The Margaritaville DM1000 Frozen Concoction Maker is quite the nifty beverage maker. Whether you prefer fruit smoothies or ‘adult drinks’ this machine will do the trick. Think of it as a blender on steroids!

Yes, it is a bit pricey, but it gets EXCELLENT reviews. The only downfall seems to be the fact that it takes up quite a chunk of counter space.

This baby does it all. You simply add your ingredients to the blending jar and ice to the top reservoir. Next, you indicate the number of drinks you want to make and let the concoction maker work its wonders.

It automatically shaves the ice and produces the PERFECT frozen drink… time to buy those cute little umbrellas.

If you are new to making homemade frozen beverages and are not sure how long to process them, there are a variety of pre-programmed settings that totally eliminate the guesswork.

The DM1000 comes with a 32 ounce capacity pitcher, a shot glass and shot rimmer. If you don’t drink alcohol there are still tons of yummy drinks you can make in this. Your kids (and the entire neighborhood) will love you for it.

If you have a Margaritaville machine, I hope you will take a minute to share your favorite recipe.

My Mom bought me a similar peeler (Daisy), several years ago. I loved it! It’s nice to see that they are again available.

The Rotato Express Electric Peeler would make a great gift for those who hate peeling fruits and veggies or have a hard time doing so. If you make homemade applesauce or can peaches and other things, you might consider purchasing this peeler, as well.

(Honestly, looking at this I see the possibility of more potato salad and mashed potatoes in my future.)

The arm on the machine easily adjusts to skin thickness and texture. There is very little waste, because it peels away a thin layer. The Rotato Express is even capable of zesting fruits.

It comes with a nifty knife made especially to scoop out potato eyes and has a built in storage compartment underneath… for the knife, spare blades and batteries.

The peeler runs on either 4AA batteries (not included) or the 6 volt adapter, which comes with it. (I think I’d opt for the adapter.)

OK, I’ve talked myself into making this purchase. As I mentioned above, I LOVED the one I had. So, if you have a yummy potato salad recipe you’d like to share, there’s no time like the present!

I love Paula Deen and her cookbooks. My grandparents were from down south and many of Paula’s recipes remind me of my grandma’s cooking… which I miss terribly!

If you take the time to read reviews on Christmas with Paula Deen, you will find them more than favorable. It was published in October 2007 and features a wealth of yummy holiday dishes. I don’t have this particular cookbook yet, but it’s on my list… along with a million other things!

The cookbook includes family stories, baking tips, family photos and some of her most requested recipes… many suitable for holiday gift giving.

Recipes include dishes like Standing Rib Roast served with three, yes THREE, kinds of mashed potatoes (her traditional Christmas dinner), Praline French Toast Casserole, Cheese Coated Bacon Wraps and Chocolate Cheese Fudge.

These traditional Southern recipes are easy to understand and can be prepared with common ingredients.

The only thing that I think would improve this cookbook is the addition of photos, depicting the finished dishes. This is a small book, great to use as a stocking stuffer.

Do you serve a traditional Christmas dinner like Paula? Or, are you like me and vary the menu, from year to year? Inquiring holiday cooks want to know.

Even though I don’t have the storage space for it, I’m hoping that Santa will bring me a Nuwave oven. (I’ve been good, really I have.)

This particular model, the Nuwave Oven 20201, does it all. It bakes, roasts, steams, barbecues, dehydrates, fries and broils. These ovens, in general, have won the highly acclaimed American Culinary Institute Gold Medal Award, for the last 6 years. They are recommended by the National Health and Wellness Club, as well.

It uses a triple cooking process (convection, conduction and infrared) to speed up cooking time by as much as 50%. It also saves as much as 85% of the energy used by a traditional oven. Go green!

Another timesaver is the fact that using the Nuwave eliminates the need to defrost. Foods go directly from freezer to oven. You can prepare anything in this. Whether it’s a 12 pound turkey or a yummy dessert, it will do the job.

All parts, with the exception of the power head, are dishwasher safe. The Nuwave is compact in size, just 15 ½ x 10 ½ . Come to think of it, it might even fit on MY counter!

If you have experience using this oven, please feel free to share your tips and tricks with all of us.

If you are looking for unique stocking stuffers for those who love toasted sandwiches, consider these groovy Toastabags. Why didn’t I think of this? It’s SUCH a creative idea!

All you do is make your favorite sandwich and pop it into the reusable bag, which comes as a set of two. Each bag can be used up to 150 times and is dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze.

You can actually use these for more than sandwiches. Wraps, pastries, frozen french fries and probably even burritos are all fair game, when it comes to these bags.

I have a sandwich maker that I simple adore, but I can see myself using these as well. I’m thinking that you could even get away with freezing certain types of sandwiches that you could pull out, at a moment’s notice, popping them into the bags. It’s doable, don’t you think?

Whether you love tuna on rye, grilled cheese (try one with Mozzarella and garlic) or classic BLT’s… Toastabags are calling your name. The toasted sandwich just got a whole lot easier. Ain’t technology grand?

What is your all-time favorite grilled sandwich? Since these bags are something I see in my future, I need all the recipes I can get.

