The 5-in-1 Tongs won't do your work for you, but it will help you multitask in the kitchen. The tool includes a bottle opener, tongs, spatula, a cutter, a meat tenderizer and a grill scraper. Sells for about $14.95 at kitchen stores and from www.bakerscatalogue.com.

NEXT PAGE» 1, 2