Top 10 Kitchen Gifts

I've had mine for 12 years and it's my most treasured pot. Made of cast iron with an enamel coating, it distributes heat evenly and is virtually nonstick. Le Creuset ovens are suitable for soups, stews, casseroles, pot roasts and more. A tight-fitting lid helps retain moisture during cooking. Use it on the stovetop or in the oven. It's attractive enough to bring to the table. This is one-pot cooking at its best. Le Creuset ovens are not cheap but they will last a lifetime.

These flexible, versatile mats are a great alternative to parchment paper in baking. Made from woven glass coated in silicone, they can withstand temperatures up to 480 degrees, though you won't need that much heat in your baking. Use them for kneading and rolling dough as well as for baking cookies. These mats come in different sizes and can be rolled for storage.

This user-friendly Mandoline is an ergonomic wonder. Its blades slice and julienne all manner of vegetables just the way you want them, slicing them thick or thin, straight, crinkle cut or waffle cut. A generously sized soft food-cover protects your fingers from the blades.

If you're fed up with wet and mushy zest from your oranges and lemons, this tool is perfect for you. Its ultra-sharp blade zests beautifully. It also grates big soft piles of cheese with no effort, and tackles hard vegetables or ginger with ease. Watch your fingers, though. Also, make sure this kitchen tool doesn't 'accidentally' find its way to the household tool box. True to its woodworking origins, this zester/grater would make a nifty rasp.

Baking is a breeze with these colorful, bendable muffin pans. The high-gloss nonstick finish ensures that muffins and mini meatloaves pop out easily. It also means that the pan doesn't retain stains or odors. Clean up is easy. I suggest buying two of these, as each pan bakes only six muffins. One other thing: because of their flexibility it's also wise to place the pans on a cookie sheet to avoid spilling batter on the way to the oven.

A gravy separator is a must for the low fat kitchen. It takes the work out of skimming stocks, soups and sauces. This one also functions as a handy measuring cup (though not for use in the microwave), and has a little stopper to keep fat out of its spout. Once the liquid has settled, pour your gravy and the leave the fat behind.

This dual function steamer is a boon for the low fat kitchen. Steam rice, meat, seafood or veggies perfectly, and infuse them with herbs and other flavors. This is healthy eating at its best.

Why step outside to grill in the winter when you can grill inside? This is about as versatile an indoor grill as you can get, with five interchangeable plates so you can have waffles, make a panini, grill chicken, and so on. The plates are dishwasher safe, which is a boon. Ideal for low-fat cooks everywhere.

A blender is a must. Make smoothies, soups, sauces, batters, and yes, crush ice. This attractive chrome blender has an easy-to-clean 5-cup glass jar and a powerful motor to crush and grind pretty much anything.

This is an ideal tool for the low fat kitchen. This scale not only weighs food but tracks calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, sodium and cholesterol for more than 900 pre-programmed items. Its memory feature allows you to track your intake of foods over a period of time.