New mommy/cook birthday ideas

[Inchworm]

My daughter is on a breadmaking kick. She received some starter from a friend that has been "alive" since 1980 at least. We both thought it was so cool and she was picked to do all the learning then show me.

She has been getting good at it she says. She lives away from me so I can't judge hehe.

Her birthday is coming next week, and I wanted to give her something cool. I'd prefer a multi-task item of some sort since she is just building up her kitchen inventory (we had to cut up turkey on T-day because she had no roasting pan).

Hmm, she has a new baby. Cooks for her and BF. Loves new/cool stuff. Has a glass surface stove.

I thought of getting that danish whisk thingy but won't have time to ship. She "proofs" in bowls she already has so that idea is out.

Any ideas?

:shrug:

[Lucinda]

1. Hmmmm...I will think on it. First thing that came to mind was a cool breadboard or maybe

a french butter keeper.

[Warpy]

2. Without a price range, it's hard to say

Cheap items include dough scrapers (curved and straight) and bread canvas. Slightly more expensive is the large wooden cutting board she can use on top of counter or table to knead and shape on. Ridiculously expensive is the big grandaddy of all bread baker gifts, the Kitchen Aid.

You might also consider books: Crust and Crumb and the King Arther Flour 200th Anniversary Baking Book.

You can do a gift through a chain like Bed Bath and Beyond and let her pick the item up where she lives. Some department stores will also do this.

Or you can just tell her the surprise is on the way and go with the Danish whisk.

New bakers are easy. It's us old broads who have been doing it for 30+ years who are a pain in the ass to buy for.

[Inchworm]

3. Under $100

I'm getting the whish for us both hehe

Not much in the way of department stores around either of us. I won't shop at Wal-Mart either :rofl:

:hi:

[Lucinda]

4. King Arthur has shopping online with fast delivery

Might find something there

[hippywife]

10. That's an excellent idea.

Get her some nice flours to bake with. A little unbleached white, some whole wheat pastry, and some regular whole wheat.

Don't order too much at once, tho, unless she has lots of freezer space.

[Lucinda]

12. I think they carry the cool dough whisk too.

[japple]

5. My go-to favorites for cooks: gift certificate to Penzey's

Spices or amazon.com. Amazon also has vendors that sell cooking and baking equipment. I bought a food processor from them at a very good price.

[Inchworm]

22. I feel silly

because I don't know what Penzy's even is :blush:

I can't depend on Amazon to ship quick enough.

:hi:

[hippywife]

6. This fits your price range.

I love mine. It's very versatile. Soups, stews, etc. Change out the lid knob to a ceramic cabinet knob and she can bake bread in it, too.

Plus you can order it on-line and have it shipped to her directly.


http://www.target.com/Chefmate-6-5-qt-Cast-Iron-Casserole/dp/B00113ITXU/sr=1-1/qid=1233516077/ref=sr_1_1/187-2305642-6040833?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Atramontina%20casserole&page=1

Actually that was supposed to be a Tramontina but the website is showing it as a ChefMate so you might want to buy it in the store instead. Not sure what you'll get off the website. Hmmmm.

Or you can order one made by Lodge off of Amazon and have it shipped.

[NMDemDist2]

8. I was thinking a dutch oven too, just make sure it's smooth bottomed for the glass top

range

an enamel coated one might be better but even a roasting pan with lid works with the 5 minute bread

:hi:

[Inchworm]

21. Hehe - funny story

My daughter has yet to come to the light.

After my divorce we decided that I'd be the one that learned how to cook (she did laundry). After 9 months or so she was scared to touch my cast iron, period. I was always guarding it. I freaked once when I came home and my skillet was in the dishwater with the rest of the dishes!! :D

I keep trying to give her cast iron things (I have several pieces) and she says, "thats ok Dad.. I have a skillet."

I'm working on her though.

:rofl:

[hippywife]

24. But this is enameled.

Nothing to fear.

[Inchworm]

25. Even the inside is enamel?

If so, I guess the idea is that cast iron holds temps even.

