The paper-thin sheets of wood are soaked in water, then wrapped around meat, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables. Use them on a barbecue, in the oven or in a steamer to enhance moisture, flavor and presentation.
They come in packages of six or 10, with heat-resistant bands, instructions and recipes for $16.95 and $17.95.
Make your own
Save someone on your list some time, gas and money from endless trips to Starbucks by giving him or her a Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker. These are the folks who originated an easy way to make rich Italian espresso at home.
Available in several cup capacities, they range in price from $21.95 to $38.95.
Sometimes the best kitchen accessory isn't a thing, but a memory. TableTopics is a 4-inch acrylic cube of question cards to spark great conversations around your table.
For instance, if you could talk to animals, what would you try to find out? A cube of 135 cards is $25.95.
Over at Williams-Sonoma in ABQ Uptown, general manager Mary Ann Sanmann predicts the new, exclusive Build-a-Bear Workshop cake pans and decorating kits will be big sellers during the holidays.
The two pans make an irresistible threedimensional bear that the baker joins together with frosting and decorates with a coat made from icing or a party dress with candy buttons. Brown turbinado sugar makes the bears look furry.
Additional decorating kits with premixed fondant let you create a Santa bear, princess bear or soccer bear. The pans are $39.95, and the kits run $19.95 and $29.95. With purchase, you get a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at any Build-A-Bear store.
A sweet device
We desert dwellers like fresh pineapple as much as any islander, but we may not be as adept at handling it. So, if you want to make someone happy with a gadget they might never buy for themselves, consider the pineapple easy slicer, Sanmann suggests.
You insert the heavy-duty cutting shaft into the top of a trimmed pineapple, apply light pressure and twist the handle. In just seconds, this stainless-steel tool cores and slices the fruit, leaving you with a stack of juicy rings. It runs $25.
Here's a gift for the family member who always prepares the holiday meals: a professional multichopper. This device cuts everything from potatoes to apples with minimal effort.
It really does slice and dice, not to mention core and wedge. It has four interchangeable stainlesssteel blades and three pushers that store in the unit's base, and ingredients drop into a large measuring container. It's $49.95.
The chocolate lover on your list would be forever indebted to you if you present him or her with the Bialetti Hot Chocolate Pot. Fill the clear upper chamber of this electric pot with milk and shaved chocolate or cocoa, then watch as the mixture is heated, blended and frothed to perfection.
