Mini Cupcake Maker Bakes Up Big Batches of Fun

Cupcakes are all the rage and this top-rated mini cupcake maker is a customer favorite. Whether you just need a few cupcakes or you're looking for a way to bake cute mini cupcakes without heating the oven, this is the perfect new kitchen appliance.

The nonstick surface makes this electric cupcake baker easy to clean and easy to use for quick cupcakes, muffins, or cornbread.  One satisfied customer even uses it for brownies! You or your favorite young kitchen helper can bake seven cupcakes at a time using standard mini-cupcake paper liners. Use one of the recipes included in the box or any storebought cake mix.

This mini cupcake maker would make a wonderful gift for a parent or grandparent to use to help teach a child or the grandkids to bake. One customer loves it for slumber parties. Empty-nesters or seniors who are learning to cook for two again will love that they can bake just a small batch at a time.

Decorations not included, but what a great way to get a head start on a cute, trendy, mini dessert that everyone will love. Click here to order the Smart Planet Mini Cupcake Maker - eligible for free super saver shipping at Amazon.com.

English Bulldog Buddies Mug

Here's a great gift for a dog lover, especially if said dog lover is especially fond of English bulldog puppies. These chubby, wrinkled bulldog buddies are adorable!

The cute design is printed on both sides of the mug, so both right-handed folks and lefties can enjoy the puppy picture along with their coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Prefer a different type of mug? Select your favorite style, size or color, from frosted glass to travel mug. It's easy to choose.

You'll find the Bulldog Buddies mug as well as more unique gifts for bulldog lovers in the Country Estate Bulldogs Gift Shop.

The Best Asparagus Pot or Steamer

Cooking asparagus in an asparagus pot is the best method as it allows the tougher end part of the asparagus to boil in the water while the rest is steamed.

If you love asparagus, you might want to invest in an asparagus pot.  This one, the All-Clad stainless asparagus pot with steamer basket, is Amazon's top-rated asparagus pot. It is a tall, thin 2-quart cooker, ideal for cooking asparagus perfectly. Made of a high-quality 18/10 stainless steel with a polished inside and satin outside.

Extensive details about this pot are available on Amazon by clicking right here but in short let me say that it is Amazon's bestselling, top-rated pot and that it comes with a solid warranty.

Amazon customer Esther Schindler said, "I'd wanted an asparagus pot for years, but somehow could never bring myself to purchase one. Who needs another single-purpose item? Just how much asparagus do I think I'm going to eat? Yet, as others have pointed out, this is less a one-item pot than it initially seems. It'll be perfect for a couple of ears of corn on the cob, for hard-boiling eggs, and for steaming a few artichokes."

Another top-rated kitchen tool for the cook in your life or, for even, for you.



Quick Links:

Buy this asparagus pot from Amazon.
Visit my traditional Easter dinner menu plan.

Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker

The Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker is one of the BEST cake carriers out there.  If you have someone on your gift giving list who bakes a lot of cakes and cupcakes, you just might want to consider gifting him or her with this top-rated kitchen tool.

Owners everywhere love it because it makes transporting cakes and cupcakes so easy.  The base is reversible. One side (shown) holds 18 cupcakes and the other side, which is flat, holds a single- or double-layer rectangular cake.

Even if you don't carry cakes to school events, church outings, picnics or parties, this top-quality Tupperware product is perfect for keeping your baked goods fresh.

This cake taker works like a charm, is sturdy, dishwasher friendly and, perhaps most importantly, backed by Tupperware's LIFETIME warranty. 

To read a complete review of the Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker, click here. To place your order on Amazon, just follow the link shown below.



Quick Links:

Order your Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Carrier from Amazon.
A Tupperware Rectangular Cake and Cupcake Taker Review.

What a "Delish" Apron for a Rachael Ray Fan!

You don't have to be a Rachael Ray fan to love this bright yellow "Delish" apron, but it's definitely a fan favorite! What a fun gift this would make for a special cook or foodie in your life. Pair it with a Rachael Ray cookbook for a unique wedding shower gift. The apron is also available in khaki or white, and in a longer version as well as children's size, perfect for your favorite kitchen helper or future TV chef!



Quick links:
Find this "Delish" apron on Zazzle.com
More about Rachael Ray

The Lenox Butterfly Meadow Dinnerware Set

What a gorgeous dinner-ware set! The Lenox Butterfly Meadow dinner-ware set is a lovely one and it is striking my fancy for a number of reasons. The first is that it is a beautiful mix-and-match fine china set featuring butterflies and flowers, which can be used everyday.

Not only is it beautiful, it is also practical and is safe from the freezer to the oven and to the table as well as in the microwave and the dishwasher.

It is one of Amazon's top-rated dinnerware sets and, if you do not care for Corelle, the Lenox dishes set moves from 8th place on Amazon's bestselling list to 1st place.