I'm a newbie.

:shrug:

[hippywife]

26. Yep.

The only part that isn't is the top rim of the pot and the bottom rim of the lid. Just need to season those.

[Lucinda]

7. ....

had something listed but the reviews say the break too easy.

[hippywife]

9. I wonder about that.

I really liked it tho. :hug:

[Lucinda]

11. Most of the reviews said they arrived broken due to poor manufacturer packaging

Not something to be bought via the mail for a gift.
I'm looking at romertopf's now on ebay.
Bill and I both like the covered cooking method results and my roaster really is tooo big for round loaves..

[hippywife]

14. My Tramontina

enameled dutch oven does a great job. My Bill bought it for me and it was only $60 at Target. They refer to it as a casserole on the label, tho. Lots less expensive than Le Creuset and Cooks Illustrated gave them a good rating.

Just don't forget to change out the knob. It says the one on it will withstand 400 degrees, IIRC.

[troubleinwinter]

16. How does one get a different knob?

Can one buy knobs that are high temp rated???

[hippywife]

17. All we did was

put a ceramic cabinet knob on it. Just got to make sure it's the same size screw for the opening as the old knob.

[troubleinwinter]

27. Oh, that's smart! TX!

[Lucinda]

19. I saw your photo, it's gorgeous! If i just wanted an enclosed pot I'd probably stick with my roaster

for the time being, because the bread turned out nicely...but I'm looking for a crispy, but less rock hard crust.

I think the steam of the clay cooker combined with the cover will accomplish it. Sort of like a good pizza oven crisp/soft texture.

[troubleinwinter]

15. Oh, go buy a smaller roaster or

a cast iron pot.

Nothing seems to indicate anything ultra-special about the clay pots.

We want items that can serve many purposes.

Best yet, claim that "bread will never be any good without a Le Cruset". One needs a damned good excuse to buy a new one. (I am using my grandfather's. I will only say that they are over 50 years old.) You can pass it on to your grandchildren and they can curse you for buying something that never wears out and they can't find an excuse to buy new cookware.

[Lucinda]

18. I've cooked in romertopfs before. They rock. I'm trying to get a nice crispy

crust that isn't too hard. The clay would probably do it.

I'd rather bake in normal cast iron dutch oven than an enameled pan anyway, so Le Cruset has no appeal for me.

[troubleinwinter]

13. Oh, NO, kids!!! We have melted the bread baking world!!!!

I was gonna tell Inchworm that the Danish Dough Whisk from Breadtopia only took TWO days to arrive (ordinary, regular shipping for $2.02), and went to double check the link.

We have bought 'em completely out!!!! Oh, NOOooo!!! (they are waiting for a new shipment date)

I wanted to buy a couple as gifts, to tie up with a big terra cotta saucer (what I've been using to bake the bread), a little sack of cornmeal, a lil' sack of dark rye, etc. and the RECIPE (or book), all in a bread basket.

Well, nobody I know better have any birthdays until the Dough whisks are back in stock.

Inchworm, Lucinda turned me on to the little butter-keepers. I got one and simply ADORE it!

I happened to get this one



But they have all manner of styles here: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=butter+bell&tag=googhydr-20&index=garden&hvadid=2205810581&ref=pd_sl_21wubwqy4n_b

They got 'em in round and square. They got 'em in crockery, sleek porcelain, stainless steel & glass, and marble. Red, yellow, blue, orange.

I really love mine and am gonna get one for my dad.

Oh!!!! A butter keeper would be a cool thing to add to the Danish Whisk/etc. gift basket!

[Lucinda]

20. King Arthur still has the whisks. In two sizes.

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail.jsp?id=5568

So there is still one source available! LOL
I think theirs are more expensive though...

[Inchworm]

23. French butter, huh?

I gots some reading to do. :D

I'm going to order 4 of those whisks when they get them again. I just created one here at the house (making cookies). It got the job done quick and is easy peasy cleaning.

:hi: