2022 Holiday Gift Guide

It’s time for my annual holiday gift guide! All of this year’s gift ideas have been compiled into one master guide.

You’ll find amazing deals on some of my favorite kitchen items, as well as fun and practical gift ideas for everyone on your list.

Major Kitchen Deals & Splurges:

Staub 5 Quart Cocotte – an incredible deal on my favorite Dutch Oven brand. An investment piece that will last a lifetime.
Thermapen – the BEST and most accurate instant thermometer, which is currently on major sale through Monday. It is rarely on sale, snag it now.
Ember Mug – while I love ceramics, the Ember mug is great if you prefer to slowly sip your morning coffee (and keep it piping hot!). This is the best deal that I’ve seen in a while!
Vitamix Blender – if you’ve been holding out on a high-powered blender, this is the time to snag one. We’ve owned ours for more than 10 years! It makes the smoothest smoothies, soups, and sauces (and lots more).
Brod & Taylor Folding Dehydrator – this incredible dehydrator is $100 off for Black Friday. I’ve used ours to make homemade spices, dried fruit, and so much more.
Zojirushi Rice Cooker – I love this rice cooker (spoiler alert: you can cook all sorts of grains in it!). It truly is one of my most loved kitchen appliances.
Challenger Breadware Pan – my favorite sourdough baking pan is offering a great cyber deal through the weekend.
Stasher Stand Up Bags – my favorite size and shape, we use these silicone reusable bags for everything. On major sale for Cyber Monday!
Ooni Pizza Oven – our outdoor pizza oven has transformed our pizza game. It’s currently 20% off!
Breville Smart Oven – I love Breville appliances and this smart oven is one of their best (and on major sale!).
Glass Containers – love these glass containers for the kitchen.

Home Goods and Clothes:

Athleta Polartec Leggings – a winter essential, these warm and cozy leggings have become a staple in my wardrobe. This is the lowest price and best offer I’ve seen to date.
East Fork Pottery – we love our East Fork pottery sets! They’re sturdy and durable, come in beautiful colors, and stack so well. Use our link for $20 off your first order.
Kindle Paperwhite – if you’re looking to upgrade your e-reader, the latest Kindle is on major sale!
Blundstone Boots – finally splurged on these classic, well-loved boots. Currently 15% off site-wide.
Soft and Cozy Pajamas – love these comfortable t-shirt pajama sets. They come in festive and staple colors and are 25% off.
The BEST Slippers – can’t beat these classic L.L. Bean slippers. I’ve owned mine for 3 years and they’ve held up great!
Bomba Socks – it sounds boring, but socks are always appreciated. We love these affordable sets from Bomba. Use our refferal link for 25% off.
AirPods – I never expected to love these headphones as much as I do, but they’ve become one of my most-loved gifts from the past few years. We use them for everything, including workouts. On major sale!
Puzzle Sorting Trays – these stacking trays are a fun and useful gift for any puzzle lover in your life.

New and Loved Cookbooks:

The Perfect Loaf – if you’re a sourdough fan, you need Maurizio’s brand new (New York Times Best Selling) cookbook. It has a fantastic array of recipes and is packed with information and troubleshooting tips.
Go-To Dinners – you can never go wrong with an Ina Garten cookbook. This latest one is filled with fuss-free dinner recipes.
Smitten Kitchen Keepers – a much-awaited new cookbook from Deb filled with recipes that you’ll want to make over and over again.
The Woks of Life – if you’re looking to explore Chinese and Chinese-American cuisine, this cookbook from the popular blog, Woks of Life, is an excellent addition to your shelf.
Savory Baking – savory baking don’t get nearly enough attention in the cookbook world. This new book from pastry queen, Erin McDowell, is here to change that.
Mi Cocina – a cookbook filled with recipes inspired by Rick Martinez’s time and travels through Mexico. Gorgeous and filled with mouth-watering dishes.
What’s For Dessert – if you know anyone who loves to bake, you cannot go wrong with this latest title from Claire Saffitz!
Listen to Your Vegetables – can’t wait to snag this much-awaited cookbook from Sarah Grueneberg, chef of Monteverde (one of our favorite Chicago restaurants).
Pasta – I’ve heard incredible things about this cookbook. If you’re a fellow pasta lover like me, this will become a staple.
100 Cookies – you cannot go wrong with a cookie cookbook and this one is excellent. Pair it with some fun cookie cutters or good quality baking sheets!

