Tis the season of gift-giving and once again, I am so excited to share my annual list of recos with you. I’ve been keeping tabs on my favorite items all year long and rounded up all the kitchenware, books, and somewhat random items I absolutely adore. Without further ado, here are some things I love that would make great holiday gifts…
(This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase an item. This does not affect the price of the item.)
In clockwise order…
1. The New Nourishing by Leah Vanderveldt ($22)
I recently rediscovered my friend Leah’s cookbook, which came out in 2017, and turns out, I love it as much now as I did then. It’s packed with flavorful, colorful recipes that are truly easy – perfect for beginner plant-based cooks. It’s got everything from healthy homemade dressings and make-ahead breakfasts, to weeknight meals and indulgent shareables.
2. Morning Person Subscription ($5/month)
Paid newsletter subscriptions are all the rage these days, and I am obsessed with Leslie Stephens’ (formerly of Food52 and Cupcakes & Cashmere) weekly publication. In Morning Person, she offers what she calls “obsessively-curated recommendations” for the latest in TV, film, books, and more. Plus, short-yet-effective essays on everything from capsule wardrobes to breakfast routines to mental health. (P.S. unlike physical gifts, a digital subscription won’t end up in a landfill!)
3. Cambridge Satchel Co. Mini Satchel ($210)
If you’re in the market for something luxurious, I can’t recommend this beauty enough. My friends got me one for for my 30th birthday and I still get as much joy out of it as I did on day one. Stern but stylish (my dad calls it my Margaret Thatcher purse…*eyeroll*), it can be dressed up or down. Not vegan, but I know it’ll last me for a decade or more.
4. Food Processor ($99)
I save room for my favorite kitchen appliance in every year’s gift guide! It purees, mixes, chops, slices, and shreds. Indispensable for energy balls, bean dips, veggie burgers, and so much more.
5. OXO Herb Keeper ($16)
This nifty container is designed specifically to keep herbs fresh for as long as possible. Thanks to this guy, I can keep my cilantro, parsley, and dill from wilting for up to 2 weeks (!).
6. Crate & Barrel Atwell Glasses ($6/glass)
Just the prettiest glasses! Perfect for whiskey-lovers, rosé-sippers, OJ-drinkers, and everyone in between.
7. Klara and the Sun ($16)
Hands-down, one of the best fiction books I read this year… heck, probably the past 5 years. Set in a not-too-distant future, this touching story is told from the perspective of an “AF” (artificial friend) belonging to an affluent teenager and explores, among many others, the question, if highly-intelligent robots are capable of having unique personalities, what ultimately separates us from them?
8. UNIQLO Crew Neck Tee ($15)
As someone who lives in a jeans-and-tshirt uniform, I am always on the hunt for a great tee. And this, my friends, is the perfect tee. Soft and luxurious, thick without feeling heavy, fits perfectly (not too tight, not too slouchy), and barely wrinkles.
9. Hearth & Hand Candles ($13)
These Target candles come in the yummiest winter scents that rival even the priciest designer options. My fave: Sugared Birch – think snowy pine forest mixed with freshly-baked cookies.
10. No-Recipe Recipes ($23)
A new release from NYT Cooking, this brilliant book seeks to teach home chefs how to cook more intuitively. Unlike traditional cookbooks, each “recipe” is presented as a short list of ingredients with a suggested cooking method in the form of a paragraph – no cup measures, no weights, no cooking times. Genius!
11. OXO Oven Mitts ($17)
There’s nothing worse than that moment when you need to get something out of the oven ASAP so you grab the closest kitchen towel – which is, of course, kinda wet – and… well, you know what happens. Save a loved one from oven burns with OXO’s mitts, which – I swear – must be made of some sort of space material… I bought a pair for baking bread in a 500ºF-degree oven and immediately threw away all my other oven mitts. They are practically impenetrable to heat!
12. Immersion Blender ($19)
If there’s a soup lover on your gift list, an immersion blender is a must. They’re space-efficient, affordable, easy to clean, and ideal for hot foods. Just stick it in the pot and you’ve got creamy pureed soup in seconds.
13. “All the Restaurants” Fine Art Prints ($55/$95)
Simplistic yet beautiful illustrations of New York’s restaurant facades by illustrator John Donohue. Ideal for the restaurant lover in your life. My personal NYC faves include Nom Wah and Buvette – and there’s Paris and London restaurants, too!
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