Cute idea!

Scissors, rubber jar/bottle openers, food thermometers, can opener, spatulas definitely (I see you already have that one), whisks, tongs...

Good luck, and pass on the congratulations of the CF!

nancy

Congrats, I guess double congrats, to the couple!

Instant read meat thermometer, wooden spoons, good tongs, microplane grater (fine and medium), garlic press. 1, 2 and 4 cup liquid measuring cups. 1/4, 1/3 1/2 and 1 cup dry measuring cups.

Maybe for fun a dinner set for the "babe to be", dish bowl, fork and spoon.

Microplane, Microplane, microplane. LOL!

I was also thinking an instant read thermometer. What about a microplane grater, a good paring knife or something I use alot is my little measuring cup that is in Tablespoon and ounce increments?

Definately a good thermometer. I also agree on a microplane.
Some things I use often.
Kitchen scissors, sturdy metal wisk, rubber spatula (regular size and thin), little paring knife, bamboo tools(I love them)..mini cutting board, pasta spoon/with teeth.

Donna, the best way to beat the postage thing is to get your hands on a Priority Flat rate box...You can stuff it full and only pay the flat rate..

A good Chef's Knife and a Paring knife ( Basic ),You can add whatever knives you wish.
Hand Mixer, SS Mixing Bowls.Potatoe Peeler, Silverware. And a couple, Meal Tickets.
Lou

Congratulations to the newlyweds, to be on both their wedding & the little present to soon follow! lol

How about a good hand can-opener, definitely kitchen scissors, a timer, cake tester, thick terrycloth hot pads, those silicon trivets (hot pads) are useful & inexpensive also, cookie/cake cooling rack, off-set spatula, pie server, oven thermometer, pastry brush...I'll think of more.

Fun idea!

/tricia

I agree on the thermometer and microplane. A good paring knife and a peeler, a potato masher or ricer, and the most used utensil in my kitchen is/are the silcone spatulas that Jessica gave me, all one piece and all silicone, not one where the handle is attached separately. I love the darned things, they are actually "spoonulas", with a square bottom, perfect for a zillion things from stirring jam to scraping the last bit of peanut butter from the jar.

Annie

Stuff I wish I had when we first got married would include a good can opener that does not leave a sharp edge, an instant read thermometer, some good wooden or bamboo spoons, kitchen shears, a pareing knife, and a santoku knife. I just got the santoku last year and can't believe I lived without it!

Joanne

Here is a link that might be useful: This kind of can opener

Instead of wooden spoons, consider the new heat resistant nylon ones (Everything on that page looks pretty good to me). I like silicon spatulas too. If I were starting over, I would go completely modern, when possible, and that includes the microplane graters. A set of knives is good, but can be expensive, and that should be on her registry list anyway.

I like the large ladle I have, which holds exactly one cup, and I also have two sets of tongs, which come in very handy. Soup mugs like this

Lars

lemon reamer, apple slicer, garlic twister thing (can't recall the name) good quality pizza cutter , bottle opener, bag clips, cheesecloth, parchment paper, cork screw, nut cracker & pick.
You really can spend alot of money on this gift - great idea & fun!
Regarding the Priority Flat Rate boxes mentioned by terri - they are great to help keep shipping cost down. Go to the post office and pick up both sizes (free) to see which size is the best for what you are sending. They are the same price to ship. Also - insure your package and keep a record of the contents should it get lost. I use them a lot in my business.

Definetly a microplane and a good kitchen scissors. We use one of those thermometors that sit on the counter with a probe in the meat more than the insant read any more. I agree about the high temp spoons and spatulas. Maybe a nice bright colored drawer devider that you can put them in. They're going to have fun opening this present. I think a little porenger and cup for the baby is a good addition.

When I first set up a kitchen of my own, I cut many a finger on dull knives before I learned how to use a honing stone working at a restaurant. A honing stone with instructions and one of those pull through knife sharpeners for touching up the edge between honings...a good one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wusthof Knife Sharpener

How about poultry shears? Silpats? Silicone trivets. A set of microfiber towels/cloths?

A lot of this stuff, and the items already mentioned, is available on Amazon, and when totaled, might qualify for free shipping!

Oh my gosh! I mentioned this thread to my husband, and after commenting on what a wonderful idea this is for a wedding gift, he mentioned a wine opener and one of the old can openers that punch a triangular hole...many cans are pop-tops now, but not all...plus, it's useful to have around to pry up paint can lids. lol!

Another vote for the Microplane. Best kitchen gadget ever!

Zyliss pizza "wheel" cutter and Zyliss vegetable peeler would be on my list, too. a package of wooden skewers (I use them often for many things), dish cloths (can never have too many), tongs, bamboo spoons, and that jar popper thing like Jessy so kindly sent me that works like a charm!