Edible Food Gifts:

Salted Bourbon Caramel Sauce – I love a homemade edible gift and can’t think of an easier one to make, scale up, and gift in jars to friends and family.
Rancho Gordo Holiday Bean Box – as a member of the coveted bean club, I can say that RG are the best dried beans you can get your hands on. Such a lovely and practical gift for any home cook.
Bonne Maman Advent Calendar – packed with 12 seasonal and limited edition jam and honey flavors. Such a fun gift!
Traditional Pannetone – my family’s favorite (more affordable) Italian pannetone. It goes out of stock quickly, so stock up and order!
Vanilla Bean Paste – you can’t go wrong with a bottle of high-quality vanilla bean paste.
Nut Butter Holiday Tasting Flight – give the gift of holiday-inspired nut butters.
Brightland Olive Oil Duo – I love practical holiday gifts and you can’t go wrong with high quality extra virgin olive oil in gorgeous, re-usable bottles.

Prepared with heavy cream, this Gruyère Leek Quiche boasts an exceptionally tender custard and a flaky all-butter crust.

This recipe utilizes a classic French custard ratio of 1 egg to ½ cup heavy cream (there’s no skimping here!). To ensure success, we’re starting with a prebaked quiche crust (we recommend using this quiche crust recipe) and baking the custard at a low temperature. Proteins (such as eggs) cooked at a low temperature will be more tender and retain more fat and moisture than proteins cooked quickly at a high temperature.

For an ideal pairing, serve this quiche with a leafy green salad tossed with a bright and acidic vinaigrette.

Ingredients

Crust:

Filling:

1 large leek, white and light green parts only (200g) sliced lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon (15g) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon (15 ml) extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 ounces (60g) grated Gruyère cheese

Instructions

1 Note: This recipe requires a 9-inch prebaked quiche crust that is on the deeper side. You can prepare this quiche using a shallow tart or pie pan, but it will most likely not accommodate the full volume of custard prepared in this recipe. You can reduce the custard (using the ratio of 1 whole egg: ½ cup cream) or leftover custard can be baked in a ramekin (to produce a crustless quiche!) at 325°F (165°C) until just set.
2 Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) with a rack in the center position. Place the prebaked quiche crust on a rimmed sheet pan and set aside.
3 Sauté the Leeks: In a medium skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Once the butter has melted and is lightly bubbling, add the sliced leeks and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, until the leeks are soft and tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. If the pan gets dry and they are beginning to gain color, add a small splash of water as needed. Transfer to a small bowl to cool while you prepare the custard.
4 Prepare the Custard: In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, salt, and nutmeg. Whisk until smooth.
5Assemble and Bake: Sprinkle the grated cheese onto the bottom of the prebaked crust. Distribute the sautéed leeks in an even thin layer on top. Pour in the egg custard – it should just about reach the top. Carefully transfer to the oven and bake for 40 to 55 minutes or until lightly golden and the custard is set, but still has the slightest jiggle in the center. Set on a wire rack to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ingredients

Substitution Notes:

Heavy cream boasts a fat content exceeding 35%, significantly higher than whole milk’s meager 3.5% fat. This difference matters, particularly for egg custards. Opting for whole milk or a milk-cream combo is, of course, possible, but will not deliver the best texture or flavor. [Note: This is a classic French quiche, not a light frittata.] Our goal is to make an authentically classic quiche that is exceptional in taste and texture, making the effort and time invested worthwhile.

Kristen Timmers

Major Kitchen Deals & Splurges:

Home Goods and Clothes:

New and Loved Cookbooks:

Edible Food Gifts: