It’s that time of year again where gift ideas can be super helpful, especially if you are trying to get a head start on your holiday to do list!  Here is my 2017 Gift Guide for the Kitchen with nine kitchen essentials that I have used and loved, or added to my own wish list.  Happy shopping!

*GIVEAWAY*
Enter Now!

Plus, because I’m so very thankful for YOU, I’m giving away the Crate and Barrel cutting board and Wusthof knife from my gift guide.  Head on over to Instagram (where I show all the behind the scenes action and share my best tips and tricks) and enter!

1. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Hand Soap

   I love how CLEAN and FRESH this soap smells.  I always buy the refill size to fill my glass soap dispenser instead of the disposable bottles.

   Buy this Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Hand Soap at Amazon.

2. Black and Decker Pivot Vacuum

   I use this little guy EVERY SINGLE DAY because cooking and feeding kids always equals crumbs on the kitchen floor!  It folds up compactly and sits on its little charger in the corner of the kitchen ready to use whenever we need it.  Super practical gift, and priced very reasonably!

   Buy this Black and Decker Pivot Vacuum at Amazon.

3. Hearth and Hand Pot Holders

   My pot holders always look like they’ve been through a battle zone, so I could use a new set. These cute stripes would look great in any kitchen.

   Buy this Hearth and Hand Pot Holders at Target.

4. Aged Balsamic Vinegar
   

   My mom bought this vinegar for me for Christmas a few years back and I loved every drop of it.  Definitely time to restock.  (Hint, hint Mom!)

   Buy this Aged Balsamic Vinegar at Williams-Sonoma.

5. Salt Cellar
   

   Good cooks always keep kosher salt by the stovetop so they can salt and taste as they go.  There’s a big difference between dishes that has been salted in stages according to taste compared to those salted with a measured amount right at the end.  Plus, it just feels fancy, right?

   Buy this Salt Cellar at Crate and Barrel.

6. Wusthof Santoku Knife
   

   You don’t need to clutter your kitchen drawers with any fancy cutting devices.  Prepping vegetables for a recipe is frustrating when you have a dull knife, but I actually began to find it therapeutic once I learned a few techniques and invested in a good quality knife.

   Buy this Wusthof Santoku Knife at Amazon.

7. Cutting Board
   

   I’ve had this cutting board for years and has served me well!  I leave it propped up against my backsplash and it looks classy and adds warmth to my kitchen.

   Buy this Cutting Board at Crate and Barrel.

8. Bench Scrapers
   

   These are an inexpensive and easy tool to store, and they make prep and clean up much easier.  I especially love to use it after I’ve rolled out dough on the counter to scrape away extra flour.

   Buy this Bench Scraper at Amazon.

9. Thermapen
   

   I happened to be texting my cousin about a recipe when I was putting this gift guide together and so I asked him what kitchen item he couldn’t live without.  His initial reply was his countertops (haha) but then he said he loves this instant read thermometer and never overcooking chicken again.  And it’s America’s Test Kitchen’s top pick so you know it’s a good one.

   Buy this Thermapen at ThermoWorks.

Disclaimer: the links in this post for the hand soap, vacuum, knife and bench scraper are Amazon affiliate links.