Mini Cupcake Maker Bakes Up Big Batches of Fun

Cupcakes are all the rage and this top-rated mini cupcake maker is a customer favorite. Whether you just need a few cupcakes or you're looking for a way to bake cute mini cupcakes without heating the oven, this is the perfect new kitchen appliance.

The nonstick surface makes this electric cupcake baker easy to clean and easy to use for quick cupcakes, muffins, or cornbread.  One satisfied customer even uses it for brownies! You or your favorite young kitchen helper can bake seven cupcakes at a time using standard mini-cupcake paper liners. Use one of the recipes included in the box or any storebought cake mix.

This mini cupcake maker would make a wonderful gift for a parent or grandparent to use to help teach a child or the grandkids to bake. One customer loves it for slumber parties. Empty-nesters or seniors who are learning to cook for two again will love that they can bake just a small batch at a time.

Decorations not included, but what a great way to get a head start on a cute, trendy, mini dessert that everyone will love. Click here to order the Smart Planet Mini Cupcake Maker - eligible for free super saver shipping at Amazon.com.

Shish-Kebab Skewers for the Grill

Summer's a great time for grilling, and grilled shish-kabobs are a fun and delicious meal to serve to family or to company. Besides the meat and veggies, you'll need a good set of skewers. We like these unusual but very functional Fire Wire Stainless Steel Flexible Grilling Skewers.

The Fire Wire skewers are long, so they'll hold plenty of food. They're also flexible, so they'll conform to the shape of your grill. Another feature satisfied customers like is the fact that the ends of the skewers hang out over the sides of the grill, staying cool enough to turn with your bare hands. One happy customer posted a video review with a demonstration. Look for it here among all the great 5-star reviews.

Another nice feature for those who like to prepare food ahead of time is that you can put the meat and vegetables on the skewers and then put them in the marinade. Since the skewers are flexible, it's easy to fit them into a bowl or a bag with the marinade. After your company has arrived and the grill is ready, simply lift the kabobs out of the marinade and place them on the grill.

Fire Wire skewers are available in a set of two, so you'll likely want to order a couple or more sets. We think this top-rated skewer set is a bargain and would make a wonderful gift for your favorite king or queen of the grill.

Quick links:
Buy Fire Wire Stainless Steel Flexible Grilling Skewers here
Find some great shish-kebab recipes here

Happy St. Patrick's Day Cookie Bouquet

A cookie bouquet filled with St. Patrick's day goodies right down to the green beer! A hand decorated pot of gold cookie along with leprechauns, shamrocks and a rainbow complete the St. Patty's day cookie bouquet. Each cookie is carefully hand decorated by a cookie artist, carefully packed, and then shipped out to the customer. What a unique and delicious way to say Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick`s Day

Quick Link:
Gourmet Cookie Bouquets for All Occasions

The Manga Cookbook

The Manga Cookbook teaches international readers about Japanese cuisine. It was created by Manga University for fans who have wondered what the manga characters were eating in the comic books that they love to read. Adults as well and children will enjoy learning how to make popular Japanese dishes. Everything is explained step by step with comic illustrations. The Japanese are very concerned with the presentation of the dish and that comes through in this cookbook. The Manga Cookbook covers beautiful Japanese garnishing tricks as well as basic recipes for steamed rice and noodles. A few reviewers complain that some of the ingredients called for and some of the instructions are vague, but over all it gets great reviews and has reached the top of Amazon's list of Japanese cookbooks. If you know a manga fan that likes to cook, surprise them with this unique and fun cookbook!

Quick Link:
The Manga Cookbook

What a "Delish" Apron for a Rachael Ray Fan!

You don't have to be a Rachael Ray fan to love this bright yellow "Delish" apron, but it's definitely a fan favorite! What a fun gift this would make for a special cook or foodie in your life. Pair it with a Rachael Ray cookbook for a unique wedding shower gift. The apron is also available in khaki or white, and in a longer version as well as children's size, perfect for your favorite kitchen helper or future TV chef!



Quick links:
Find this "Delish" apron on Zazzle.com
More about Rachael Ray

Mr. Bar-B-Q Cast-Iron Ribbed Fajita Platter Set

Mr. Bar-B-Q Cast-Iron Ribbed Fajita Platter Set is a top rated gift for anyone who loves to get in the kitchen and make wonderful meals. The Cast Iron Fajita Platter Set is the perfect way to make sizzling hot fajitas and also works great for serving other types of food like steaks and vegetables.
Heavy cast iron absorbs and retains heat at the high temperatures required for searing strips of steak or chicken, as well as green peppers and onions. This Fajitas Platter Set has special ribs in the platter which raise the meat above the grease, which can then be poured off by means of two lips, one on either side. In addition, the set contains a padded mitt for safety, as well as an oval, lacquered wooden base to keep the cast-iron platter from slipping during serving.  Mr. Bar-B-Q covers the fajita set with a five-year warranty.
Here is an easy to fix Chicken Fajitas Recipe you can make when your Fajita Platter Set arrives!

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer

KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers

This beautiful KitchenAid mixer has 1,376 five star reviews at Amazon so we can safely say it is a top-rated gift. It is the work horse of the kitchen and cooks rely on its sturdy, dependable service. A flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip are included, as is a one year warranty. Making cookie dough, pizza dough, creaming butter, mixing meat loaf, and whipping egg whites are all jobs that the KitchenAid handles with ease. The KitchenAid Artisan Mixer makes baking a breeze and you will not know how you got along without it. This is a great gift that any cook or baker will appreciate at any time of the year!

Quick Link:
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers
This item qualifies for free shipping.

Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes go Hilariously Wrong

Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong

Here is another blog turned book. My husband and I check in on the Cake Wreck Blog now and then and chuckle and laugh our way through it. So funny! It is pretty amazing how badly the cakes can get messed up or misinterpreted. Sometimes it was just a really bad idea to start with. The Cake Wreck book contains some of the best from the blog but it is 75% new material. Every bit as funny as the the cakes is the running commentary of Jen Yates, the author. Customers report that the whole family from kids to Grandma finds this book hilarious. Buy several copies to give to your foodie friends!

Merry Christmas!

Keurig B70 Single Cup Brewer

The Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System
is a beautiful gift, especially with a full supply of assorted coffees, teas and hot chocolate.

This is a great gift for a couple, and especially seniors. The optional reusable coffee filter makes this coffee brewer affordable for everyone. My favorite feature is that you can not only make a fabulous cup of coffee, but also serve hot chocolate or tea as your guest prefers.

Keurig B70 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System
is my top gift choice for this year! Click for more information and see if you agree with me!

Pfaltzgraff Winterberry 16 1/2-Inch Handled Serving Platter

Pfaltzgraff Winterberry 16 1/2-Inch Handled Serving Platter

I love the cute red bow handles and the shape of this pretty Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Serving Platter. It would be great for holding cookies, a loaf of banana bread or just about anything else. It matches the Pfaltzgraff Birdhouse Cookie Jar and the Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Pie Plate with Pie Bird found on this blog. Click on this link Winterberry Birdhouse Cookie Jar to see the cookie jar and other matching Winterberry pieces.

QUICK LINK:
Click this link for a wonderful selection of Pfaltzgraff Winterberry pieces.

Merry Christmas!

Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Birdhouse Cookie Jar

The Pfaltzgraff Winterberry dinnerware collection is a beautiful set for winter time or holiday entertaining. It is decorated with holly, the most traditional of Christmas greens, its red berries a bright accent. The Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Birdhouse Cookie Jar is a great gift for someone who collects the Winterberry pattern or for someone who collects cookie jars. With its bright red roof and cheery cardinals, it would be a welcome addition to either collection.

Pfaltzgraff Winterberry Cardinal Birdhouse Cookie Jar

Click HERE to read more about the cookie jar and other Pfaltzgraff Winterberry pieces.

Cuisines of the World Spice Blends Club

Need a gift for someone who likes to cook, enjoys international cuisine, or just likes to eat? Consider the Cuisines of the World 12-month Spice Blends Club. This is a gift that gives on giving for an entire year.

The lucky recipient will remember your kindness every month when he or she receives a package containing spice packets and recipes, different each month and enough to prepare a meal for five to six people. The first month's gift includes an embossed aluminum Thai Rice Tureen and ladle, along with a welcome letter and the first spice packets.

This is truly a unique gift that will be appreciated and enjoyed even by those who are usually the hardest to buy for. It's a perfect gift for the person who has everything. Make it easy on yourself. Click to learn more and to order the Cuisines of the World 12-month Spice Blends Club and your shopping will be done!

Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover

Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover

Are you looking for a Christmas gift for the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer at your house? The person in charge of making the meals will appreciate a Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover. Long before slow cookers there were cast iron Dutch ovens. Lodge has been making cast iron cookware for more than 100 years. Our grandmothers cooked everything from bread to stew to cobblers in their cast iron pots and so can you. With proper seasoning and care, your cast iron cookware can last for generations. A Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven with Spiral Handle Bail and Iron Cover under the tree will make someone happy this Christmas!
Read more about the Lodge Logic 7-Quart Dutch Oven.

Fruit Smoothie Blender

Fruit Smoothie Blender
Ever since we bought one of these Hamilton Beach Smoothie Makers, Fruit Smoothies has been a huge hit! Seems like every night one of us is dreaming up some new this and that fruit smoothie! The smoothie blender I am talking about is this Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Smoothie Maker, it is the best blender for making fruit smoothies.
Fruit smoothies have taken off huge in my house. Whether you make it with ice cream or yogurt, fruit smoothies is a great way to get my kids to eat plenty of fruit. I took the time to share some of the most popular fruit smoothie recipes!

• Peach Smoothie Recipe
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe 
• Wild Berry Smoothie Recipe 
• Blueberry Smoothie Recipe
• Yogurt Smoothie Recipes
• Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe

 Back to the blender....

This Single Serve Smoothie Blender is great because it comes with a travel lid! You can mix up your smoothie and take it with you! Making this personal smoothie blender perfect for making breakfast fruit smoothies. The blender also has stainless steel blades and 175 watt motor to crush ice!
Looking for a perfect Christmas gift to give someone? Check out the  Hamilton Beach Single-Serve Smoothie Maker! It comes from Amazon, so you know you don't have to worry!

Taylor Digital Measuring Cup and Scale

The Taylor Digital Measuring Cup and Scale is a brand-new device that cooks will love. No more worrying about leveling off the sugar in the measuring cup or, for that matter, worrying about whether the flour should be packed in, scooped, or spooned. No more squinting to find the exact measure line for the water, oil, or milk either.

Instead, this clever invention weighs the ingredients and converts the weight to the unit you need, mililiters, cups, fluid ounces, grams, or pounds, then displays the measurement on the handle in nice, big, clear LED digits. Capacity is 1 liter or 4.4 pounds (2 kg).

The Taylor digital measuring cup has just become available and I've only found two customer reviews so far, but both were positive and people I've showed this to seem to really love it. At $29.99 it may seem a bit pricey, but what a great gift for a meticulous chef who loves to get those recipe measurements just right! Besides, it ships free with Amazon's Super-Saver Shipping.

Read more about the Taylor Digital Measuring Cup and Scale here, or order it from Amazon.com here.