This dinnerware set by Lenox features outstanding Amazon customer reviews and is currently on sale for 60 percent off PLUS it ships for free which makes it a pretty good deal. Now if only I needed a new set...but maybe you do?

Lenox says that with this set, you will "create a buzz at your table with this dinnerware set filled with images of butterflies, bumblebees, dragonflies, and flowers."



Quick Links:

Read more about the The Lenox Butterfly Meadow dinnerware set at Amazon.

Mr. Bar-B-Q Cast-Iron Ribbed Fajita Platter Set

Mr. Bar-B-Q Cast-Iron Ribbed Fajita Platter Set is a top rated gift for anyone who loves to get in the kitchen and make wonderful meals. The Cast Iron Fajita Platter Set is the perfect way to make sizzling hot fajitas and also works great for serving other types of food like steaks and vegetables.
Heavy cast iron absorbs and retains heat at the high temperatures required for searing strips of steak or chicken, as well as green peppers and onions. This Fajitas Platter Set has special ribs in the platter which raise the meat above the grease, which can then be poured off by means of two lips, one on either side. In addition, the set contains a padded mitt for safety, as well as an oval, lacquered wooden base to keep the cast-iron platter from slipping during serving.  Mr. Bar-B-Q covers the fajita set with a five-year warranty.
Here is an easy to fix Chicken Fajitas Recipe you can make when your Fajita Platter Set arrives!

Waechtersbach's Heart-Shaped You Are Special Today Plate

Do you own a Waechtersbach You Are Special Today plate? For many families, a You Are Special Today plate is a time-honoured tradition.

This heirloom-quality, heart-shaped plate is beautiful and perfect for Valentine's Day as well as for celebrations throughout the year. Use it to celebrate birthdays, graduations, promotions, jobs well done and goals achieved.

Use a You Are Special Today plate to make any day extra special. If you want this for Valentine's Day, you'll have to act right away (and consider upgrading the shipping method to a faster method in order to make sure you have it on time.)

You can read about Waechtersbach's complete collection of You Are Special plates and mugs at Waechtersbach Plate: A You Are Special Today Family Tradition or order yours from Amazon by clicking right here.

Quick Links:

Waechtersbach Plate: A You Are Special Today Family Tradition
Order your You Are Special Today plate from Amazon.

Keurig B70 Single Cup Brewer

The Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System
is a beautiful gift, especially with a full supply of assorted coffees, teas and hot chocolate.

This is a great gift for a couple, and especially seniors. The optional reusable coffee filter makes this coffee brewer affordable for everyone. My favorite feature is that you can not only make a fabulous cup of coffee, but also serve hot chocolate or tea as your guest prefers.

Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System
is my top gift choice for this year! Click for more information and see if you agree with me!

The KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 12-Cup Food Processor

The KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 12-Cup Food Processor is the third in a line of top-quality KitchenAid products that I have discovered this week on Amazon. I am impressed by the reviews that I have read like, "I have been so pleased with this that I went back and ordered the blender and the hand mixer."

This Kitchenaid food processor features a 12-cup capacity in the first work bowl and a 4-cup capacity in the smaller bowl, a multipurpose and a mini blade, a tall feeding tube for larger items with a two-piece food pusher, a 700W motor and a one-year warranty. The strong motor and capacity make this food processor a great choice and one that will be hanging around the kitchen a long time from now.

Another top-quality, well-rated Christmas gift idea for the home cooks on your Christmas shopping list!



Quick Links:

Buy KitchenAid's Martha Stewart Blue Collection 12-Cup Food Processor
Review of Martha Stewart's 12-cup food processor

KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender Model KSB560AQ

Here's another small appliance from Martha Stewart's Kitchenaid series. I'd have to say that I'm in love with the KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender for a few reasons...

• It is built all in one piece! That means no more separate ring, cap and blade. You cannot imagine how wonderful that is unless you have searched for a missing ring.
• It is shatterproof. Brilliant. I think they all should be.
• It has a track underneath to put the cord in. That means one less cord on the counter!
• It is gorgeous, done in Martha Stewart's signature blue hue.

What more could you ask? How about a good review?

Robinsblue had this to say about Martha Stewart's blender, "I purchased this item to replace a cheap model that I bought years ago. I have been so very pleased with it, great capacity and very powerful. And of course, it looks great with the other items from this line. A well-made product that will last a lifetime!"

And what about price? Amazon has the KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender on sale for $30 off the list price so that makes it $120 instead of $150 leaving you with $30 to buy a great new cookbook.

I think all of these facts combine to make it a great Christmas gift for someone on your Christmas shopping list who loves to cook.

