Category Archives: Kitchen accessory

6 Budget Kitchen Gifts Everyone Will Appreciate

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Anyone that loves to cook, or create new dishes in the kitchen, will appreciate a new-fangled kitchen gadget to experiment with. Here are six fun toys that any adventurous cook will love.

Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

Stick Food Processor

Why pull out the huge food processor to make a smoothie? Instead, making a smoothie or mixing up soup can be as easy as blending with a stick blender – and so much quicker to clean up. Simply wave the immersion blender around inside the glass, and you have an instant smoothie.

Cutting Mats

Cooks of all types love the vibrant color coordinated cutting boards for food prep. Chop the food in one area, and the cutting mats make transporting the food to the pan a breeze!

Splatter Screen

Frying foods, simmering juices, and boiling sauces can all send liquids bouncing out of the pan and onto your stove. Alleviate the problem with a splatter screen. Choose one with steam release holes if you like your vegetables crunchy.

Cast Iron Cleaner

Do your friends use cast iron? If so, this little square of chainmail will surprise and delight them. They are used to scrub even the hardest and most burnt bits off any cast-iron pan with only a little effort. Someone should have come up with this idea a long time ago!

Oil Atomizer

Once your friends have tried the oil atomizer, they will wonder how they could ever live without it! No more glops of oil or uneven salad spread, the sprayer allows you to pull the trigger and let a fine mist cover the bottom of the pan or dress the salad perfectly.

Vegetable Spiralizer

Give the gift of a spiralizer and allow your friends to turn any vegetable into a fabulous noodle. From carrots to zucchinis to sweet potatoes, everyone loves them – even children. Add sauce for a tasty meal in just a few minutes.

Whether you want to give a practical kitchen gift or a surprisingly fun present, there is something on the list above for anyone. Check the items out and find one for yourself as well!

Bring Touches of Country to the Kitchen

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If your kitchen is undergoing a renovation, or just needs a quick update, consider redecorating it with a country motif. This doesn’t have to mean a galvanized wash basin and antlers on the wall, however. Rather than saturating your kitchen with one theme, try adding in elements of it. Small changes can bring hints of the country inside but without going overboard.

Photo credit: clocksaroundtheworld.com

Details Matter

If the idea of doing too much at once is overwhelming, starting with small changes first can help. Some of the smallest details are what really drive the country idea home. Replace the dusty old wall clock with a rooster kitchen clock. Opt for a wide apron-front sink to add a more rustic feel versus a more modern model. Put a woven rug on the floor. It doesn’t have to be a drastic change to make a huge difference when decorating. 

Color Scheme

Pick color swatches in shades typically associated with the country vibe. Greens and yellows might be an example, or perhaps reds and browns. Whatever the color scheme, give it small “pops” throughout the kitchen before rushing to paint the walls anything bold. Using the chosen colors as a guide, buy coordinating small appliances and dish towels. These can be small, nondescript ways to add color to the kitchen without overdoing it.

Rustic Decor Without Spending Much

Reuse what’s already available and repurpose it to fit the new motif. Turn an unused water jug into a flower vase, or hang pots and pans on the wall instead of hiding them in a cupboard. Be creative with items already within the household and find a way to repurpose them. 

It’s important to be happy with a new kitchen, and going for a particular theme is a bold move. Bring the country motif into the kitchen in subtle ways rather than diving in feet-first. Sometimes in a remodel, less actually is more.

Unique Gifts for Unique People

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Gift baskets can be the perfect solution for many people on your gift giving list, but you don’t want to give yet another fruit or cheese basket. Surprise your friends and family with gifts that are as unique as they are. Begin by using some of the following suggestions, or use these ideas to spark your imagination.

Photo credit: cutlery-andblade.com

Focus on a Hobby

Hobbies can make terrific theme for a gift basket. For example, if you have a gamer in your life, use a bin that will hold video games as the basket. Fill it with one amazing trinket such as one of the video game swords for sale online. Next, add accessories like HDMI cords, controllers, or collectibles from their favorite game. Finish it off with a gift card to the local gaming retailer.

Give the Gift of a Night Out

Everyone loves a night out, so why not give one in a basket. Start with a large novelty popcorn bowl. Use shredded paper to create a cushion, and then fill it with microwave popcorn and copies of a couple of classic movies. Include a gift card to the local movie theater as well as one for their favorite restaurant.

Add Excitement to an Upcoming Vacation

If you have overheard a friend or family member talking about an upcoming vacation, use that as your gift basket theme. Instead of a basket, use a small travel cooler. Add your shredded paper filler, and then finish with items related to their destination. For example, if they are heading to Walt Disney World, place some guide books inside along with Disney themed candy, hats, sunglasses, and trinkets. Don’t forget the Disney gift card.

Whether you theme a gift basket around a hobby, a night out, or an upcoming vacation, these unique presents will show your friends and family that you listen and care about them. They will be surprised to find a basket filled with special items that you picked out with them in mind.