Less-than-$50 gift ideas for those who love to cook

I am wondering what a better-than-average home cook might want for a holiday gift? Here's some less-than-$50 suggestions; some used in my kitchen. I'll tell you the brand, but that doesn't mean it's the best brand; they are what I use.

First up, I found it necessary to make my T-Day gravy this year using my immersion blender (I used xanthan gum instead of starch-based thickeners such as flour), which made a smooth gravy with the right body. My Braun MultiQuick 5 Vario Hand Blender - MQ5000 ($49.95) is a dandy. Good balance, variable speeds, and a design that keeps it from splashing and reduces suction. I've owned mine for more than five years and still love it.

While my immersion blender gets occasional use, I use my digital kitchen scale every day, starting with my morning coffee so that my coffee tastes the same every day, guaranteed. My OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pullout Display ($49.95) can weigh items up to 11 pounds. I use it to weigh everything from flour for a cake to ground beef for burgers. It can weigh in grams or ounces.

My kitchen cabinet is filled to the max with dried herbs and spices - many organic. I discovered The Spice Way (thespiceway.com) this past year and took a flyer on ordering from a source I'd never used. Spiceway states: "The Spice Way grows, dries, and blends herbs and spices following time-honored traditions that preserve their farm-fresh goodness." That, and the fact that they grow some of what they sell on their California farm clinched the deal.

I bought three blends: Za'atar Spice, Dukkah Spice and Shawarma. I've coated the flesh side of Salmon filets with the Dukkah Blend, made a fantastic Chicken Shawarma for a large-group get-together that everyone raved about. The Za'atar can flavor a unique sour cream dip.

My local favorite herb and spice source, The Spice House (thespicehouse.com), is still a top choice, and for this holiday season, they've put together several spice collections that make perfect gifts; most are less than $50.

I still don't own an Instant Pot and can't offer it as a holiday gift suggestion. Two years ago, I bought one and when it arrived I took it out of the box and placed it on our kitchen counter. My partner, Nan, immediately told me that we didn't have the counter space for it; back it went.

Felt a little bad about it until, at nearly the same time, I read where food writer Debbie Moose wrote about the Instant Pot: "I hear that you can cook absolutely anything with it. I already have something that will do that. It's called a stove."

If your cook likes to experiment, a sous-vide circulator could be just the gift. I do not own one. My friend, who loves to cook, owns one and gives his two thumbs-up. My friend also owns a vacuum sealer (not necessary, but makes sous vide easier to do). Good Housekeeping recommends the Gourmia Immersion Compact Sous Vide Pod ($49.99) as the best budget sous vide. High-end sous vide circulators can be $200.

My low-carb food plan keeps me well away from almost all desserts. Most low-carb desserts (I tried making a low-carb brownie; those who tried it took just a single bite) just don't cut it. Then, I came across the idea of using heavy whipping cream (zero carbs) and using organic stevia to sweeten it. Is it high fat? Yup. Would I recommend it more than once a year? Nope. Is it good? Unfortunately, yes.

• Don Mauer welcomes questions, comments and recipe makeover requests. Write to him at don@ theleanwizard.com.