Black Friday has come and gone, but gift-giving season is just getting started. It’s a time to focus on showing how much we care and what better way to do so than through a kitchen gift? After all, they say “food is love” and it’s hard to beat an evening spent with friends or family gathered around the kitchen for a good meal.

Although I believe no fancy equipment or expensive gadget is needed to cook a balanced meal at home, it’s also true there are some things that just make cooking more enjoyable or convenient. No matter your budget, check out my ideas below for something that might spark the inspiration to venture into the kitchen for a new adventure in cooking.

Whether you’re making your list or want to give these as gifts, I’ve gathered some options for Santa to consider.

$35 or less

Eat Smart Precision Pro Kitchen Scale: Whether you bake from scratch or wish to measure your portions more accurately, a kitchen scale is an inexpensive tool that can help you reach your goals. When it’s not in use, it conveniently stores in a drawer or cabinet so you don’t lose precious counter space.

Bodum Single Serving French Press: Get the coffee lover in your life something they’ll love without the price tag of a Keurig. A French Press can deliver a perfectly brewed cup of coffee in a matter of minutes. A great stocking stuffer to go along with this is a bag of their favorite bean or a sampler pack from a local roaster.

Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel Electric Kettle: To conveniently boil water for tea, coffee or cooking, consider an electric kettle. The traditional teapot on the stove is still a great option, but if the person you’re buying for works in an office setting this might help them enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up without the sting of a trip to Starbucks.

Lodge 12-inch Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet: We all know someone who treasures the perfectly seasoned cast iron skillet, likely passed down from a previous generation. But if you need to, you can get the tradition started. Cast iron is a time-honored cooking method that allows you to use fewer oils/fats once the perfect level of seasoning is achieved.

$50 or less

Pyrex 20-Piece Food Storage Set: While not the most glamorous of gifts, organized food storage is a must for any type of meal planning, prepping and packing. This set features various shapes and sizes that easily stack thanks to the flat, color-coded lids. No more fumbling through the drawers looking for the lid that fits.

$100 or less

All-Clad Stainless Steel Immersion Blender: Prepare your favorite blended foods in a fraction of the time with less mess. Whether you’re making mashed potatoes, blended soups, cake batters or baby food, this tool can get the job done thanks to its user-friendly design and variable speed control. No more transferring batches to the blender and back.

Cuisinart 6-Quart Pressure Cooker: If you do any kind of meal prep or cooking for a crowd, a pressure cooker can be a worthy investment. Not only can you reduce your cooking time for beans, grains, rice, roasts, soups and more, but you also save a burner on your stovetop for something else. But don’t take my word for it, just check out what Chef Alli has to say about her kitchen assistant, R2D2!

Splurge-worthy

Vitamix 5200 Series Blender: For the home cook who has it all but wants to do it all, the Vitamix is the mac-daddy blender that can replace countless other kitchen appliances. It serves as more than a blender and that’s why loyalists continue to love it. The hefty price tag can be offset by its versatility and small footprint. Leaving it out on the counter serves as a constant reminder of how it can help make your home cooking fun and convenient.

J. A. Henckles 16-Piece Knife Set: No kitchen is complete without a well-sharpened chef’s knife. But if you want to go beyond the basics, consider investing in a set from a German or Japanese knife maker. They are generally considered to be the highest quality but you can make this gift unique by ordering from a local knife maker. Just remember, a dull knife is a dangerous knife so make sure there’s a sharpening steel included in the set.

A few final ideas:

Try gifting experiences rather than things. Sign up for a cooking class, visit local restaurants on a food or wine tour, or take the money you would otherwise spend on a gift and donate supplies and time to a food pantry or hunger-relief organization.

Cookbooks never go out of style, but instead of purchasing new copies, try hosting a book swap with friends or family. Instruct everyone to bring one or two cookbooks they don’t mind parting with and set up a system to make the swap. Food and wine is optional, but recommended.

You can never fail with a piece of fruit in the stocking. This was a family tradition of mine growing up and it’s a good reminder that the holidays are all about balancing indulgent meals with fresh fruits and good nutrition.

What’s on your wish list? Share with us what you hope to see this year, or what you plan on gifting to those you love!