What should I get for Christmas?

[MarlboroMan]

Well, it's that time of year again. My wife is asking me what I want for Christmas. I have until this Saturday to tell her. If I don't come up with something, she'll just buy stuff for me.

There's really nothing I need or want, so that's why I decided to ask for suggestions here. I DO like to cook. My wife doesn't, so I do the majority of the cooking.

Last year I got a guitar. I haven't even taken it out of the box yet. My wife bought me guitar lessons for my birthday (which was 3 months ago). I wonder if those will ever get used.

Anyway, I used to be a vegan.. I've gone completely in the other direction.. now I'm paleo (that means I eat meat!) Bacon rules. We've got a freezer full of meat. I've got a nice blender, a nice Calphalon roasting pan, and 2 outdoor grills. And a ton of cookbooks. I guess I could ask for stuff off my Amazon wish list, or gift certificates to restaurants, but that's another problem. I'm very adventurous.. my wife is not. My birthday dinner was at Elements in Princeton, NJ. They have a 9 course tasting menu. Let's just say I ate most of my wife's courses as well. Still, it was one of the best meals I've ever had.

I've got some nice knives. A nice spice rack. Plenty of pots and pans. I just really can't think of anything, so I'm open to any and all suggestions.

Oh, I did come up with one idea.. a digital thermometer with probe, for cooking meat. But my wife said, that's a household item. Just buy it for the kitchen. While we're at it, can anyone recommend a good one to buy? Thanks!

[LaLa]

i love when my parents get me a williams and sonoma gift card. And i love when the hubby goes to world market and fills my stocking with yummies.
A kitchen aid mixer with the pasta attachments? A commerical mandoline? A cutting board in the shape of your state from etsy?
Bacon from Bentons? Keurig coffee maker? cocktail bar set...

[MarlboroMan]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Got a Kitchen Aid mixer, with all the attachments. I think my wife uses it once a year to make mashed potatoes. :) I like the cutting board idea, though I'm not wild about being stuck in NJ. Maybe I'll get one in the shape of Florida. :) Or Montana. Don't really want to live there, but at least it's square. :) Don't drink coffee or alcohol, but good suggestions nonetheless. I like the ____ of the month club idea. I will seriously consider the idea of making a charitable donation to our local food bank. Our church has a food pantry as well.

Thanks BiscuitBoy for the thermometer suggestion.. going to go look that one up! I'm thinking of asking for a Kindle Fire. My wife bought an iPad, and while I love all things Apple, I'm not really interested in one for myself. I have an iPhone, that's enough for me.

I think part of the problem is I'm surrounded by stuff. I sell on eBay for a living, and I have mountains of inventory. Maybe I'll ask for a gift card for 1-800-Got Junk. :)

The cooking class ideas are also very interesting.. will look into those as well! Thanks all!

[LeoLioness]

Have you ever proposed not exchanging gifts?

[MarlboroMan]

Well, with a 2 1/2 year old who is really grasping what Christmas is about this year, that's probably not an option. I did suggest it once when I was younger. My parents said okay. Then, on Christmas Eve, on my way to a party, my mom asks if I got my Dad anything. No, because we agreed not to exchange gifts. Why, did he get me anything? Oh, yes, a whole bunch of stuff.

Good thing the liquor store was open the next morning. :) Bought Dad an expensive bottle of scotch, and Mom a bottle of Amaretto.

My in-laws wouldn't go for it, either.

I finally figured out what I really want, but I don't know if my wife will go for it. What I want is TIME. Time to myself. A few Saturdays to myself. I told her previously I wanted a "coupon book" with pages I can redeem for such things.

I decided against the Kindle Fire. Still going to buy myself a thermometer/probe thingy, though.

I'll probably just ask for some Paleo cookbooks. Meh.

But I'm looking into the cooking classes! Something like this, which is fairly local to me:

http://www.tasteandtechnique.com/cart...

[wattacetti]

Ask for a book on whole beast butchery (with photos), a white apron, a couple of boning knives, a stainless counter, and several squirrels (or bunnies with fur on) and a suckling pig to practice.

