We’ve been busy getting ready for the holidays, trying to plan ahead with presents and decorations to limit the last minute scrambling that inevitably happens each December. This year instead of our typical Week of Design, we’re talking about holiday gifts, presenting items we love and recommend, as well as items from our wishlists for fun splurge items.

Today we’re talking about items for the kitchen.

Kitchen gadgets I own, use, love and recommend (perhaps for stocking stuffers?):

– Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer, Lemon (also available in the lime size) – shown above
As someone who squeezes fresh lime or lemon into my water everyday and loves to make mojitos all summer long, it feels imperative that we own an easy to use and easy to clean juicer. I LOVE this one. We own just the lemon size and it works well for both lemons and limes. This gadget works so well I can easily push the peels inside out to get every last drop in three seconds flat.

– Stainless Steel Straws – shown above
Dishwasher safe, BPA-free, reusable, durable, recyclable, perfect for hot and cold drinks. We love them and use them every single day!

– Oxo Good Grips i-Series Y-Peeler
I’ve used many crappy peelers in my lifetime and, believe me, they are so not worth it. This one is easy to use and not just for easy to peel vegetables either. I use it to peel more typically difficult items like butternut squash, no sweat!

– Harold Mini Measuring Glass
I own several of these and keep meaning to pick up a few more. They are wonderful liquid measures, so much easier to clean and use than measuring spoons.

Kitchen gadgets I’m lusting after:

– Oxo Good Grips Lemon Zester and Microplane Grater/Zester
After years of zesting citrus on our six-sided grater (SO not what it’s meant for!), I am ready to zest easily. For under $10 each, I may just have to buy these for myself.

– Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick Baking Pans
We own two Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch loaf pans and they are completely nonstick. Not nonstick now and then not so much two years later once you’ve used them a ton and the coating has rubbed off. Our pans are as nonstick now as they were when we bought them several years ago and I LOVE THEM. I keep hoping that David will buy me these Goldtouch Mini Loaf Pans or perhaps this fabulous Goldtouch 6-Piece Essentials Bakeware Set that contains a muffin pan, a cookie sheet, a half-sheet pan, two 9″ cake pans and a cooling rack. With the breads, muffins, and cookies I would whip up, David would benefit from this gift too. Sigh.

– KitchenAid Mixer Accessories
I love our KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer that we received from my grandmother for my bridal shower. I lust after the Pasta Roller Attachment for Stand Mixers and have you seen this New Metro Design Beater Blade for KitchenAid Mixers? No more scraping down the bowl! I love it.

By the way, we also own this great cover that I recommend for anyone who owns a mixer. Keeps it dust free and ready for immediate use.

– Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron Casserole in Caribbean Blue
We love Lodge’s cast iron pans, but have you seen their new affordable enamelware?! I’m so in love.

Let’s get cooking!