I'd go with Oxo tools as they are nice in the hands -- I love the OXO vegetable peeler, and I think cooks illustrated recommends the OXO tongs above all other brands...

Emily

All of the above and rags too! Newlyweds have new towels but no old junky, who cares if it stains the rag, rags. Use them to pad the box for shipping.

If this isn't too late, you might have avoided the shipping charges by ordering through Amazon.com. It's so easy to ship gifts somewhere else, especially 1800 miles away. I would also weigh the package and check out the FedEx ground shipping rate. I have found them to be more reliable than PO or UPS. So far they have never destroyed any packages before they're delivered. And, all the reasonable shipping methods are going to go ground.

I really like my stainless steel collander with expanding arms so it hangs over the sink, great for rinsing produce and draining pasta.

Also, there are all kinds of salt and pepper grinders that are attractive.

Bamboo cutting boards are really beautiful.

Wow, I came back to see if there were any responses yet and here there were 18 already!

But....what is a microplane??? (Sounds like a small flying object, to me, grin.)

To the two who suggested the Priority Flat Rate box, thank you. But yes, I'll look into FedEx. I have no real love for UPS (I sometimes call it UPSide Down service).

To pkramer, thanks for the ideas of using rags for stuffing the package. I've often used plastic grocery bags for that purpose, but rags would be suitable - and yes, I have plenty!

I think I have enough ideas of items that looked beyond the serving spoon - slotted spoon - spatula thing, too. I saw those all today when shopping (while waiting for a prescription to be filled), but I thought of you all and figured you'd come up with a good assortment of ideas!

Keep 'em coming - I'm making a list (and will check it twice....)....

Thanks,
DonnaR/CA

Yes to the Oxo peeler, instant read thermometer, "church key" opener, spoonulas, and rubber jar opener.

Also, a wooden 12" ruler, a small hammer, little box of small nails (for hanging pictures), roll of masking tape, vegetable brush, roll of parchment paper, and yes! those rags!

And a wrench for opening the impossible jar...I think the one I have is a spanner....maybe a pipewrench?
And a box cutter for slashing bread and a set of turkey pins for closing a turkey a tea ball for spices in a soup pot ( thinking what's in my drawer) those bag closers,,,they meke vrey nice stainless ones, small serrated knife, a "bad knife" so they don't use the good ones for opening the plastic on jars and those plastic packages.
I am sure there's more....
Linda C

This drawer had better be LARGE!!

How about a cake server? Sort of like an egg-slide (what you'd call a spatula, I think, but triangle shaped to fit a wedge-shaped serving.) Great for pies, too.

Slotted spoon. Wooden spoon.

Pot-holders.

Egg rings.

Skewers.

Multi-purpose scissors.

Set of funnels, scoops etc.

A bag of bay leaves to scatter in cupboards and drawers and to put one in each canister to keep bugs away.

A pen for writing labels on foods to be frozen.

Wire whisk.

At least one long-handled teaspoon (for retrieving things from the bottom of tall jars). You might get it as a set of parfait spoons.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1515463}}

How about an oven themometer? With all the gadgets above he/she will hopefully be using their oven and as we all know that if the oven isn't calibrated right, there goes dinner, pie or cakes. It took me too many years to discover that I wasn't a bad a cook it was I had a bad oven.

Great idea for a young couple. Heck I want a do-over shower and get some of these great gadgets :)
Heidi

Say, we haven't asked if the young lady actually knows how to cook, or the young man for that matter?

Perhaps a very basic cookbook like Fannie Farmers or the like might not be amiss?

Microplane
Meat thermometer
Santoku Knife

Those are the three things I use most often.

Just FYI....the flat rate boxes are through the post office, not UPS (well, maybe they have them too, I don't know).

Other ideas:

Tin foil
Plastic wrap
Baggies
Tupperware type containers
Cleaning supplies (those add up quick)
Specialty food items like balsamic vinegar, sesame oil, etc.
Some of YOUR favorite recipes (or include those from both sides of the family).
Chip clips!!

Deanna

"But....what is a microplane??? (Sounds like a small flying object, to me, grin.)"

That's right! It's an itty bitty airplane. It's nice to have in the kitchen because you can play with it while waiting for water to boil.

Seriously now, it's a sort of high tech grater with very sharp teeth. It's called a plane because it was originally developed as a wood working tool.

Jim

Thanks for the explanation, Jim.

Rachel, I think the young lady does like to putter around in the kitchen when she can. She'll be working full time until the baby is born - then they don't know. She made a wonderful pumpkin cookie cake for Thanksgiving Dinner - just delicious!

