1. Start by making your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe. Don't be afraid to get creative. 
2. Once you've made the macaroni and cheese, spread it in an even layer on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Let cool.
3. Once the macaroni and cheese is cold, slice it into squares that are roughly 1/2-inch smaller than the bread you plan on using for the grilled cheese.
4. Preheat the oven to 500°F and place a cast-iron skillet (or other oven-proof pan) inside.
5. To assemble the sandwich, butter one side of two slices of bread with salted butter. Gibson likes salted butter because it makes the sandwich have a nice salty crust.
6. Place the bread, buttered side down on a work surface and top one piece with a slice of cheese, the macaroni and cheese square, and another slice of cheese. The cheese slices act as glue for the sandwich, ensuring that the macaroni and cheese doesn't fall out. Cover the second piece of cheese with the remaining slice of bread, butter side out.
7. Remove the skillet (or pan) from the oven and place the sandwich inside.
8. Bake in the oven for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted, the bread is toasted, and the macaroni and cheese is hot. Slice into triangles and enjoy immediately.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces elbow pasta
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• salt and black pepper, to taste
• 3 ounces mild white cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup shredded)
• 3 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded (about 1 cup shredded)
• 2 ounces Pecorino cheese, finely shredded (about 3/4 cup shredded)
• 2 ounces Camembert cheese, rind removed and cut into small chunks
• 1 ounce (2 slices) white American cheese, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Place an oven rack in the top half of the oven. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
2. Add macaroni and cook for 5 minutes or until just barely al dente. Strain and set aside.
3. Heat butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet or oven-safe saucepan set over medium-high heat. When butter is melted and foamy, sprinkle over flour, whisking to incorporate into a smooth paste. Continue to whisk until frothy and light golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly drizzle in milk, whisking vigorously. If at any point the mixture clumps, continue to whisk until smooth before adding more milk. Continue whisking until all the milk has been added. Cook, whisking regularly, for 7 to 8 minutes or until sauce has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream and just barely starts to simmer around the edges. Whisk in cayenne, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
4. Set aside 1/4 cup of cheese (a mix of cheddar, gruyere, and pecorino). Sowly add remaining cheese to skillet, one handful at a time, whisking well until melted and smooth. If the sauce still has noticeable chunks in it, return pan to low heat and continue whisking for no more than 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.
5. Fold cooked macaroni into cheese sauce until evenly coated. Sprinkle with reserved shredded cheese and bread crumbs and broil on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and breadcrumbs are golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

If you are shopping for a foodie this Christmas (or even if you are not) here is my broad guide to great Christmas gifts for the kitchen.  It’s a series of things that I love that make life in the kitchen better.  If you have any comments on things that I have listed or have things that I have missed, leave them in the comments.

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts & Stocking Stuffers: Under $25 

Wine Aerator

Adding air and slowing down the pour of your wine enhances flavor and bouquet. This unique aerator by slows the flow and gently adds oxygen into the wine by funnelling it through a series of channels inside.

Wondering if a wine aerator is worth the money and hassle?  It depends on the kind of wines that you drink.

Red wines intended to have earthy flavors or age for years in a cellar (and often cost more than $10 or $15) can get to their optimal flavor faster with aeration. Inexpensive and fruity red wines are often fruitiest and most enjoyable directly from the bottle and either don’t improve or taste worse with aeration. White wines (especially fruity white wines) generally don’t improve with aeration.

• Available from Amazon | $6

Soapstone Whisky Chilling Stones

Don’t let melting ice water down your drinks.  Instead use cold frozen soapstones to keep your whiskey cold and preserve it’s rich taste.

• Get it from Amazon | $3

Silicon Pastry Mat

Silicone's is both flexible and things won't stick to it.  It's ideal for rolling pastry and cookies.  It not only makes things easier on you but it means you can use less flour, resulting in a more delicate and tender product which means everyone wins.

• Purchase from Amazon | $10

Thoughtful yet Inexpensive Christmas Presents:  $25 to $50 

CucinaPro Pasta Fresh machine

Nothing beats a plate of truly fresh pasta. And now it's easy to roll out your own at home. Whether the craving is for spaghetti or fettuccine, this sturdy machine handles the job with efficiency and style. CuninaPro pasta maker looks great on the counter and is easy to use--there's nothing to plug in as this is the tried-and-true hand-crank variety.

The easy-lock adjustable dough-dialer rolls thick or thin pasta, and it comes with spaghetti and fettuccine cutters. Cutters for tagliatelle, ravioli and angel hair pasta are available separately

• Purchase from Amazon.com | $29

Aeropress Coffee Press

It makes one of the best cups of coffee you'll ever taste. This innovative uses the ideal water temperature and gentle air pressure brewing to produce coffee and espresso that has rich flavour with lower acidity and without bitterness. It makes 1 to 4 cups of coffee or espresso (enough for 1 or 2 mugs), features a micro filtered for grit free coffee, and takes just 1 minute to make coffee (actual press time takes only 20 seconds).

 Here is how it works

• Purchase from Amazon | $25

• Find it online at Amazon.com for $23

Belgium Waffle Iron

Enjoy delicious fluffy Belgian waffles with the Hamilton Beach Belgian Style Flip Waffle Maker. Made with easy to clean non-stick grids to bake the perfect waffle with deep pockets to hold butter and syrup. The indicator lights let you know just when to add the batter and the removable tray and grids make for easy clean-up.

• Purchase from Amazon | $35

Oxo Kitchen Scale

A scale is really necessary if you're going to do serious cooking because wherever possible, you should measure your ingredients by weight, not by volume. 

A given mass of flour can vary a lot in volume, depending on things like humidity, temperature, and how long it's been sitting.  A weight indicator shows the capacity left on the Scale before maximum capacity is reached. Press the zero button to offset the weight of a container or to set the weight back to zero to add additional ingredients. The display features large, easy-to-read numbers which measure in 1/8-ounce and 1-gram increments and the platform can be removed for cleaning. The Scale has a 5-pound capacity and two AAA batteries are included.

• Purchase from Amazon | $25

Cusinart Immersion Blender

Don't buy a cheap one--stick with Braun, Cuisinart, or KitchenAid.  They aren’t cutting edge but if you don’t have one, you don’t know what you are missing.  I use mine for my making Caesar Salad Dressing, mixing up packets of mix and pureeing soups

• Find it at Amazon | $35

With a stylish design and durable stainless steel carafe, this 8-cup coffeemaker is perfect for home, office or practically anywhere you want hot, fresh coffee at the touch of a button. All this, plus an easy-clean control panel and dishwasher-safe removable parts for effortless cleanup.  The advantage of the carafe is that you won’t be stuck with hot burnt coffee in case you don’t get it off the maker in time.  The coffee will be as hot and fresh later as it is right now.

• Purchase from Amazon | $48

 Alcohol Dispenser for Vodka, Whiskey, etc

For centuries, whiskies have been aged in wooden kegs. The charring on the inside of the keg helps to filter the beverage from impurities while also giving whiskey its unique, brown color. 
To celebrate the advent of the slow, smoothing, and character building process of aging liquors, here is a handsome glass keg decanter complete with a wooden resting cradle. 

• Find it at Amazon | $60 

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Sportsman's Charcoal Grill

If you are a griller who loves to cook on charcoal, you will want to check out this cast iron hibachi grill.

• Measures 19 by 10-1/4 by 8-1/4-inch; limited lifetime warranty.
• 2 Adjustable heights temper cooking speed; wash by hand
• Draft door regulates heat; coals accessible behind flip-down door
• Cooking grate measures 17-1/4 by 9-inch; seasoned and ready to use
• Rugged, charcoal, hibachi-style grill made of durable cast iron

 

• Purchase at Amazon.com | $95

Bodum Tea Press

A lovely way to brew tea to your exact preference, the Bodum Shin Cha tea press combines elegant shaping with crafty functionality. The spherical glass pot features a stainless-steel plunge infuser inside and a stainless-steel lid. Fill the infuser with loose leaf or tea bags, add hot water, wait the desired amount of steeping time, then plunge. The plunger pushes the tea below the infuser holes, so brewing stops on a dime and tea does not over steep to the point of bitterness. To clean up, the unit goes safely in the dishwasher. With its glass spout, body, and handle, the Shin Cha showcases tea colors beautifully but does require somewhat careful handling. 

• Purchase at Amazon.com | $67

Burr coffee grinder

For grinding larger quantities of coffee beans for a coffee-drinking crowd, Capresso's commercial-grade Infinity grinder handles 8-1/2 ounces of beans at a time. Sixteen different settings--four each in the four categories of extra fine, fine, regular, and coarse--let you adjust the grind to the specific blend of coffee and method of brewing. The finest setting is ideal for preparing Turkish coffee, which is a rare feature to find in a grinder.

