Below is a “Holiday Wish List for your Paleo Chef” of my favorite kitchen items that your loved one or BFF may want also. Some of the items are necessary…some are just fun…a few are stocking stuffers…and there are a handful of my favorite books also. Enjoy!

From my Cavegirl family to yours, Happy Holidays and may the New Year bring you lots of love and great food…

NECESSITIES:

Cast Iron Skillet ~ If you don’t have one…this should top your list. There is no other pan that can give that Sweet Potato Hash such a beautiful crispiness! Lodge L10SK3 Pre-Seasoned Skillet, 12-Inch

Dutch Oven ~ I use my Dutch Oven once a week for making soups but they are also great for searing meats. Durable and heavy, the heat stays evenly distributed. Lodge Color EC6D43 Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Immersion Hand Blender ~ I go through one of these every couple of years I use them so much. I use my immersion blender mostly for soups, but I also love it in the fall when I slow cook my apples down to a homemade applesauce. With both, I don’t have to worry about transferring a crazy mess over to my stand blender, I just use this directly in the pot where I’m cooking. Cuisinart CSB-75GM 2-Speed Series Smart Stick Hand Blender

Primal Palate Organic Spices ~ f you remember when I was doing Whole30, on some of my meat dishes, I used some of the Signature Blends of these beautiful, organic spices put together by our friends Hayley and Bill from Primal Palate. These make a great gift or addition to your personal spice rack. Primal Palate Organic Spices

Square Grill Pan ~ this is perfect for those rainy or cold days when you can’t get out to the grill. Yes, a regular skillet will do, but I LOVE those beautiful grill lines on my steak, bison, and chicken. Cuisinart CI30-23CR Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron 9-1/4-Inch Square Grill Pan

Stand Mixer ~ I received one of these a few years ago…mine was cobalt blue. Is it bad that I want to change to this green one? Of course I won’t, but I can’t get over of all of the beautiful colors. I have several of the mixer attachments but the ice cream maker is by far my favorite (until my new ones arrive this year)! KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers

Mini Food Processor ~ I use this so much, that I own two….pestos, homemade mayos, chopping prep work, sauces, and so much more! I have a Cuisinart and a KitchenAid. Although they both work great, I prefer the Cuisinart with this particular gadget. Cuisinart DLC-2ASM Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor

Nutribullet ~ If you love smoothies, this is your accessory. Perfect for on-the-go nutrition as the package comes with to-go cups. Blend a lot of super-foods in 2 minutes in a meal in a cup, a green smoothie is your present to your body. Pair this gift with a green smoothie book! Magic Bullet NutriBullet Pro 900 Series Blender/Mixer System

 

Casserole Slow Cookder ~ This one is the BOMDIGGITY! My husband recently had a Thanksgiving get-together at work and I bought  this CrockPot Casserole Dish to send in my dressing. It was a hit ~~ probably more than my dressing! Anyway, this was a winner and would make a great gift! You can either cook a recipe directly in the slow cooker, or you can remove the oven-safe cavity and cook your casserole in the oven and then place it back in the cooker and set to “warm” for your guests.  Crock-Pot SCCPCCM350-BL Casserole Crock Slow Cooker

JUST FOR FUN:

Bacon Press ~ this is just ADORABLE…and cheap! This is one of those gifts that you love but never actually get around to buying for yourself. That’s what makes this a perfect gift for every bacon-lover! Fox Run Bacon Press

Cast Iron Wok ~ what?! I just recently found this and now want one! This is pre-seasoned and ready to use!    Lodge Pro-Logic P14W3 Cast Iron Wok, Black, 14-inch

Food Dehydrator ~ If you want to make your own jerky or dry fruits and veggies, this is your gadget. Tailor the spices perfectly for your taste buds by making your own snacks. Nesco American Harvest FD-61WHC Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator All-In-One Kit

KitchenAid Spiralizer Attachment ~ this one I just found out about and it has topped my wish list! I lost one of the blades of my original spiralizer and was in the market to buy a new one anyway!! KitchenAid KSM1APC Spiralizer Attachment with Peel, Core and Slice

KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment ~ Can you tell I’ve been watching QVC about the KitchenAid attachments?! This is the other item that topped my wish list. Santa…I’ve been a good girl! KitchenAid KSM2FPA Food Processor Attachment with Commercial Style Dicing Kit

Lunch Crock Food Warmer ~ this is especially wonderful for taking soups and chilis to work. Don’t worry about heating it up in that communal microwave at work…this crock comes with its own heating base…just plug it in. It is also great to take to parties with a hot dip or meatballs. You won’t have to use your host’s oven. Crock-Pot SCCPLC200-PK 20-Ounce Lunch Crock Food Warmer (comes in a variety of colors)

Spice Grinder ~ this one is good for coffee, herbs, and nuts too! KRUPS F203 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder with Stainless Steel Blades

Rectangular Tart Pan ~ this is one on my personal wish list. I have the individual round ones, but I recently saw this rectangle version used on an episode of The Chew, and now I want one! Paderno World Cuisine 13.75 by 4.325 Inch Rectangular Fluted Non-Stick Tart Mold with Removable Bottom

Wine Purse ~ LOL…I think I need to give this one to a few of my mommy friends! You actually take the plastic sack out of a box of wine and put it in this more flattering purse! DuVino BAG IT! Neoprene Wine Carrier Tote + FILL IT! Disposable Refreshment Baggie with Dispenser Spout

STOCKING STUFFERS:

Bacon Bandages ~ these are just adorable and a silly little gift. BACON shaped themed Adhesive Bandages

Digital Thermometer ~ this is the most used kitchen gadget in my house. If you keep cutting into your steak or chicken to see if it is done, all of the juices flow out resulting in a dry meal. A meat thermometer is a must-have. Chef Remi Cooking Thermometer – Instant Read – Best Digital Thermometer for All Food, Grill, BBQ and Candy – Rated #1 Meat Thermometer – 100% Lifetime Guarantee

Hand Protector (for your cast iron skillet) ~ This is perfect for when you pull your one-pot-wonder or frittata out of the oven and want to put the entire skillet on the table for a family meal. Comes in different colors. Lodge ASHH41 Silicone Hot Handle Holder

Herb Grinder ~ I like to top off my dishes with a little grind of fresh herbs and this is the mill that I own and love. Microplane 48006 Herb Mill

Measuring Spoons ~ I own about 5 sets of measuring spoons, but these are my favorite. My daughter gave them to me for Mother’s Day this past year. I didn’t know it when I first received these, but what makes these special is that one end is narrow and fits into all of my spice jars! Prepworks by Progressive Magnetic Measuring Spoons, Stainless Steel

Wine Bottle Stabilizer and Storage Stand ~ I LOVE this. You can stop up your wine and place it horizontally in your refrigerator…the best wine stopper! Quirky Vine Wine Bottle Stabilizer and Storage Stand (Set of 2)

Silicone Whisks and Spatulas ~ I LOVE mine (I have them in the orange color). The Baker’s Secret spatulas are amazing. Now, with that said, I’m so glad my mom didn’t own one of these back in the day, because silicone spatulas will leave nothing left in the bowl for licking. But, as a cook, they are wonderful! Baker’s Secret Spatula and Baker’s Secret Silicone Whisk.

BOOKS:

Here are a few of my favorite cookbooks that I’ve tried this year:
Paleo Takeout…check out the Sweet and Sour Chicken

Down South Paleo…check out the Chipotle Stuffed Mushrooms

One-Pot Paleo…check out the Chicken Pesto Zucchini

All-American Paleo Table…check out the Crunchy Cinnamon Toast Squares

And, of course, you can always check out my new ebook, Ladle, or my other cookbooks, Cavegirl Cuisine Cookbook and The Everything Weeknight Paleo Cookbook!

Some other (non-cookbook) favorite foodie books:
My Last Supper: The Next Course: 50 More Great Chefs and Their Final Meals: Portraits, Interviews, and Recipes…this book is just a beautiful coffee table book, filled with stories from great chefs.

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America’s Most Imaginative Chefs…i have had this book on my cookbook shelf for a couple of years now and it is probably my most used. If you have an ingredient that you are sure what goes with it…just look it up. Don’t know what herbs pair with a nice cherry sauce for a pork tenderloin? This book does!