Barbeque and southern foods expert Elizabeth Karmel rounded up her favourite products of the year and suggests these gifts for those who cook -- and those who just like to eat:
GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK
-- is an organization devoted that prepares and delivers meals to people who, because of serious illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. The organization's first cookbook, "God's Love We Deliver's Cookbook: Nourishing Stories and Recipes from Notable Friends" is a star-studded compilation of favourite home recipes and the stories that tell them from culinary icons as well as fashion, music and theatre greats. Contributors include Mario Batali and Alice Waters, as well Stanley Tucci, Meryl Streep, Roseanne Cash and Donna Karan. All proceeds benefit the organization. USD $50.
This photo shows the No Kid Hungry Chef Series Silicone Spatulas and the "God's Love We Deliver's Cookbook: Nourishing Stories and Recipes from Notable Friends," Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
-- Williams-Sonoma has teamed up with Share our Strength and celebrity food folks including Ina Garten, Chrissy Teigen and Trisha Yearwood to create artwork for the . Proceeds from the silicone spatulas benefit No Kid Hungry in its campaign to end childhood hunger in the U.S. Available in stores and online, 30 per cent of the proceeds go to charity. USD $12.95
Other gift ideas
STOCKING STUFFERS
-- are the perfect (calorie-free) gift for the doughnut lover in your life. Designed to fit both men and women, they come folded up and packaged like a single doughnut, and are available in six different "flavours" such as Oreo Ring, Rainbow Sprinkles and Berry Sprinkles. USD $15.50.
This photo shows Sukeno Donut Socks Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
--I use every single morning for coffee, and I love that they now have cups with a Christmas theme. The cups are perfect for coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate or tea. I've also been known to use the porcelain cups for cocktails as well. The crumpled cup feels good in your hand because of the indentation that the crumpled part at the top makes in the round cup. A set of two cups is available exclusively on their website. You can choose between a set of 1 red and 1 Moose design, or 2 other holiday motifs, Gingerbread and Santa. USD $39.99 for two.
This photo shows the Revol Christmas Crumpled Cups Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
FOR COOKS
-- can be used to chop, slice, dice and mince everything. This essential, multi-purpose knife is a workhorse in the kitchen. The knife takes the traditional features of an 8-inch chef's knife and adds a bigger "belly" to create a smoother motion for all chopping, mincing and dicing tasks. I like to think of the knife as a mash-up of the popular Santoku knife and a classic chef's knife. USD $139.99.
This photo shows the Wustof Classic Series Uber Cook's Knife on an Acacia Concave Grilling and Carving Board Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
--I had heard that the Breville Toaster oven was so good that it could rival my wall oven, but I didn't believe it until I tested the new . I made a roast, a chicken, banana bread, and cookies as well as toast and they all came out as good if not better than in my oven. It also re-heated pizza to perfection. If you don't have the counter space for the PRO, get the Smart Oven mini which puts other small models to shame. USD $269.99.
This photo shows the Breville Smart Oven Pro Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
EDIBLE GIFTS
-- Ice Cider (think dessert wine) made from heirloom apples ... can you think of anything more appropriate or delicious to serve with a warm apple crisp, apple cake or a nice wedge of cheddar cheese? , founders of Eden Ice Cider, produce a rich full-bodied ice cider from their apple orchards where they grow both sweet and sour heirloom varietals. A 375 ml bottle is made from more than 8 pounds of apples. They offer eight ice cider options including honeycrisp, as well as a smaller 187 ml limited release Brandy Barrel Heirloom Blend Ice Cider. USD $25.00 for a 375 ml bottle.
-- I met Brenda "Blondie" Coffman at last year's South Beach Wine & Food Festival. One bite of her me to cookie nirvana. I gave my sweet-toothed father a gift of the Blondie's Cookies cookie-of-the-month club and it quickly became his favourite gift. The beauty of this gift is that you choose how many months--from 1 to 12--and the cookies are different each month so you never get tired of the assortment. Each from-scratch cookie is individually wrapped and can be frozen. USD $29.99 per box.
This photo shows Blondie's Cookies and a bottle of Eden Heirloom Blend Ice Cider Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
--The changed my egg- eating life. Sure I can boil a soft-boiled egg but sometimes it's more cooked than I like it, especially if I get busy doing something else while I'm boiling the eggs. But this Egg Central uses steam to cook the eggs which also makes them easy to peel as the steam prevents the shell from sticking to the white-- just make sure to load them with the smaller point of the egg facing down. All I have to do is crack it under cold running water and the shell literally slips off. The Egg Central also comes with attachments for poached eggs and omelets. USD $39.
This photo shows the Egg Central by Cuisinart Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
-- The brainchild of John Pittner who owns a kitchen shop in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, this is made with a slight concave centre that holds exactly 1 cup of liquid. It also has heavy-duty silicone treads on each corner so that the board won't slip on your counter -- especially helpful when carving. USD $49.99.
This photo shows the Acacia Concave Grilling and Carving Board Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