A built-in timer sets the grind for anywhere between 5 and 60 seconds so you can walk away without having to constantly press a button to continue the grinding process. The Infinity has an advanced conical burr design made of steel that is usually only found on commercial grinders. This burr design slows down the gears and reduces the amount of friction and heat to preserve coffee's flavour and aroma. The coffee container holds up to 4 ounces of grounds and remains sealed during grinding. For safety, the bean container also needs to be locked into place for the Infinity to operate. For easy cleaning, the bean container and upper burr lift off so you can clean the grinding chamber with the included brush and wipe down the exterior housing.

• Purchase from Amazon | $100

Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler

Yes you have a George Forman grill but this is so much more than that.  The Cuisinart Griddler is actually five appliances in one. A hinged, floating cover and one set of removable and reversible cooking plates turn the Griddler into a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, or half grill/half griddle. Dual temperature controls and indicator lights make this product easy to use.

Kitchenaid Convection Oven

It’s a great replacement for the stove in the summer and a supplement to the oven when you are making a big meal or for parties.  I am surprised how much cooking and baking I can do with it.

• Purchase at Amazon | $130

Kitchenaid Stand Mixer

The Professional 600 TM has a powerful motor that is crafted for commercial-style performance, the direct drive, all-steel gear transmission delivers unyielding power for professional results. The mixer can effectively mix up to 14 cups of all-purpose flour per recipe and produce up to 8 pounds of mashed potatoes. The Soft Start mixing feature helps minimize ingredient splatter and flour puff with gentle acceleration to selected speed after start-up. Electronic Speed Sensor monitors operation to maintain precise mixer speed. Commercial-style motor protection automatically shuts off the mixer when overload is sensed to protect the motor. Durable all-steel gears provide reliable service. The mixer includes a 6-quart-capacity stainless-steel mixing bowl with a contoured handle, as well as a professional wire whip, a burnished flat beater, a spiral dough hook, and a one piece pouring shield. Its multipurpose attachment hub with a hinged hub cover flips open to allow for easy installation of attachments. The Professional 600 Series bowl-lift design raises the bowl into the mixing position, and its solid, truly seamless one-piece motor head design is easy to clean and comes in a variety of fashionable colors.

• Purchase from Amazon.com | $329

If you are looking for more or past Christmas Gift Guides, check out my husbands excellent series of Christmas gift and idea guides that he posts each year on his website.  If you think I am missing something, let me know in the comments below.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups of your favorite prepared Mac and Cheese (homemade or from a box)
• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1/3 cup Beef Marinade
• 6 cheese slices of your choice (Cheddar recommended)
• 1/3 cup of your favourite Bar-B-Q Sauce
• 1 red onion, sliced
• Pickles

Directions

1. Prepare the Mac & Cheese according to recipe (or the directions on the box).
2. In a large bowl, mix the ground beef and marinade. With your hands, make 6 large hamburger patties.
3. Prepare the grill for direct cooking. Over medium heat, cook the burger until done, about 10-12 minutes, flipping once during cooking. Add the cheese during the last minute of cooking to melt.
4. Assemble the burgers from the bottom up: bottom bun, pickles, onion, cheese burger, ¼ cup of mac & cheese. Drizzle 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce over the mac & cheese and then top with the bun.

Ingredients

• 1/3 pound ground beef
• salt and pepper
• 24 wonton wrappers
• 1 3/4 cups grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup pasta sauce
• garnish
• basil for (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. Brown beef, and season with salt and pepper. Drain.

3. Cut wonton wrappers into circle shapes (about 2 1/4- inches) using a biscuit cutter or using the top of a drinking glass. You can cut several at a time. Note: For a more rustic look, no cutting necessary!

4. Reserve 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese and 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese for the top of your cupcakes. Start layering your lasagna cupcakes. Begin with a wonton wrapper and press it into the bottom of each muffin tin. Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese in each. Top with a little meat and pasta sauce.

5. Repeat layers again (i.e. wonton, Parmesan, ricotta, mozzarella, and pasta sauce). Top with reserved Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. To remove, use a knife to loosen the edges then pop each lasagna out.

7. Garnish with basil and serve.

An inside look at how Raman noodles are made for some of New York City’s top restaurants.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 
• 10 small pork sausage links, cut up 
• 1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed 
• 1 jar (24 ounces) Chunky Salsa 
• 3 medium green or red peppers, cut into 1/4-inch rings (about 24 rings) 
• 1 medium onion, sliced (about 1/2 cup) 
• 8 fresh mushrooms, sliced (about 3 cups) 
• 1/2 of a 16-ounce package linguine, cooked and drained (about 4 cups) 
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, sausages and Italian seasoning. Cook until the sausages are well browned and cooked through.
2. Stir the picante sauce, peppers, onion and mushrooms in the skillet. Heat to a boil. Cover the skillet. Reduce the heat to low.
3. Cook for 25 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Serve over the linguine and sprinkle with the cheese.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces penne
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 2 firm-ripe roma tomatoes, cored and diced

