Budget-conscious gifts for foodies

[Food Network Fan]

Budget-conscious gifts for foodies

Even in the best of financial times, sticking to a budget for holiday gifts can be difficult.

(Updated: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 1:59 PM)


Fortunately, for foodies on the list, there's never been a better time to find a great gifts in any price range. Here's a quick pick of new and innovative kitchen gift ideas priced from below $25. This seasons food stars -- Rachael Ray and Paula Deen -- are offering their own creative spin on top cooking tools. The new Rachael Ray Bench Scrape ($10.00) is designed to corral and transport sliced and minced onions, garlic, finely chopped nuts and other ingredients from the cutting board into a bowl, pot or pan. Also from Rachael Ray is the Lazy Spoon/Ladle Set ($19.99), a weighted silicone spoon and ladle featuring a notch on the handle to balance the tool on the rim of a pot or pan.
Paula Deen - famous for her down-home cooking - offers wooden tools with Silicone Heads (2 piece spoon/spatula set, $14.99) combine sculpted Acacia wooden handles with silicone. For bakers, the Paula Deen 4-Piece Measuring Cup Set ($5.99) and 5-Piece Measuring Spoon Set ($4.99) update often-used basics with retro styling.


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[BerryBaby]

I saw a photo of Emeril's new kitchen towels. Had to laugh as I have them, but they aren't from Emeril. They are from Target and no Emeril on the tag...think they are a Better Homes and Garden collection. They are exactly the same!

[bakerman]

Target is now carrying the Paula Deen silicone spatulas with the wooden handles, they are beautiful they have copper loops for hanging. I won't buy any though because they have to be hand washed and I like to throw everything in the dish washer (except my good knives). I have a couple spoonulas from William Sonoma, I love silicone spoonulas!

[Food Network Fan]

I do too!

This is the most awesome spoon on earth. Amazon.com: Tovolo Red Silicone Solid Spoon, 14-Inch: Home & Garden

[Pluff Mudder]

...they have to be hand washed and I like to throw everything in the dish washer (except my good knives). I have a couple spoonulas from William Sonoma, I love silicone spoonulas!

I like to be able to toss everything into the dishwasher too (like that about the beater blade for the KA) and the only things I hand wash are my knives and cast iron. I've got to try one of the silicone spoonulas. I have a "early" model that's the heavy rubber-like head on a wood handle and I don't like it. The head comes off sometimes when stirring thick things. It's a PITA to have to fish it out. Plus, it never seems to get good and clean... even after running it thru the dishwasher.

[bakerman]

I do too!

This is the most awesome spoon on earth. Amazon.com: Tovolo Red Silicone Solid Spoon, 14-Inch: Home & Garden

Ooh I'll keep an eye out for one of those.

[bakerman]

I like to be able to toss everything into the dishwasher too (like that about the beater blade for the KA) and the only things I hand wash are my knives and cast iron. I've got to try one of the silicone spoonulas. I have a "early" model that's the heavy rubber-like head on a wood handle and I don't like it. The head comes off sometimes when stirring thick things. It's a PITA to have to fish it out. Plus, it never seems to get good and clean... even after running it thru the dishwasher.

I like my william-sonoma one the best, the end has never fallen off. I have one from target that has a metal handle and that one is decent also, but I reach for the william-sonoma one the most because it is well balanced, the target one has a heavy head and is just not quite as comfortable to use.

I still like my old fashioned wooden spoons as well, I found some nice sturdy ones at the restaurant supply.

[Food Network Fan]

I bought a pyrex one once that said it was heat safe up to 500 degrees. Unfortunately that didn't apply to the handle ... that melted into my food.

[Pluff Mudder]

... the target one has a heavy head and is just not quite as comfortable to use.

I still like my old fashioned wooden spoons as well, I found some nice sturdy ones at the restaurant supply.

That the other problem with the spoonula I got... big head and unbalanced. Hummm... that sounds like some people I know!

I mainly use wooden spoons. I've got some I've used so much the bowl of the spoon isn't round on one side from so much wear. At a kitchen/restaurant supply store in Key West I got a couple wooden batter spoons that I really like. Nice big wide bowls and short stout handles.