I’ve selected for you some of my Kitchen Must-Haves and some Just For Fun pieces for the Mom who has it all. First up are fun but practical gifts that are under $100. If you want to splurge on a fantastic Mama, scroll down for gifts $100 and up! I have chosen a lot of these products because I’m fortunate enough to own them and they are the items I swear by and use every day.
*Note that prices are current as of the time I’ve published this, but because every store now has everything on “sale” all the time, I can’t promise you what the prices will be down the road!
GIFT GUIDE – UNDER $100
Porto Tile Print Apron – $34.95 – An elegant and classic pattern! I’m a little biased, because (Carolina) blue is my favorite color!
Walnut Fruit Bowl – $99.99 – A timeless piece for the counter top, tablescape or even as a coffee table centerpiece. The low and wide profile reduces the need for stacking to keep fresh fruit bruise free.
All-Clad Stainless-Steel Straight Peeler – $19.95 – This stainless-steel peeler creates extra-thin layers of fruit and vegetables with ease. The horizontal design offers comfort and control, for everything from peeling apples to shaving asparagus.
5-Blade Herb Scissors – $9.56 – This scissor-shaped herb cutter is the perfect tool for snipping and mincing herbs, scallions and other delicate foods. Five-blade design cuts quickly and evenly.
Quilted China Storage Cases – $29.99-$39.99 – These storage cases help keep your prized dinnerware in mint condition and dust-free, ready to shine on special occasions.
Copper Spoon Rest – $19.95 – A pop of copper next to your stove top will elevate the look of any range.
Digital Instant Read Thermometer – $24.95 – This precision thermometer affords an accurate reading instantly, ensuring that your meats and poultry are cooked to a safe internal temperature and the desired doneness. Perfect for my Best Ever Grilled Chicken!
7″ Serving Bowls – $9.99-$16.00 – Bright accents for any gathering. Just think of the taco bar you could create! Sold individually.
Porto Tile Jacquard Kitchen Towels Set of 2 – $12.95 – A beautiful pop of cool blue that is neutral enough to match any kitchen.
Williams Sonoma Garlic Press – $15.00 – Save time and mess by mincing garlic with a garlic press. It quickly crushes whole cloves into a soft pulp that melts into your favorite recipes – from salad dressings to pasta dishes. No more biting into large chunks of garlic!
Silicone and Stainless Steel Spatula – $12.95 – My go-to for scraping, folding, lifting, flipping and spreading. An absolute must-have multipurpose tool.
Imperia Pasta Machine – $79.95 – Homemade pasta is easy to prepare with this old-fashioned Italian-made machine, the same kind used in home kitchens throughout Italy. The optional attachment rolls, stuffs and crimps dough to make pillow-like ravioli.
Hammered Copper Pitcher – $99.95 – This stunning copper pitcher brings sophistication to both everyday gatherings and special events. Its large portion supplies groups with plenty of water, sweet tea or sangria.
Ultimate Decorating Tool – $34.95 – This icing tool makes it easy to create beautiful cakes, cupcakes and cookies. The squeeze handle presses icing evenly through the tube and keeps the warmth of your hands away from the contents. The set includes a filling injector plus six small and three large tips for making a wide range of designs.
Lacquer Trays – $51.00 – Trays that are versatile enough to go beyond serving drinks and can even be used on a dresser to organize makeup or on a coffee table to hold a stack of books.
Wooden Spoons Set of 4 – $29.99 – I love and rely on wooden spoons so much that I wrote an entire blog post about them! Must. Have.
Microplane Paddle Grater – $29.95 – My favorite tool for grating hard cheeses like Parmesan and for zesting citrus fruits.
Garlic Hand Cleaner – $7.96 – Remove odors from your hands after prepping garlic, onions or seafood. Simply rub your hands on the brushed stainless-steel surface and the lingering smells disappear. Brilliant.
Reactive Glaze Serveware – $34.00-$49.00 – The cool tones of these Dusty Mint serving pieces will help you entertain through all four seasons. Sold individually.
Copper Utensils Set of 4 – $46.99 – Crafted of durable stainless steel with a copper-plated finish, each utensil has a long handle and a small hole for hanging.
Paderno 4 Blade Spiralizer & Cookbook – $59.95 – Equipped with four blades, this Spiralizer transforms veggies into thin “angel-hair” strands as well as spiral cuts, shoestrings and ribbon “noodles.” Great for making pasta dishes, stir fries, salads, french fries – and lots more. Includes a copy of The Spiralizer Cookbook by the Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen.
End-Grain Cutting Board – $99.95 – Great for everything from chopping fresh fruits and veggies to slicing bread. Also a stunning serving piece for your cheese or charcuterie platter.
Copper Measuring Cups Set of 4 – $39.95 – Just as beautiful as they are functional. Set of four in 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and 1-cup measures.