Directions

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne according to package directions.
2. Melt butter over medium heat. Add flour; stir for 1 minute. Add half-and-half; stir until thickened, 6 minutes. Remove from heat; add parmesan, salt and pepper. Cover.
3. Pound chicken to 1/2-inch thickness. Rub Cajun seasoning and cayenne evenly over chicken. Warm oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning once, until no longer pink in center, 6-8 minutes. Slice chicken.
4. In a bowl, toss pasta with sauce. Top with chicken and tomatoes and serve.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
• 2/3 cup clam juice (or chicken broth)
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• 8 ounces linguine, cooked and drained

Directions

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic; reduce heat to low. Simmer until garlic is tender.
2. Add shrimp and cook over medium-low heat until opaque. Remove, reserve liquid in pan.
3. Add clam juice (or chicken broth) and bring to a boil.
4. Add wine; cook over medium high heat for three (3) minutes, stirring constantly.
5. Reduce heat to low; add cream, stirring constantly.
6. Add cheese, stirring until smooth. Cook until thickened.
7. Add shrimp back in to sauce. Heat thoroughly.
8. Add remaining ingredients except pasta.
9. Put pasta in a large bowl and pour sauce over pasta; toss gently to coat.
10. Serve with additional grated parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

• 10 ea lasagna noodles -- cooked and drained
• 16 ozs fresh spinach -- cooked as directed
• 5 cloves garlic -- minced
• 3 c fresh mushrooms -- sliced
• 1 1/2 c carrot -- grated
• 1 c onion -- chopped
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 1/2 tsps basil
• 3 tbsps parsley -- chopped
• 14 ozs crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 c pitted black olives -- sliced
• 15 ozs tomato puree
• 6 ozs tomato paste
• 12 ozs lowfat cottage cheese
• 12 ozs fat-free ricotta cheese
• 1 tsp grated lemon rind
• 1/4 c Egg Beaters¨ 99% egg substitute
• 8 ozs fat-free mozzarella cheese -- grated
• 8 ozs LF Monterey jack cheese -- grated
• Parmesan cheese -- grated
• 1/4 c tomato sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash spinach and cook leaves in large skillet with small amount of water until wilted (2-3 min.); set aside. In large sauté pan, sauté onion and garlic in small amount of broth or water until translucent. 
2. Add carrots, mushrooms, basil, oregano and parsley; cook until tender. 
3. Add olives and tomato ingredients, and cook over low heat until heated through. 
4. In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta, optional egg, and lemon peel. Spread bottom of 9x13 pan with 1/4 c. tomato sauce or puree. 
5. Layer half each in the following order: noodles, ricotta mixture, spinach, grated mozzarella and jack cheese, and sauce mixture; repeat for second layer. 
6. Top with grated parmesan. 
7. Bake 30-40 minutes, let stand 10 minutes before serving. 

Ingredients

• 5 5/8 ozs chicken flavor ramen noodle soup
• 1/2 c fat-free sour cream
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1 lb ground chicken breast, skinless
• 1/2 c onions -- chopped
• 10 3/4 ozs tomato soup, condensed
• 1/2 can soup can water
• 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp prepared mustard
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Add seasoning packets and sour cream. Drain off most liquid; set aside. In a 10″ skillet over medium heat, in hot oil, cook chicken and onions until chicken is no longer pink and onions are tender. Stir in tomato soup, water, worcestershire sauce, mustard, and black pepper. Stir in reserved noodles. Heat through, stirring occasionally.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 each small onion -- chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 cups water
• 1 can tomato soup -- undiluted
• 1 can corn -- (12 oz.), undrained
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup uncooked macaroni
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. In a large skillet, brown the meat and onion. Drain off the fat.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients, except the cheese. Cover, and simmer 20-30 minutes, or until the macaroni is tender.
3. Uncover, and sprinkle with cheese. Stir well. Continue cooking until cheese is melted.

If you are shopping for a foodie this Christmas (or even if you are not) here is my broad guide to great Christmas gifts for the kitchen.  It’s a series of things that I love that make life in the kitchen better.  If you have any comments on things that I have listed or have things that I have missed, leave them in the comments.
Inexpensive Christmas Gifts & Stocking Stuffers: Under $25
Butter boat
This uses evaporative cooling to keep butter at room temperature without spoiling.  There's a well for water, and then a butter dish that rests on top of it, and slowly wicks water through the ceramic.  The upshot is that as long as you change the water every few days, you can keep butter in the dish for weeks which is awesome considering Saskatchewan’s hot summers.

