Whether you are making a gift list for yourself or someone else, here are two things I think every baker or cook should have and use in their kitchen.

DIGITAL SCALE: The fastest way to cook and bake more consistently—especially with flour. Weighing in grams removes guesswork and keeps recipes repeatable. Look for a scale with a tare button, 1-gram (or 0.1-oz) resolution, and an easy-to-read display. Set your mixing bowl on the scale and start dumping--no measuring cups required. I like the OXO but less expensive models work well, too.

Note: Use the weights specified in the recipe you are following, even if it doesn't match your idea of what a cup should weigh. There's no gold standard. If you want your results to match the author's, use their numbers.

DIGITAL THERMOMETER: Gone are the days we have to depend on thumping the bottom of the loaf to see if something is done. Use a digital thermometer to check bread dough, a piece of meat, or even leftovers. The number tells you instantly how hot they are. Digital thermometers start around $6 online and are readily available where kitchen wares are sold. My favorite is a Thermapen—reliable, fast, and worth the money. I use it multiple times every day.

As we head into the holidays, I'll be highlighting some ideas for your dinner menu.

Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup Substitute

A fresher substitute for canned, naturally gluten-free, and ready in under 10 minutes. Good for green bean casserole.

Get the recipe

Chewy Sourdough Rolls Using Starter Discard (Bread Machine Friendly)

These chewy sourdough rolls have a crisp crust and a slightly tangy flavor.

Get the recipe

sourdough dinner rolls in a napkin-covered basket.

Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup Substitute

"THANK YOU! THANK YOU! My dd has to be gluten-free, MSG-free, etc-free, and this is PERFECT!!"--DEB

Here's to warm rolls and cool gadgets,

Paula

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