Ho, Ho, Ho… it’s time to start thinking about gourmet gift baskets. Honestly, there are SO many to choose from, it will probably take you several attempts to narrow it down to your gift giving choices.

There is at least one gourmet gift basket suitable for everyone on your list. The recipient will thank you for this fun and yummy gift. Regardless of your budget, chances are there is a basket that will fit the bill.

A gourmet gift basket is the perfect choice for the person who has everything. It’s simple really… everyone loves to eat. So, whether it’s a Country Inn Breakfast Basket, a Gourmet Pizza Making Basket, a Godiva Connoisseur Gift Basket or anything in between, you can bet it will be appreciated.

Just as an example of how tasty these gifts can be, the Country Inn Basket (pictured above) includes: pancake & waffle mix, blueberry jam, pure maple syrup, Maine blueberries, crunchy granola, biscuit mix, country ham slices, coffee, Orange Maine Munchies and a decorative kitchen towel. Who could ask for more?

There are gourmet gift baskets geared toward beer lovers, pasta lovers, popcorn lovers, wine lovers… the list goes on.

Have you been the recipient of one of these nifty baskets? Be honest, did you share or did you keep all the yumminess to yourself?

My son is 18, which means he’s a bit too old to use as an excuse to buy the Baby Cook 4 in 1 Food Prep & Blender… unless of course it makes killer baby custard. (We both like it and I’ve been known to pick up a jar or two, now and then.)

This appliance is so cool. I wish it had been available when Alex was little. It’s actually a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster all in one. The Baby Cook had the honor of winning the 2008 Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Award, which further proves its niftiness.

It works by steaming whatever food you are preparing (veggies, fruits or meats) in under 15 minutes. This preserves flavor and much needed vitamins. The machine then purees the food to the desired consistency.

As mentioned above, the Baby Cook can also be used to defrost and/or reheat food you have already processed.

It comes complete with bowl (2-1/2 cup capacity), steaming basket, spatula and recipe booklet. The bowl and basket are dishwasher safe, for easier clean-up.

Do you take the time to make your own baby food? Feel free to share your favorite recipe. Hungry tots are waiting.

OK, I admit it… I don’t always use a cutting board. (To my husband’s utter horror, I might add.) But, if I had the Architec Cork Cutting Board I could ‘go green’ and appease hubby at the same time.

This cutting board comes in more than one size. It is constructed out of agglomerated cork, which is the same material that wine corks are made out of. In case you are curious, agglomerated cork is actually small bits of cork held together by way of heat and pressure.

Cork is truly a ‘green’ material. It is, both, sustainable and renewable and is produced with little impact on the environment. Believe it or not, it is the bark from an oak tree grown in China, Portugal and Spain… an interesting fact I wasn’t aware of, until writing this post.

Since these cutting boards are made only from the bark of the oak tree, it can continue to produce indefinitely. Because of the way they are constructed they provide an excellent cutting surface.

Cork has natural antibacterial and moisture repellent properties, as well.

Have you used a cork cutting board? If so, I’d love to know your thoughts on owing one. It’s something I’ve added to my ever growing wish list.

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post or two, I’m not much of a coffee drinker. Be that as it may, I still feel the need to tell you about the Bean Vac Coffee Canister. I think it’s a pretty neat idea and would make a great gift, for the coffee lover in your life.

The canister holds 1 pound of your favorite coffee. It prevents moisture and oxidation, two things that are instrumental in ruining a good cup of java. It’s very easy to use, as it seals by flipping the handle.

It features a vacuum indicator button so you can keep track of your coffees level of freshness. (Something you’ve always wanted to do, right?) Due to the recessed battery cover, the canister can set on a wet countertop with no problem.

It has an auto-activation switch which means that you control how often the unit will automatically re-seal. Options are each time the canister closes, every 12 hours, every 24 hours or every 48 hours. This saves battery power.

(Even if you choose every 48 hours, you will have MUCH fresher coffee than you would, using traditional storage methods.)

Have you used a similar product with success? If so, feel free to share your results with coffee lovers everywhere.

KitchenArt makes some of the coolest products! I just discovered the KitchenArt 18500 Mini Adjust-A-Burger and hope there is still time to add it to my Christmas list.

If you love burgers and the cute little sliders, which are becoming increasingly popular, this is the gadget for you.

Hamburger presses have been around for ages. They are available in many different styles. But the Adjust-A-Burger is one step ahead of an ordinary press.

It makes 1, 2 and 3 ounce patties, with the twist of the wrist. First, you select the size of burger you want to make. Next, you fill the clear, top, sleeve with meat. Last but not least, you unlock the sleeve and push up. (Turning the container over will release the patty.)

Actually, this will work for any type of burger… meatloaf, tuna, salmon and even crab cakes. If you are a ‘White Castle junkie’, you’ll save a ton of money making sliders at home.

The burger maker comes apart, for easy clean up. Better yet, it’s dishwasher safe.

Do you think the Adjust-A-Burger would be a welcome addition to your kitchen gadget stash? I’d love to hear your comments and tips for making the perfect burger.