• Purchase from Amazon.com | $16

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Cookbook stand
This holds the cookbook up where you can see it and keeps it from having something splashed all over it which if I let Jordon, Mark, or Oliver in the kitchen is very likely to happen.

• Purchase from Amazon.com | $17

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Ninjabread Cookie Cutters
Gingerbread was so last year.  Ninjabread cookie cutters make any cookie a lot more fun (and stealthily dangerous) to make and eat.  
There cookie cutters are sure to be a hit all year round.

• Purchase from Amazon | $10

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Silicon Pastry Mat
Silicone's is both flexible and things won't stick to it.  It's ideal for rolling pastry and cookies.  It not only makes things easier on you but it means you can use less flour, resulting in a more delicate and tender product which means everyone wins.

• Purchase from Amazon | $9

---

Thoughtful yet Inexpensive Christmas Presents:  $25 to $50
CucinaPro Pasta Fresh machine
Nothing beats a plate of truly fresh pasta. And now it's easy to roll out your own at home. Whether the craving is for spaghetti or fettuccine, this sturdy machine handles the job with efficiency and style. Made of heavyweight chromed steel, with an attractive wood grip handle, Villaware's pasta maker looks great on the counter and is easy to use--there's nothing to plug in as this is the tried-and-true hand-crank variety. The easy-lock adjustable dough-dialer rolls thick or thin pasta, and it comes with spaghetti and fettuccine cutters. Cutters for tagliatelle and angel hair pasta are available separately

• Purchase from Amazon.com | $29

---

Aeropress Coffee Press
It makes one of the best cups of coffee you'll ever taste. This innovative uses the ideal water temperature and gentle air pressure brewing to produce coffee and espresso that has rich flavour with lower acidity and without bitterness. It makes 1 to 4 cups of coffee or espresso (enough for 1 or 2 mugs), features a micro filtered for grit free coffee, and takes just 1 minute to make coffee (actual press time takes only 20 seconds).

• Purchase from Amazon | $25

---

Belgium Waffle Iron
Enjoy delicious fluffy Belgian waffles with the Hamilton Beach Belgian Style Flip Waffle Maker. Made with easy to clean non-stick grids to bake the perfect waffle with deep pockets to hold butter and syrup. The indicator lights let you know just when to add the batter and the removable tray and grids make for easy clean-up.

• Purchase from Amazon | $35

---

Oxo Kitchen Scale
A scale is really necessary if you're going to do serious cooking because wherever possible, you should measure your ingredients by weight, not by volume.  A given mass of flour can vary a lot in volume, depending on things like humidity, temperature, and how long it's been sitting.  A weight indicator shows the capacity left on the Scale before maximum capacity is reached. Press the zero button to offset the weight of a container or to set the weight back to zero to add additional ingredients. The display features large, easy-to-read numbers which measure in 1/8-ounce and 1-gram increments and the platform can be removed for cleaning. The Scale has a 5-pound capacity and two AAA batteries are included.

• Purchase from Amazon | $25

---

Immersion blender ($42)  Don't buy a cheap one--stick with Braun, Cuisinart, or KitchenAid.  They aren’t cutting edge but if you don’t have one, you don’t know what you are missing.  I use mine for my making Caesar Salad Dressing, pureeing soups, and chopped a lot of vegetables.

---

Black and Decker Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker
With a stylish design and durable stainless steel carafe, this 8-cup coffeemaker is perfect for home, office or practically anywhere you want hot, fresh coffee at the touch of a button. All this, plus an easy-clean control panel and dishwasher-safe removable parts for effortless cleanup.  The advantage of the carafe is that you won’t be stuck with hot burnt coffee in case you don’t get it off the maker in time.  The coffee will be as hot and fresh later as it is right now.
Purchase from Amazon | $48

---

Wine Decanter
You can get a $10 wine decanter at your neighbourhood grocery store but if you want to get a memorable gift, check out this etched globe decanter.

• Use for port, cognac or wine
• As you spin the decanter, its precious contents will also aerate to open up the flavour and allow your wine or spirits' aromas to develop
• Heat-resistant glass globe decanter features decorative etching of the world map
• Includes glass decanter stopper and glass base

• Purchase at Amazon | $45

---

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Sportsman's Charcoal Grill
If you are a griller who loves to cook on charcoal, you will want to check out this cast iron hibachi grill.

