Silicone Bakeware Set

Ruth Taber: Gourmet gifts worthy of Mom(or Dad!)

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Today's cooks prefer spending less time at the stove and more time with family or guests. Long hours at work can also cut into kitchen creativity. This may sound like a problem for foodies who are short on time but eager to create innovative, delicious dishes. Not to worry! Kitchen appliance and tool designers have come to our rescue with time-saving, efficient helpers.

New appliances usually make their debut at the annual Chicago International Home and Housewares Show in March. Lasst week I wrote about some of my favorite gadgets from this year's show. Here are some of the things I think would make superb gifts for Mother's Day, Father's Day or this summer's weddings. Some save time, others make the cook's job easier, and they all made my "I wish I had that" list:

Cuisinart's Combo Steam and Convection Oven is the first countertop appliance that offers combined steaming and convection functions. Cooking with steam has long been a preferred and more healthful method for many vegetables and certain meats; steam ovens became available for home cooks in recent years but only as expensive built-ins. Cuisinart's model is about the size of a microwave or large toaster oven and lets you steam or poach any vegetable, fish, poultry or rice. It also allows you to use steam in combination with other cooking functions such as broil or bake settings that can cook a roast that's beautifully browned on the outside, and moist and juicy on the inside. Bread makers can proof bread dough in the oven, then bake the loaves with steam for crispy, golden-brown crusts.

Source: El Paso Times