Christmas gift ideas

Just over a week to go to Christmas Day. Do you have all your gifts sorted? Or do you have a few more to get? Maybe a few stocking fillers.

Here is some inspiration for food related gifts this Christmas. At each of my cookery classes, I always give tips on where to buy food, which gadgets work, which don't. Below is a list and some links to help you with your Christmas shopping!

• Joseph Joseph Citrus Catcher - A great gadget for squeezing citrus fruit straight into a bowl/saucepan. It catches all the pips and pith! It costs around €12-15.

• Zyliss garlic crusher - No need to peel the garlic cloves, this is the best garlic crusher I have come across! It even comes with a piece to push out the skin afterwards so your hands don't smell of garlic. It is costs around €15.

• Non-stick baking sheets - These are great for baking and cooking savoury dishes. No need for parchment paper, they can be washed each time and you can reuse them 2000 times!, I have used them a lot more than that. I use them for turning out & baking sourdough, rolling & baking crackers, roasting slices of veg ....The brand I use is Seraphina's kitchen which can be bought online. However the recently opened Triggerfish cookshop in Blackrock, Co Dublin has other brands in stock, they usually cost under €20 for 2.

• Knife set - If you are looking for a set of knives for someone, this fabulous set of Global knives is usually half price (€250) in the Christmas Sale at Brown Thomas

• Knife sharpener - If you want to keep your kitchen knives, and your food processor blade sharp throughout the year, this 3 in 1 sharpener is easy to use and is good value under €10! The Kitchen whisk on Wicklow Street in Dublin may well stock these but don't have a website just yet.

• Wine decanter cleaning beads - Find it tricky to clean your wine decanter or Kefir bottles? These cleaning beads are brilliant, get into all the tricky edges, costs around €25 !

• Cook Books - I have fond memories of the year I spent working with Rory in the kitchen of Ballymaloe House. His new book Cook Well, Eat well is a really balanced cookery book and costs around €20. For someone who likes to bake and make desserts then Sweet by Ottolenghi is great and costs around €35.

• Practical Cookery demo in a fun environment - How about a gift voucher to one of my Cookery Demos? Jan and Feb schedule is on the website Starting with my new classes of Quick Midweek dinners on Jan 10th! For €50 you can come for dinner and learn how to cook at least 6 dinners Gift vouchers can be bought online but if you would like a voucher card in the post, simply email fiona@fionasfoodforlife.ie

• Home- made edible presents - Last week I wrote a blog and posted the recipe for Pecan Christmas cookies. I like to make these with the kids at Christmas time so they are gifting something to loved ones on Christmas Day. It helps shift the weight from what they are 'getting'. Why not check it out and make them with your nieces & nephews, children or grandchildren so they have something to give?

Good luck with your shopping and I hope you have a happy and healthy Chrismtas,

Fiona