• Measures 19 by 10-1/4 by 8-1/4-inch; limited lifetime warranty.
• 2 Adjustable heights temper cooking speed; wash by hand
• Draft door regulates heat; coals accessible behind flip-down door
• Cooking grate measures 17-1/4 by 9-inch; seasoned and ready to use
• Rugged, charcoal, hibachi-style grill made of durable cast iron

• Purchase at Amazon.com | $65

---

Bodum Tea Press
A lovely way to brew tea to your exact preference, the Bodum Shin Cha tea press combines elegant shaping with crafty functionality. The spherical glass pot features a stainless-steel plunge infuser inside and a stainless-steel lid. Fill the infuser with loose leaf or tea bags, add hot water, wait the desired amount of steeping time, then plunge. The plunger pushes the tea below the infuser holes, so brewing stops on a dime and tea does not over steep to the point of bitterness. To clean up, the unit goes safely in the dishwasher. With its glass spout, body, and handle, the Shin Cha showcases tea colors beautifully but does require somewhat careful handling.

• Purchase at Amazon.com | $67

---

All-Clad One Quart Saucier
Little pans (especially high quality ones) tend to be overlooked as gifts but I use them a lot around the house in making things like gravy, au juice, or if I need a smaller portion of something.  I never thought it was that important but now that I have one, I love it.

• Purchase at Amazon.com | $75 

  ---

Burr coffee grinder
For grinding larger quantities of coffee beans for a coffee-drinking crowd, Capresso's commercial-grade Infinity grinder handles 8-1/2 ounces of beans at a time. Sixteen different settings--four each in the four categories of extra fine, fine, regular, and coarse--let you adjust the grind to the specific blend of coffee and method of brewing. The finest setting is ideal for preparing Turkish coffee, which is a rare feature to find in a grinder. A built-in timer sets the grind for anywhere between 5 and 60 seconds so you can walk away without having to constantly press a button to continue the grinding process. The Infinity has an advanced conical burr design made of steel that is usually only found on commercial grinders. This burr design slows down the gears and reduces the amount of friction and heat to preserve coffee's flavour and aroma. The coffee container holds up to 4 ounces of grounds and remains sealed during grinding. For safety, the bean container also needs to be locked into place for the Infinity to operate. For easy cleaning, the bean container and upper burr lift off so you can clean the grinding chamber with the included brush and wipe down the exterior housing.
Purchase from Amazon | $83.

---

Cuisinart Griddler ($84) | Yes you have a George Forman grill but this is so much more than that.  The Cuisinart Griddler is actually five appliances in one. A hinged, floating cover and one set of removable and reversible cooking plates turn the Griddler into a contact grill, panini press, full grill, full griddle, or half grill/half griddle. Dual temperature controls and indicator lights make this product easy to use.

---

Extravagant Gestures:  $150 and Up
Kitchenaid Convection Oven
It’s a great replacement for the stove in the summer and a supplement to the oven when you are making a big meal or for parties.  We have a toaster oven at the cabin as our main oven and while I miss the size of my oven, I am surprised how much cooking and baking I can do with it.

• Purchase at Amazon | $126

---

Kitchenaid Stand Mixer
The Professional 600 TM has a powerful motor that is crafted for commercial-style performance, the direct drive, all-steel gear transmission delivers unyielding power for professional results. The mixer can effectively mix up to 14 cups of all-purpose flour per recipe and produce up to 8 pounds of mashed potatoes. The Soft Start mixing feature helps minimize ingredient splatter and flour puff with gentle acceleration to selected speed after start-up. Electronic Speed Sensor monitors operation to maintain precise mixer speed. Commercial-style motor protection automatically shuts off the mixer when overload is sensed to protect the motor. Durable all-steel gears provide reliable service. The mixer includes a 6-quart-capacity stainless-steel mixing bowl with a contoured handle, as well as a professional wire whip, a burnished flat beater, a spiral dough hook, and a one piece pouring shield. Its multipurpose attachment hub with a hinged hub cover flips open to allow for easy installation of attachments. The Professional 600 Series bowl-lift design raises the bowl into the mixing position, and its solid, truly seamless one-piece motor head design is easy to clean and comes in a variety of fashionable colors.

• Purchase from Amazon.com| $400

---

Kitchenaid Food Processor
With its powerful motor, this convenient food processor quickly and easily slices, dices, chops, and purees, helping to reduce prep time in the kitchen. The appliance comes with a large 9-cup work bowl that makes it easy to create an entire meal from scratch. The unit's extra-large one-piece feed tube accommodates whole fruits and vegetables and allows for continuous processing.
Accessories include a stainless-steel medium slicing disc (4 mm), a stainless-steel shredding disc, a chopping/mixing blade, a dough blade, and a detachable disc stem, plus a plastic spatula, a recipe/instruction book, and a how-to DVD. The unit's compact build means it will fit comfortably on any countertop, and its brushed stainless finish adds a touch of elegance to any modern kitchen. All removable parts clean up easily by hand or in the dishwasher. The food processor measures 9-1/2 by 7 by 13 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty with a 10-year limited warranty on the motor.