Quick Links:

Buy on Amazon: KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender
Read more: KitchenAid Martha Stewart Blue Collection 5-Speed Blender KSB560AQ

Cuisines of the World Spice Blends Club

Need a gift for someone who likes to cook, enjoys international cuisine, or just likes to eat? Consider the Cuisines of the World 12-month Spice Blends Club. This is a gift that gives on giving for an entire year.

The lucky recipient will remember your kindness every month when he or she receives a package containing spice packets and recipes, different each month and enough to prepare a meal for five to six people. The first month's gift includes an embossed aluminum Thai Rice Tureen and ladle, along with a welcome letter and the first spice packets.

This is truly a unique gift that will be appreciated and enjoyed even by those who are usually the hardest to buy for. It's a perfect gift for the person who has everything. Make it easy on yourself. Click to learn more and to order the Cuisines of the World 12-month Spice Blends Club and your shopping will be done!

Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover

Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover

Are you looking for a Christmas gift for the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer at your house? The person in charge of making the meals will appreciate a Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover. Long before slow cookers there were cast iron Dutch ovens. Lodge has been making cast iron cookware for more than 100 years. Our grandmothers cooked everything from bread to stew to cobblers in their cast iron pots and so can you. With proper seasoning and care, your cast iron cookware can last for generations. A Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover under the tree will make someone happy this Christmas!
Read more about the Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven.

Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner

There's no question but that the Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner is a top-rated salad spinner, the statistics at Amazon prove it. However, this is also a product that I can personally vouch for. My family and I love, yes love, our Oxo salad spinner so much so that my teenage boys do not mind preparing the lettuce for our salads at suppertime!

If you are looking for a practical gift that the cook in your life will love, you should definitely consider this quality salad spinner. You can read all about it at The Best Salad Spinner Is The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner. You will find practical information there including the fact that it is available in two sizes, one that is perfect for washing lettuce for two people and one that is perfect for washing lettuce for a family. You will even find a video demonstration, in case you are curious about what this product looks like in action.

If you have someone who loves being in the kitchen and cooking, I do not think that you can go wrong with the Oxo salad spinnner!

Quick Links To More Information:

The Best Salad Spinner Is The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner
Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner on Amazon

The Best-Ever Ever Garden Salad Recipe is From Looneyspoons

Winterberry Pfaltzgraff Pie Plate with Cardinal Pie Bird

Need a great Christmas gift for the baker in your life? How about a pie bird? In particular, how about the Winterberry Pfaltzgraff pie plate and cardinal pie bird? It is an beautiful Christmas duo, perfect for holiday baking.

The 9-1/2-inch stoneware pie plate will help your baker make a perfect pie, every time. It features an unglazed bottom that helps make pies bake evenly and a gorgeous ceramic red cardinal pie bird to vent the pie while it bakes. Pfaltzgraff's Winterberry is a hugely popular, with a very attractive pattern of green holly sprays and red berries. Good in the oven, microwave, freezer or dishwasher, this pie set comes with a 5-year warranty.

With Amazon customer reviews like, "The plate and bird are even more beautiful than in the pictures," "Usually when I bake an apple pie I have to clean the over afterwards...this REALLY works to keep it from running over. And it's beautiful in presentation too," and "I could have paid $14 just for this bird but got a gorgeous plate, too," you cannot go wrong giving this popular pie set to a friend for Christmas.

With a list price of $40,

Amazon's sale price of $16.98

is an unbelievable deal

that you won't want to miss!

To read more about the Winterberry Pfaltzgraff pie set, click here and if you are interested in giving a baker a pie bird but would like to see a whole flock of them, including pie birds of every type imaginable, visit my page, Pie Birds, A Pie Baker's Tool.

Quick Links To More Information:

The Winterberry Pfaltzgraff Pie Set
Pie Birds, A Pie Baker's Tool
The Best-Ever Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Taylor Digital Measuring Cup and Scale

The Taylor Digital Measuring Cup and Scale is a brand-new device that cooks will love. No more worrying about leveling off the sugar in the measuring cup or, for that matter, worrying about whether the flour should be packed in, scooped, or spooned. No more squinting to find the exact measure line for the water, oil, or milk either.

Instead, this clever invention weighs the ingredients and converts the weight to the unit you need, mililiters, cups, fluid ounces, grams, or pounds, then displays the measurement on the handle in nice, big, clear LED digits. Capacity is 1 liter or 4.4 pounds (2 kg).

The Taylor digital measuring cup has just become available and I've only found two customer reviews so far, but both were positive and people I've showed this to seem to really love it. At $29.99 it may seem a bit pricey, but what a great gift for a meticulous chef who loves to get those recipe measurements just right! Besides, it ships free with Amazon's Super-Saver Shipping.

Read more about the Taylor Digital Measuring Cup and Scale here, or order it from Amazon.com here.