Well, this isn't a brand new item, but I first heard about it here last year. Bought one, and would not want to be without it - the Thermapen instant food thermometer.

It's not a big glitzy item, but it has changed the way we cook & grill foods. Love the quick response, the accuracy, the BIG READOUT SCREEN, and the very small pinpoint hole it makes in the food/meat being tested.

Since we got ours last year, they have an improved model that has a water resistant casing.

It's pricey, but when I think of the expensive cuts of meat DH grilled this summer that all came out perfect it was worth it. I also want to be confident that the food I'm eating and serving has truly been cooked to a safe temperature.

If I didn't own one, I would love receiving it as a gift.

I love this grease separator - so much better than all the others with a spout coming off the side bottom.

http://www.amazon.com/Amco-Swing-S2062-Release-Separator/dp/B0019EPMW2

I love it so much I bought 3 more as Christmas gifts for the cooks in the family.

Socks, What is your target price range?

Tropical--After much research, I ordered that same fat separator yesterday! Thanks for the validation on my recent purchase.

This is kind of a pricey gift. If she doesnt have one.....Kitchen Aid mixer. There are lots of varieties and prices out there. Don't know how I ever baked without one!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Aid mixers

I asked Santa for a Thermapen this year. She might like the new style measuring cups that you can see the markings from the top or a really nice knife.

Here is a link that might be useful: measuring cups

Don't know where to buy them but I could not function without my 3/4 and 2/3c. measuring cups nor my 2 and 1.5 tablespoon measuring spoons.

I love my whipped cream dispenser. You can make sweet or savory toppings. I used a garlic foam to top soup. Then rum topping for pumpkin cheesecake.

I've had it for two weeks and have gone through 3 pints of cream and 5 cartridges. Unfortunately, two of those pints were for practicing. I found through a lot of googling that the instructions that came with my unit left out one step that would have led to success.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dispenser

Knowing your budget would help us make suggestions.

They aren't new, but does she have any Microplane graters?
All the cooks on my list are getting spice boxes from The Spice House. Most cooks an unusual pottery mixing bowl or good wooden utensils (Olive wood one are gorgeous as well as useful.)

I think the economy has put a damper on emerging fads and trends this year. I haven't seen anything unusual or attention-grabbing. What I have seen is tried-and-trues in new colors and an emphasis on basics -- pottery pie dishes, really good wooden spoons (in olive or zebra), and things like that.

Here is a link that might be useful: Spice Boxes

Thepioneerwoman.com showed these personalized "bake and take" pans from the Cake Pan Lady. I think they're great and got one for my sister in law.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Cake Pan Lady

Onion goggles - I can't live without them!

Here is a link that might be useful: Onion Goggles

I could have used a pair of those today while chopping the 5 pounds of hot peppers we picked over the weekend. One of them either squirted me or spit a seed into my eye. Can you say ouch?

I'm always happy when hubby buys me a knife. A good paring knife is a safe bet and it's nice to have more than one.

I can tell you that of all the kitchen stuff I have one of the items which receives the MOST mileage is my Pyrex mixing bowl. I have many glass bowls for mixing and storing but I used this one with the most frequency hands down. Can't beat it for durability and the price.

Hope this helps.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: Pyrex

I really like that doo-hicky blade thingy that I can scrape dough up off of a surface, or use to divide a lump of dough in two. I've started using it more frequently as I bake. I just can't remember what it's called.

For a higher price bracket, a nice mortar and pestle would be a good gift. One that's large enough to do a lot with. I have a small one that I grind spices with occasionally, and I use it when I make my own salad dressing, or pesto, but mine is too small to make a good batch of pesto. I know that food processors make that a fairly easy job, but they're a hassle to clean, and I love using the pestle. Today I was crushing cumin seed for some lentil soup. It smelled so good, with the scent wafting up from the mortar to my nose. Of course, a modern young woman may look at you cross-eyed if you gave her something like that, but I'd love it.

Weren't there some people here talking about some kind of dough whisk they really loved?

Sally

Sally, that reminds me, I want this and this!

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/flour-wand

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/mini-dough-whisk

Thank you everyone for the wonderful ideas. I hope your suggestions have helped others as well as me.

I like that gravy separator thing; makes more sense than the other kind.

Those cake pans look interesting too.

Sally, it's a bench knife. That and the larger dough whisk (the one Tropicals provided, but the larger size) are among my favorite kitchen tools -- along with the Mircroplane. :)

OK, like beanthere dunthat, I have a favorite bench scraper too, which I'll link to. It's also among my favorite top-ten tools for the kitchen. This bench scraper is always a pleasure to pick up and use.

Here is a link that might be useful: CIA Bench Scraper, maple handle

Thanks for the great suggestions everyone, that was fun reading.

I bought my sister and her kids an ebelskiver pan with the mix from Williams Sonoma. Her oldest had been in Denmark for a semester last year and the youngest (12) was in the Netherlands for a month so I figured it would bring back memories. I'm hoping they'll enjoy trying different fillings and letting the 12 year old try his hand at the stove.

Oh yes, I love my microplanes, and Lars is the one that tipped me off to using one on my feet. That one stays in the bathroom, though, LOL.

I also really like the "spoonula"(s) that Jessica brought me, all one piece and silicone. I'm thinking I might need a couple more of those, Elery is always using them.

Elery thinks we need a digital thermometer for making cheese and yogurt, I have a small dial type one that works fine as far as I can see.

A good pepper grinder is a must, as far as I'm concerned and spices from Penzey's are a great extra. They are having a sale right now, $7.95 for a box of 4 jars, I think it's cinnamon, granulated garlic, black pepper and Mural of Flavor (which Elery is very fond of).

Annie