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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Birders disagree on the species of large black birds spotted near Roxy Ann Get Up & Go: Dec. 17 Emergency services Ashland won't tax market vendors until 2015 Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Man pleads guilty to gang-fight charges Emergency Services Police utilize social media to track down sex offender Man dies in early morning crash near Prospect Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament A lesson in giving Hedrick student council works to clean up the language Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Environment No fish, no funding for problem dams Most residents speak against gas pipeline Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River State News As deadline nears, Oregon's health insurance signups still low Gang-related shooting in Portland sends 3 youth to hospital GMO labeling proponents concede defeat Tribes can decide whether to legalize pot Lawyer says football player had altercation Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Dolores Jean Marier Christina Lea "Mima" Jacobson Donna Jeanne Brawn DeCamp Joan E. 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Dunbar Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories North Medford hands Comets first loss Warriors stopped at 16 Johnson scores 18 in No. 3 Arizona's rout of Oakland SOU offense, Marian defense form dream matchup Raider for life Varsity 541 College Sports Johnson scores 18 in No. 3 Arizona's rout of Oakland SOU offense, Marian defense form dream matchup Raider for life In Eugene, focus returns to football Four Raiders selected to All-American teams Pro Sports Warriors stopped at 16 Costly triumph Saints rout Bears, take lead in South Griffin, Jordan lead Clippers over Pistons Deal puts Headley at third for Yanks, not A-Rod Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Employment in Oregon surpasses pre-recession levels Free lunchtime presentation covers business planning Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo Honda’s CR-V goes uptown again Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Opinion Latest Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Granlund cartoon: Cheney and waterboarding Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Editorials Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround Our View: Councilors' criticism less troubling than secrecy Other Views: Riley leaves strong legacy at OSU Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 15 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 14 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 12 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Dave Ramsey: When children steal money Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Local bubbly can ring in the New Year Community blog: Silent Night Community blog: The Promise of Hope � and Health - Fulfilled Food Local bubbly can ring in the New Year Food for Thought: How to keep your kitchen organized during the holidays Kitchen Call: Shopping for the cook Community blog: Gobble gougeres as appetizers or with light meals Community blog: Choose presents cooks can cherish, not regift Home and Garden Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Home Help: Create a happy homemade holiday Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Dear Monty: When a lawyer’s fee is four times higher than the quote Health Community blog: The Promise of Hope � and Health - Fulfilled Community blog: Saving Lives Health Watch: Curb your kitchen cravings this holiday season Community blog: Unsubscribe.com Community blog: Redefining Family Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Milestones and Achievements Ashland celebrates 'Wild' screening with Cheryl Strayed Asante merger stabilizes Ashland hospital's finances Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Ashland Blues Society hosts open jam TMTO's 'Christmas Carol' a big, warmhearted extravaganza Theater Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Theater review: 'Fiddler' charms audience in magical Camelot performance Music Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Ashland Blues Society hosts open jam Rating old-timers’ albums from 2014 Phil Newton & David Pinsky at 2Hawk Winery Community Events Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Rogue Valley Christmas light displays It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House 4 Things to do this Week Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Dining Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need ... Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon ... Ashland won't tax market vendors until 2015 ... Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need ... Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon ... Ashland won't tax market vendors until 2015 ... Kitchen Call: Shopping for the cook By Linda Bassett Wicked Local MailTribune.com By Linda Bassett Wicked Local Posted Dec. 15, 2014 @ 8:26 am By Linda Bassett Wicked Local Posted Dec. 15, 2014 @ 8:26 am » Social News We’re not quite down to the wire yet. Still two more weekends of shopping pleasure or pressure, depending on your point of view. Cooks and foodies rarely return or re-gift kitchen items, so I took some time to compile a list. Two admissions: First, this is a combination of my wish list and giving list, and second, I’ve used everything on it in both the home and professional kitchen. I am not a shopping snob. I will shop everywhere from Williams-Sonoma to HomeGoods to Target, in store and online. And I don’t overlook catalogs like the Vermont Country Store or Harrington’s. Every product has its own virtues and drawbacks, but I concentrate on