• Purchase at Amazon | $135

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Tonx Coffee

• Purchase at Tonx | $19 every two weeks

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If you are looking for more or past Christmas Gift Guides, check out my husbands excellent series of Christmas gift and idea guides that he posts each year on his website.

There are a lot of mediocre beef stroganoff recipe's out there but after trying this one, I think you will agree with me that it stands out and is still easy to make.

Ingredients

• 500 g beef strips or fast fry steaks, cut into thin strips
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh-ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 227-g pkg sliced cremini mushrooms
• 5 cups no-yolk egg noodles
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 cup 35% cream
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

Directions

1. Boil a large pot of water for noodles.
2. Toss meat with flour, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until well coated.
3. Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large non-stick frying pan set over medium-high. Add meat and stir for about 3 min. Transfer to a bowl. Add remaining butter to pan, then onion and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms start to soften, about 4 min.
4. Add noodles to boiling water and cook, following package directions. Add wine to mushrooms and cook until absorbed, about 3 min. Add cream and return meat and any juices to pan. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until sauce starts to thicken, about 2 min. Stir in thyme. Drain noodles and serve meat sauce overtop.

Inspired by the delicious Mac & Cheese served by a local pub in Saskatoon.

Ingredients

• 2 cup of elbow macaroni
• 1 container (250 ml) of garlic & herb cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons of Panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 chopped green onion
• 1 pound of chopped and cooked bacon

Directions

1. Cook macaroni as per directions
2. In separate fry pan, chop and cook bacon.  Then drain.
3. As soon as macaroni is cooked, strain and mix in cream cheese and half of Parmesan cheese. Mix until creamy.
4. Mix breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in separate bowl and set aside.
5. Mix green onion and bacon in with macaroni.
6. Sprinkle bread crumbs/parmesan cheese on top and back at 350 degrees until it starts to turn golden and is crispy.

Serves 4.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of chicken broth
• 2 cups of diced celery
• 1 cup of diced onion
• 1 cup of chopped cabbage (boo chou if available)
• 2 tablespoons of peanut oil
• 1 1/2 cups of sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cups of fresh bean sprouts
• 2 tablespoon of dark molasses
• 1 tablespoon ofSoy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 To 5 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1 pound of cooked, boned chicken, torn-into bite-size shreds
• 1 can chow mein noodles

Directions

1. In a saucepan, bring the chicken broth to simmer. Add the celery, onion, and cabbage. Simmer, stiring occasionally, until the celery is soft.
2. Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet or wok. Saute the mushrooms until they begin to soften. Add the bean sprouts; cook and stir until they are soft. Use a slotted spoon to place the celery, onion, and cabbage in the skillet. Add the molasses and soy sauce. Stir and cook, adding enough broth to keep it moist and loose.
3. Melt the butter in a small pan over medium-high heat.  Cook the eggs until firm, with minimal stirring. You want an “egg pancake”. Remove the eggs from the pan, season to taste, and slice into thin strips.
4. Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining chicken broth. Stir into the vegetables in the wok, and stir as the mixture thickens. Add torn chicken and heat through.
5. To serve, put a layer of chow mien noodles on each plate and heap with the chicken and vegetable mixture. Top with the shreds of eggs.

[ Sun Plus, The Baltimore Sun; Aug 28, 1990 ]

Ingredients

• 43 ounces canned whole peeled plum tomatoes (from a 28-ounce can and a 15-ounce can)
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese, room temperature
• 1 box (12 ounces) no-boil lasagna noodles
• 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, shredded
• 1/4 cup grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a food processor, pulse tomatoes until coarsely pureed. In a large deep skillet, bring tomatoes, garlic, and oil to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce to a simmer and cook on medium until thickened, about 12 minutes (you should have 5 cups marinara sauce).
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together egg yolk, ricotta, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Carefully pour sauce into a heatproof bowl and return 3/4 cup to skillet; spread sauce evenly. Add a single layer of noodles, breaking them up to fit. Top with half the ricotta mixture, spreading evenly. Follow with a second layer of noodles, then 1 1/2 cups marinara. Add a third layer of noodles, then remaining ricotta mixture. Follow with a final noodle layer, then remaining sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella and pecorino over top.
• Bake lasagna until golden and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

My husband Jordon, who is always on the search for new ways of serving macaroni and cheese, loves this recipe.  The kids get a kick out of it as well.  It's a great variation on a classic.