Glass Mixing Bowls Set of 3 – $65.95 – This trio of glass bowls is perfect for mixing and prepping ingredients and can easily double as colorful serveware.
Infusing Drink Dispenser – $36.00 – This drink dispenser’s center allows the flavor of lemons, cucumber, rosemary, mint or your favorite fruit come through lemonade or cocktails while keeping seeds, pith and small bits out of your beverage.
AERIN Seville Dinner Plate Set of 4 – $67.95 – Floral serveware perfect for spring and summer entertaining!
Egg Rings Set of 4 – $19.95 – Nonstick rings turn out perfectly round fried eggs that fit neatly on English muffins. Arrange the rings on a heated fry pan or griddle, then crack an egg into each one. When the eggs are cooked to your liking, just lift off the rings using the easy-to-grip handles.
Peugeot Pepper Mill – $54.95 – Adjustable from fine to coarse grind, this mill is ideal for the breakfast table, family dinners and casual entertaining.
Cookie Scoop – $14.95 – Quickly create even portions of cookie dough or meatballs. A squeeze of the handles releases each portion cleanly.
Stainless and Nylon Tongs – $11.99 – Multi-purpose tongs that won’t scratch your non-stick surfaces! Tongs lock closed for compact storage.
AERIN Figural Leaf Chip & Dip Platter – $99.95 – Whimsical serveware that is perfect for everything from crudités and dip to chips and salsa to fruit and berries.
All-Clad Flat Whisk – $39.95 – Flat whisks are perfect for making sauces and gravies as well as for deglazing pans when you need to stir while also scraping the bottom of a pan to prevent sticking.
Schmidt Brothers Teak 8″ Chef’s Knife – $69.95 – Use the versatile chef’s knife for chopping, dicing and slicing. A great value, it makes a wonderful addition to your everyday knife collection.
Iznik Melamine Dip Bowls Set of 4 – $19.95 – These colorful melamine bowls are scratch-resistant and shatter-resistant and ideal for outdoor dining and entertaining.
Gold Textured Cheese Knives Set of 3 – $39.95 – Stainless-steel cheese knives that come in three classic shapes for different types of cheese and accompaniments.
Monkey Cocktail Shaker – $99.95 – Just because.
GIFT GUIDE – SPLURGE! $100 and up
Le Creuset Dutch Oven – $250.00-$500.00 – When it comes to cookware, these are simply the best. I use mine for nearly everything I cook on the stove. When not in use, I leave them out on the range because they’re so lovely! Le Creuset is not just beloved because they come in a huge variety of fun colors, the enameled cast-iron cookware ensures even heating on the stove and easy transfer to the oven. They are heavy and they are pricey, but they are an investment that you’re making for MANY years to come. My first piece is 12 years old and is showing no signs of wear. One suggestion: If this is your receiver’s first piece of Le Creuset and you think she’ll use it for a wide variety of dishes (soups, sauces, etc.) I would go with the 4 1/2 Quart size or larger. There are pieces that are a bit smaller and less expensive, but they aren’t nearly as versatile. I think the 5 1/2 Quart size ($350) is ideal!
SMEG Espresso Machine – $459.95 – Bring the laid-back life of European cafes to your home with this Italian-made Espresso Machine. With clean-cut controls in a fun, mid-century design, pulling the perfect espresso shot has never been easier.
Instant Pot Max – $199.95 – If you’ve been with me for a while, then you know how much I use and love my Instant Pot. If you’ve been waiting to purchase one, you’re in luck. The newest model offers a Sous-Vide function! Sous-Vide machines alone would cost this much but with this Instant Pot, you get nine functions! It handles everything from pressure cooking and sautéing to slow-cooking, making yogurt and creating moist, tender sous-vide dishes. An incredible machine for an incredible price. And I have lots of beginner friendly recipes!
KitchenAid 5 Quart Stand Mixer – $279.99 – Another classic that comes in a wide variety of fun colors. This mixer comes with a flat beater, dough hook, wire whisk and pouring shield to whip up any baked good you could ever imagine. There are numerous attachments that can be added later which allow you to do everything from making fresh pasta to grinding your own meat and making homemade ice cream! Another fun piece to leave out on your counter simply because it’s beautiful!
Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece Knife Block Set – $299.95 – I cannot stress this enough – good quality knives will elevate your cooking game more than you can imagine and will make the process easier and more enjoyable. With my old college knives, I hated chopping veggies, now I look forward to it because it’s quicker and easier and I’m much happier with the end results. This set pretty much covers all your bases in the kitchen and includes a wooden knife block. Tip: Put those kitchen shears to work. They are good for cutting everything from raw meat to slicing pizza.
Calphalon Elite Nonstick Pan Set of 3 – $127.96 – Another game-changer! A high quality non-stick pan will absolutely make cooking easier and far more enjoyable. Take my word for it. If you’re still using old beat-up frying pans, upgrading to these bad boys will help you enjoy cooking again.