today’s list is for the folks who love all things food & homemade cooking. I love cooking- my kitchen is my happy, creative place in so many ways! maybe it’s the Italian in me, but I truly believe that the best conversations happen around the table and home-cooked meals. therefore, giving gifts that spur on creativity in the kitchen and being together simply brings me immense joy.

Everything available on amazon is linked here!

01 / non-toxic cookware
this one can be a bit of an investment, but I always suggest doing it one piece at a time. the only pots and pans we own are from Our Place– we have two Always pans, one mini pan, and the Perfect Pot. Our Place is currently running their Black Friday sale, which offers the lowest price of the year. Their classic Always pan is currently under $100!

02 / Brightland olive oil
I love giving olive oil as a gift! my dad is the best cook I know, and I tend to give him olive oils every year. Brightland offers some incredible oils & vinegar- including some super cute gift sets! these would also be so cute combined with other gifts or tied with a ribbon on a nice wooden cutting board as a hostess gift for Christmas dinner.

mini set / $70
essentials capsule / $112

03 / linen aprons
a linen apron is such a sweet gift idea, especially if it’s customized to the colors, tones or patterns that someone loves. I have a simple linen apron from Trader Joe’s, and love using it whenever i’m in the kitchen- so I know this is a gift that’s not only super customizable but also incredibly practical. there are tons of options out there- some super affordable, some a little bit more luxe- i’ve linked a few below that I love!

affordable h&m / $21

a little more luxe from Piglet in Bed / $75

04 / Himalayan salt block
we gifted one of these salt blocks to my step dad last year and he has loved it! this is the perfect gift for people who are open to trying out new kitchen techniques, and maybe have a less traditional way of cooking. he uses it a lot on the grill, but I’ve also seen people use it for curing meats & veggies for charcuterie, and tons of other techniques. we also paired it with this book, so that he could have some help getting started.

05 / reusable bowl covers
how beautiful are these? one thing I dislike about being in the kitchen is the dishes- I stumbled across these reusable bowl covers on Etsy which are SO cute & 100% washable & made of linen- a great way to cut down on dishes by reusing the bowls you’re already cooking in, and plastic wrap too!

06 / kitchen aid bread bowl
if you love making bread, this is for you!! I got this bowl last year for christmas and it’s been a game changer in the bread department. speaking of disliking dishes, this bowl attaches to your kitchenaid mixer and works as a mixing bowl, proofing bowl, and dutch oven all in one. it’s so handy & it’s absolutely stunning too.

07 / material kitchen knives
you know i’m all about practicality, and there aren’t many things that are more practical than a set of good kitchen knives. material kitchen makes stunning, minimalist knife sets that streamline your cooking and elevate the experience for every chef. and, the knives come in several different gorgeous colorways for an even more fun and custom gifting experience. you can get 15% off your first order when you join their email list!

08 / butter bell + salt cellar
these were both on my christmas list two years ago and I have been loving them ever since. I keep both on my counter, right next to the stove along with my oil cruet, and it’s so handy always having salt and butter right there where I need them. these have truly been one of my favorite gifts ever, because it elevates the mundane every day. it may sound silly, but getting salt/butter out of these gorgeous ceramics is so much more beautiful than a cardboard morton’s salt container & a filmy butter wrapper. it’s all about making life a little more special in those beautifully mundane moments- and pieces like these do just that. these were made by Sawyer Ceramics, a small pottery company out of San Diego!

09 / recipe book
i’m a chronic cook-everything-to-taste kind of gal, but there’s just something about a recipe book that feels nostalgic. there’s also something to be said about getting off your phone/iPad/laptop you’re using to pull up your recipes and having a physical copy in the kitchen. get immersed in the moment, slow down, unplug and pull out the recipe book. not only is it good for you, but it’ll be so special for your family to have a compilation of your favorite recipes written down, rather than saved to a Pinterest board. these from Papier are SO cute!

10 / butcher box box (or subscription!)
we’ve been ordering Butcherbox for YEARS now, and I can’t say I’ll go back to buying meat at the grocery store. Butcherbox is the most affordable meat I’ve found that doesn’t compromise on quality.. and you can taste the difference by leaps and bounds. giving the gift of high-quality, grass fed meats, organic poultry and seafood would be such a win for any foodie in your life! Butcherbox offers gift boxes of their best sellers, gift cards, or you can just sign up as a member. For memberships, get $50 off with this referral link! http://rwrd.io/9bmm9an?c

11 / pasta making

I have such fond memories of learning to make homemade pasta noodles in my grandpa’s kitchen, making gnocchi in the kitchen of our sweetest family friends when I lived in Italy, and finally making ravioli with my dad. it’s both an art form and an invitation to quality time with the people you love. if you already have a Kitchenaid mixer, this attachment hooks right on and can make noodles! you can also opt for a freestanding kit, or a simple ravioli-making kit. grab your loved ones & a bag of flour, pasta is too fun to make alone.

12 / cookbooks
of course, I would be remiss to mention cookbooks on this list, and I’ve added a few of my very favorites to the amazon list!

13 / upgrade the everyday
I said it before, but part of intentional and slow living, which we’ve been talking about in each one of these gift guides, is just to elevate the every day. how can you help your loved ones romanticize, elevate, or add beauty to the most mundane parts of life? if we surround ourselves with beautiful things, even the most simple things can bring us joy. and isn’t that the best thing we can give to the people that we love?

I have a whole list of beautiful, useful kitchen tools on amazon, but I’ve listed a few of my favorites for you here that would make wonderful gifts:
– nontoxic bakeware
– wooden measuring spoons
– speckled nesting bowls
– spice jars & labels

xx
Hayds