It’s the holiday season and I have put together the first ever, How to Feed A Senior gift guide, full of my favorite culinary things. Ok… that’s probably not true. There isn’t room for all such favorites but, there are a few item I highly recommend. I thought it would be fun to compile a list and share these suggestions with you Most these items are available on Amazon, and in full disclosure I must tell you, I am part of their affiliate program. That probably doesn’t mean much to you, but it means the world to me to have you purchase Amazon products through my website. I get a small kickback (like a commission) from sales that come at no extra charge to you! So, thank you in advance for visiting this page and your support throughout the holiday season (and always!). I assure you the items recommended below are listed because I love them and I hope you will too.

For Chefs

The first gift guide I’m releasing is geared to those who love to cook. If you frequent this website then you know food is it’s center, so naturally a focus on culinary gifts is a must! It would be amiss to forgo the mention of a cookbook or two but when it comes to cooking, the culinary arts really shine when creativity is put to the test. Cookbooks full of recipes are great for step-by-step instructions and photo inspiration but if your goal is to foster one’s inner chef, then don’t give them a cookbook. Give them a Flavor Bible! The Flavor Bibles are not traditional cookbooks. They don’t contain recipes but instead, offer common food pairings allowing cooks to get creative in the kitchen. For example, let’s say you have tons of beets but little clue as to what to make. Well, just flip to the page for beets and you’ll see a list of complimentary ingredients. When you know what flavors profiles work well together, creating original recipes becomes a breeze. I highly, HIGHLY recommend these books! You do not however need both. I just happen to be a complete fan-girl and listed them both for convenience.

FYI: I removed both the cover jackets so don’t be alarmed if they look a little different online.

For Bakers

Ok, this is a bit of a shameless plug but what baker doesn’t love a wooden spoon? And these aren’t just your average wooden spoons. These are hand-carved, sustainably made, one-of-a-kind, wooden spoons! I’m talking some serious functional art in which beautiful designs equal beautiful kitchen tools. Below are two mixing spoons that might just earn you some baked goods in return.

For Both

Speaking of baking, another favorite kitchen tool is The Baking Journal by Magma Books. I use it to document impulse recipes and it’s been especially handy for managing the Full Moon Baking Club and quick recipes for Instagram posts. It includes blank pages for notes, a section for organizing recipes, a place for reviewing cafes and restaurants and several pages of useful tips, conversions, and reference information. For folks that are not exactly bakers but still love cooking, they might prefer The Food Journal which is very similar in design. They are basically scrapbooks for foodies but less paper craft and more for documenting thoughts, ideas and adjustments. And again, I’m telling you about these journals because I own both and recommend them because I use them!

My final culinary must-have is a cast iron skillet! Every kitchen needs at least one. They are the heirloom of pans, if ever there was such a thing, cause they will last a life time and them some. Lodge Cast Iron is a quality brand that is very affordable and preseasoned for immediate use. I own three different skillets in three different sizes, a dutch oven, and a few specialty items which is to say, I can’t recommend them enough! Below is a link to the skillet size I use most but I encourage you to browse their other designs because they have all kinds of kitchen delights! I’ve included a photo gallery of things I’ve made in using my collection to highlight their versatility. They are also fantastic pieces for camping trips or times when you need to cook over a fire.

I’ve gotta keep this list short because I have two more gift guide to create but comment any favorite kitchen items or culinary suggestions you think would make great gifts. I’d love to hear your recommendations

Also, caregivers and spoon carvers, your guides are next! Stay tuned for those suggestions. they’re coming soon!