Apart from improving your skills, you'll get the time that you're looking for.

[MarlboroMan]

Well, to update this.... I did get the requested "coupon book" from my wife.

Bought a Taylor thermometer w/probe on a whim at Wegman's on Christmas Eve. Seems good so far, and it was less than $20. Used it on the turkey, which came out great!

Finally decided I wanted a sous vide "machine", but after looking at the price, decided 1. it wasn't worth spending that much and 2. I can probably have more fun building my own.

So, I asked for nothing, and I got nothing. And actually, I'm fine with that. Oh, I did get one thing I didn't ask for.. a crown/root infection. Spent most of Christmas in bed in horrible pain. Now looking forward to extraction and implant!

[woodleyparkhound]

How about a "bacon of the month" club? For example:

http://www.zingermans.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=G-BAC-3&crf=muumrk&gclid=CLjskJri7awCFUbf4AodhSkALw

Or a XYZ of the month club? There are lots of them out there, e.g.

Beer of the Month http://www.beermonthclub.com/

Cheese of the Month: http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/cheese...

Etc.

[BiscuitBoy]

a guitar? wow, nice wifey! Send it my way if you don't want it (guitar, not the wife). I have, and swear by, my cheap polder thermometer....< $20...looks like this one

[janeh]

I run an organization with a shelter and truly appreciate the suggestion and support for contributions to shelters and food banks - there should be enough to go around, but we need to take some responsibility for getting it where it needs to go.

So, how about both a contribution to a local organization and a tangible gift to you??? Last Christmas I got a thermapen thermometer (red!) and use it with pleasure for cooking and baking.
A digital scale is also pretty useful and cool - you can weigh flour, hamburgers, first class mail , etc. Both very household-y and practical but I really enjoy using them

[ultimatepotato]

So you're a keen and well-equiped cook. How about a master class in some area that you want to know more about? i.e. fish/seafood preparation and cooking, how to best butcher cuts of meat - spatchcock a chicken, french trim lamb, debone and then roll a roast joint etc (they have one here that is pricey, but totally worth it as you take home all the meat) - a pastry class.

[tcamp]

I, personally, am coveting a lovely wood cutting board from a guy at the farmers market. I pointed it out to my son and he gave me a blank stare so I think I'd better buy it for myself pronto. I like to spend on local vendors rather than fork over my money to corporate behemouths.

Anyway, if you want a digital thermometer, I think that is a fine gift. Aren't the best gifts the ones that you actually want, no matter the size. The food pantry is also a great idea. The one we support needs cash, non-perishables, and have also agreed to take homemade christmas cookies that group of us are making as part of an exchange. Pay those calories forward.

[SimplyMarie]

If there's nothing you want or need for Christmas..why not just ask your wife to make a donation to a local shelter or food pantry in your name? After all..buying something just for the sake of buying something seems to defeat the purpose of Christmas...doesn't it..?
Further..if a meat thermometer is what you want..why would your wife disregard it. Isn't it better for her to get you something you want..rather than what she thinks is the appropriate gift? Isn't the whole purpose of gift giving supposed to be based on what the recipient wants?

[MGZ]

"If there's nothing you want or need for Christmas..why not just ask your wife to make a donation to a local shelter or food pantry in your name? After all..buying something just for the sake of buying something seems to defeat the purpose of Christmas...doesn't it..?"

I thought the same thing while reading the OP. Sadly, the notion seems to be a novel one in our contemporary society. I was pleased to see you propose it.

[wyogal]

My thoughts, too. I know folks up in Minot, ND could still use help. They were devastated by floods this spring. I'm donating to the church our family attended, I was raised there. It will cost about $750,000 for that one church to recover. Yet, this weekend, they will be out, giving to folks in their neighborhood, singing carols, and offering refreshments.
There were over 11,000 people evacuated, many, many homes and businesses destroyed.

[acgold7]

This is what I do as well. I was tired of getting stuff I didn't want or need, especially when there are others around who need more.

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.