Great idea on the cookbook - my SIL says that the young lady likes to look at cookbooks and spends hours pouring over hers and my MIL's. But I hope to keep this package lightweight :-) or have one shipped separately.

Yes, I figured the Flat Rate box was a USPS thing, not an UPSide Down service thing.

DonnaR/CA

Donna - what about a copy of AnnT's dessert recipes, then?

One the Microplane, pick up one for yourself, too. :) You'll wonder what you did without it. Other companies make look-alikes, but nothing, IMO, is as sharp and well-made as the original.

My personal opinion on OXO is that their quality has gone to the dogs in the last few years. I find the handles come off, the materials used are not as good as they used to be and the rivets are often poorly set. They were great until bought by World Kitchens. (Who also drove Magnalite and several other brands right into the ground.)

I think you should copy and print out the cooking and baking tips everyone listed here...

Here is a link that might be useful: Good Cooking/Baking Tips

I thought you all might like to see the updated list of what I'm sending. I never did find a microplane, btw. I also was watching weight of items, so I skipped some of the heavier items, and items that could cut someone when opening them (like a good pizza cutter).

List: 7 pc kitchen set (4 towels, 2 potholders, 1 mitt), 4 pc measuring cup set, 4 pc measuring spoon set, 1 basting spoon, 1 set (8) corn skewers, 1 meat thermometer (dial type), 1 kitchen timer, 1 short-slotted turner, 1 Euro Peeler, 1 potato masher, 1 coffee scoop, 1 bottle-opener/can opener (i.e. "church key" type), 4 pc wooden spoon set, 1 pastry brush, 1 pair angle tongs, 1 dish soap sponge thing, 1 rubber spatula, 1 box parchment paper, 1 plastic spoon rest, 1 large ladle, 2 pc rubber jar opener set, an adjustable cheese slicer, and a plastic ice cream scoop.

While I was out shopping, I ended up with one of those boxes of parchment paper for myself (good price at K-mart!), and a set of those rubber jar openers too. I almost bought myself one of those rotary egg beater things - the old fashioned kind that my mom has. Then I decided I'd just ask my mom for HERS since she never uses it any more!

This was probably the most fun wedding gift I've ever done for anyone. Yeah, it would have been easier to go pick out a $50 something like Crock-Pot or blender and have it shipped. But seeing what's out there that's new to me, was much more fun!

However, I might not think it's fun when I get a load of the shipping fees....

DonnaR/CA

She'll be delighted.....but what's a "euro peeler"?....maybe I need one!

DonnaR, what fun!

When you go to ship your gift, ask at your post office about the Postal Service's flat rate box. You can ship whatever will fit into it for $8.95..I think the limit is 20 pounds?

If I were you, I would put all your items in a box and weigh them. If you haven't an accurate scale, ask the post office to weigh them so you'll know what it would cost you to mail them if you didn't use the flat rate box. Then ask them for the box (or two, it's free), take it home and see if you can pack your items into it, comparing prices.

I sent a gift set of my canned goods to my brother that way, for much less than I was expecting to spend.

Linda, a "Euro Peeler" is just a potato peeler with a decent handle. It has a plastic shield on the cutting blade, too. I didn't want to buy a "dollar type" potato peeler - I use mine all the time and finally bought a decent one - so I bought one for her, too.

I'm probably going to be doing something similar to this again in a month or so - my DD#1 will be moving out on her own (in MO) and I'll want to send her a package of good stuff. I'll also be shipping her some of my old kitchen stuff so she'll "be right at home".

I'll be checking on the Flat Rate Box.

DonnaR/CA

What a great selection, good job! Keep your eye open for a Microplane Grater for your daughter. Don't forget one for yourself! They are indispensable.

The fine is my favourite.

Here is a link that might be useful: Microplane

Donna, Great job! I would really enjoy putting together that type of gift. I did basically the same thing but it was recycled stuff from my kitchen and pantry; it was for a family member moving from dorm room to apartment.

Mustangs, I'll be doing that for my own daughters sometime. But it will probably be a combination of some of my old stuff and mostly new stuff.

Just thought everyone might like to know - this was a very popular gift with the newlyweds (getting married Saturday). My SIL said that they had a great time unwrapping everything - I hadn't wrapped anything in fancy paper, just in bubble wrap! But they enjoyed it.

At the very top of the package, I needed a little padding - and the perfect sized item was a roll of Bounty Paper Towels! Lightweight, nice padding, and they have a roll to start out the kitchen with. My SIL thought that was a hoot!

DonnaR/CA

did this years ago for my sister.....
wrapped everything individually, tied each gift to a long piece of ribbon and put everything in a nice kitchen trash can.... the recepient pulls out and unwraps one gadget at a time.