What is a useful gift that you would want to receive?

[Anonymous]

I prefer consumable luxury items - Dyptique candles or hand soap, Williams Sonoma 25 year aged balsamic vinegar or frozen croissants, good olive oil, caviar, high quality vanilla or spices.

[Anonymous]

Masks. Cute ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What am I missing not having the real vanilla extract? What are you using it for?

For a non- baker, I use it a lot. I put it in my oatmeal. I use it in creamed corn, panna cotta, hot chocolate, stewed peaches....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A rice cooker is an extremely useful gift. Even people who don't cook very much appreciate the never-fail quality of this item.

That said, I'm not a fan of useful gifts. I love gifts that are unexpected luxuries -- doesn't matter if they're small ones. I'd rather have one delicious chocolate bar than a Roomba (what my BIL gave my sister last year -- it was not a pretty scene).

A rice cooker - one more small appliance that I'd donate as soon as I got it because I don't want to store it. The few times I make rice, I make it in a pot that I use for 1,000 other things.

I first started using my rice cooker because it makes perfect rice. I’ve continued to use it for dozens of other things because it’s nonstick and automatically clicks to the warm setting. Steaming dumplings or tortellini; making pancakes, small cakes and frittatas; reheating pretty much everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish someone in my family would notice that my drill bits (not a euphemism) have seen better days and by me one of those super-fancy sets in a yellow box.

Sigh.

Why not ask for it/mention it?

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe so many people use imitation vanilla. If you can’t tell the difference it’s obviously fine but I can and I’m not even picky with what I eat. A 35 dollar container from Costco lasts me a year. I use it on cookies, berry sauces, crepes, pancakes, pudding, whipped cream, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What am I missing not having the real vanilla extract? What are you using it for?

I put it into my hot chocolate, coffee, and sometimes tea. I'd rather drink the real stuff than the imitation. But if all I needed it was for baking, I might just use imitation.

Do you just put a splash of vanilla extract in your coffee or are you making a vanilla syrup, etc.?

[Anonymous]

membership to nytimes cooking section or crosswords (if they don't already have a full nyt subscription)

[Anonymous]

One year I got my husband a high-end nail clipper from some Japanese company that also makes samurai swords. He was so excited that the next year he gave them as gifts to everybody. My BIL still talks about how my husband is the best gift-giver of all time because of those clippers.

[Anonymous]

A nice full size umbrella.

[Anonymous]

I only want useful gifts or consumable.
I guess I’m old!

- roomba
- food delivery box
- garbage disposal
- expensive champagne

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I usually buy myself some things in this category so I have presents to open with my kid.

This year's list:
cutting board
rolling pin
stovetop espresso maker

Love getting:
fancy foodstuffs of any kind
mittens
warm socks
my parents got me a $20 gift certificate for a seed company, and it was the best present ever, I spent hours with the catalog
nice kitchen implements

What seed catalog? Great idea

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What am I missing not having the real vanilla extract? What are you using it for?

You're not missing anything unless vanilla is the star of what you're making. Cooks Illustrated recommends Baker's Imitation Vanilla.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B6MUKG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fpw=alm

Cooks Illustrated has steered me wrong so many times I no longer value their recommendations.

+1

[Anonymous]

I have given Patagonia Better Sweaters and love my own

I too love getting socks (and agree about the Costco Merino Wool ones).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish someone in my family would notice that my drill bits (not a euphemism) have seen better days and by me one of those super-fancy sets in a yellow box.

Sigh.

You need a Drill Doctor! Sharpen em yourself