virtues. Read labels carefully. Make sure when you buy steel that it’s stainless, and if you want cotton, it’s not polyester. Here are my top 10. Countertop mixers: The most expensive item on this list might be on your favorite baker’s wish list: The KitchenAid countertop stand mixer. Since my baking abilities are limited, I won’t be buying or opening one of these soon. But a real baker, one who thinks nothing of whipping up a few dozen cookies, a four-layer cake not from a mix or several batches of brownies, will appreciate this. Depending on where you buy it, find it priced anywhere from near $300 at the top of its game to less than $200. Same machine, lower priced, comes in last year’s color, but works just as dreamily. Go for the stainless. It matches everything. Monogrammed salt and pepper mills: If you want something unique and beautiful, Williams-Sonoma offers a cache of stainless/acrylic salt and pepper mills. Acknowledged as the royalty of monogrammed kitchen items, the shop offers a pepper mill with a carbon steel grinding mechanism and a ceramic grinder in the salt mill that will last a lot longer than the soft metal parts housed in the cheaper models. At nearly $50, they fall into the luxury category, but watch for sales and special offers. Add pink Hawaiian sea salt or whole Madagascar peppercorns from the Penzey’s catalog to complete the package. Splatter screen: Admittedly, this is practical, not romantic, but saves hours of cleanup even for the neatest cook. Stovetops suffer fewer splatters from messy foods like fried chicken or bacon when the lip of the screen fits over the rim of the pan while the mesh screen lets steam escape. Cheap splatter screens sold in three-packs are difficult to clean and buckle from the heat or after a few turns in the dishwasher. A sturdy one, priced from $40 to $50, made of heavy-duty stainless steel, will live forever. (Look for special offers here, too.) All-Clad makes one with a long handle that fits over most skillets. Hand utensils: These include anything from a simple wooden spoon to stick-free spatulas. But utensils made of olive wood are a luxury that feel smooth in the hand and never splinter. Prices run anywhere from $3 to $22 each. Tie up a bouquet of them with a pretty red ribbon to tuck into a stocking. Or decorate a package with just one special one wrapped in bow. Aprons: These are a matter of taste, and just like the new rage for ugly sweaters, there seems to be a rage for ugly aprons. Ugh! Our grandmothers liked theirs frilly, lacy and flowered, but then grandma spent a lot of time ironing them. Instead, look for nice square-shaped chef’s aprons in sturdy material like kettle cloth that washes easily and is allergic to irons. Find them for as little as $10. Good prices and quality are available at Ace Hardware on Salem Street in Boston’s North End. See the Vermont Country Store catalog online for classic white chef’s aprons made of heavy-duty cotton twill. Olive oil spritzers: You can actually use these for other oils as well. Helps keep food healthier and gives perfect coverage when greasing a pan for baking. Most are just practical and in some version of brushed metal. The Misto brand is easy to find, and a great stocking stuffer, at less than $10. Bamboo cutting board: The new environmentally sensitive darlings, these cutting boards are thin and lightweight. They don’t take up a lot of space and are easy on the cook. I haven’t owned one long enough to know if they have longevity, but for now, find them priced as low as $5, depending on size, at Target and Bed Bath & Beyond. A great way to present a your homemade loaf of banana bread. Cookbooks: I could write a whole column on the subject. There are edgy titles like “Eat Like You Give A #&$@*” or “Fifty Shades of Chicken.” Or good common sense from the ABC-TV show “The Chew,” which includes fun kitchen wisdom and table designs with the recipes. Try Amazon or Barnes & Noble for good prices and free shipping. But don’t overlook putting hands on a vintage cookbook. One of my students finds treasures sorting through the racks, most recently, early volumes from Bobby Flay, Emeril, Ina Garten and Julia Child. Match others by category, as did another student who paired inexpensive one-subject cookbooks with friends’ favorite foods from potatoes to meatloaf to cookies. Prices here can go from a dollar on up. Panettone: OK, this is an Italian thing, but anyone who likes Irish soda bread in March will appreciate this now. This delicious raisin-studded bread rises as tall as the proverbial flower pot it was originally baked in. A cup of hot coffee, a toasted slice with butter makes breakfast in a pinch. Get the breads, priced by size and elaborateness of packaging, at specialty shops. For a family with small children, pair one with Tomie DePaola’s book “Tony’s Bread,” a beautifully illustrated folk tale about a village baker expressing his love. New Year’s Day ham: The ultimate luxury for the cook is to be treated to New Year’s Day brunch at home. Still in bathrobe, he or she just pops a cooked ham into the oven to go with the good-luck baked beans or creamy potato casserole. Send that cook a Harrington’s ham, smoked in Vermont. Harrington’s are the American equivalent of Italy’s prosciutto di Parma or Spain’s jamon Iberico. Linda Bassett is the author of “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai: Neighborhood Cooking North of Boston.” Reach her by email at [email protected]. Read Linda’s blog at LindABCooks.wordpress.com. Follow Linda for quick recipes on Twitter at @Kitchencall. By Linda Bassett Wicked Local MailTribune.com By Linda Bassett Wicked Local Posted Dec. 15, 2014 @ 8:26 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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