Ingredients

• 1 frozen pie shell
• 3 ½ cups (875 mL) cooked elbow macaroni (1½ cups cups/375 mL uncooked)
• 3 tbsp (50 mL) butter
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups (375mL) 2% milk
• 2 cups (500 mL) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
• 6 Slices fully-cooked bacon, coarsely chopped and divided
• ¼ cup (50 mL) grated parmesan cheese, divided
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake the pie shell according to package directions for a baked pie shell. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and mix well, cook, stirring continuously, for 3 minutes.
• Whisk milk gradually into the butter mixture and continue to whisk until sauce has come to a boil and is slightly thickened. Add Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper and continue to whisk for 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is melted, sauce is thicker and creamy smooth.
• Combine the cooked macaroni, cheese sauce, ½ the bacon and ½ the Parmesan cheese together in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fill baked pie shell with cheese mixture and top with remaining bacon and Parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is slightly golden. Allow to stand for five minutes before serving.

Tips

1. For a crispy golden top, place pie under a broiler on high heat for an extra few minutes.
2. Make your macaroni filling and bake pie shell the day before. Refrigerate filling overnight and fill the baked pie shell just before the final baking for a fast dinner preparation!
3. Serve with ketchup.
4. Add up to 1 cup (250 mL) of your favorite veggies to the macaroni mixture.
5. Great in tart shells for individual servings. 

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of dried lasagna noodles
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 2 pounds of ground Italian sausage
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup of finely chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon of chopped oregano leaves
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• 2 cups of red wine
• 2 (28-ounce) cans of tomatoes (recommended: San Marzano)
• 3 tablespoons of heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 quarts ricotta cheese, (2 containers)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Grated Parmesan and mozzarella, for topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cook the lasagna noodles in plenty of boiling salted water until pliable and barely tender, about 10 minutes. Stir with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking. Drain the noodles thoroughly and coat with olive oil to keep them moist and easy to work with.
3. Coat a large skillet with olive oil, add beef and sausage and brown until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. In a food processor, combine the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, basil, parsley, an oregano. Process until pureed, add to the pan with the ground meat and stir to combine. Stir in the flour. Add the wine and cook until it has reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes and add the heavy cream and the cinnamon.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta and the parmesan. Stir in the eggs and season with salt and pepper.
5. To assemble the lasagna: Coat the bottom of a deep 13 by 9-inch pan with olive oil. Arrange 4 noodles lengthwise in a slightly overlapping layer on the sauce. Then, line each end of the pan with a lasagna noodle. This forms a collar that holds in the corners. Dollop 1/2 of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, spread to the edges with a spatula. Spread 1/2 of the meat mixture over the ricotta. Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella on top of the ricotta. Top with a ladle full of sauce, spread evenly. Repeat with the next layer of noodles, ricotta, sauce, and cheeses. Top last layer with noodles, sauce, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan. Tap the pan to force out air bubbles. Bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven. Let lasagna rest for 30 minutes so the noodles will settle and cut easily. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.

Ingredients

• 1 gallon water
• 1 cup mushrooms
• 2 tbsp. chopped bacon
• 3 tsp. chopped garlic
• 4 oz. browned butter *recipe (see below)
• 8 oz. dry spaghetti
• 1/2 cup Mizithra Cheese

Directions

1. Bring about one gallon of water to a boil in the sauce pan. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water for approximately nine minutes.
2. While the spaghetti cooks, preheat a large skillet and sauté the bacon for approximately three minutes.
3. When the bacon is done, add mushrooms and sauté for 45 seconds.
4. Then add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the Mizithra and browned butter and mix well.
5. Drain the cooked spaghetti in the strainer and add the spaghetti to the large skillet with the ingredients, toss with tongs and serve immediately.

*Browned Butter recipe:

1/2 cup butter (one stick – 1/4 lb)

1. Cut butter into cubes and place in a small saucepan with a light-colored interior (this makes it easier to gauge the color of the butter as it browns). Cook butter over medium heat until it comes to a low boil, stirring frequently with a whisk for about three minutes. Cook while stirring constantly to prevent residue from sticking and overflowing, about four minutes or until foam subsides.
2. Continue to cook until the liquid turns an amber color, one to two minutes longer. Remove from heat.
3. Set aside for three to five minutes to let the sediment settle to the bottom of the pan. Pour the browned butter through a strainer into a small bowl and discard the sediment.