Everyday Cheapskate: The People You Meet, the Books You Read

Mary Hunt on Mar 13, 2024

In a gift basket built around this "uncookbook," I would add a nice balloon whisk, a set of bamboo kitchen spoons and spatulas, a nice pair of good kitchen shears, a nice big stainless steel colander and a Visalia Chop Wizard -- my favorite onion and vegetable chopping tool.

ARTISAN BREAD GIFT BASKET

"The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day," by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois (Thomas Dunne Books, 2013). I might as well be the president of the Artisan-in-Five fan club for how this book and the method have changed my life. It does require a few strategic pieces of equipment. Take care to add the following four items to your gift basket:

A wooden pizza peel, an oven thermometer, a dough-rising bucket or other 6-quart container with a lid and a baking stone are must-haves for baking artisan bread at home. All four items arranged together with the book in a big basket is sure to delight!

CAST IRON SKILLET GIFT BASKET

"The New Cast Iron Skillet Cook Book: 150 Fresh Ideas for America's Favorite Pan," by Ellen Brown (Sterling Epicure, 2014). Oh my, how many ways can I thank Ellen Brown for writing this thorough, beautiful book? It is a cookbook, but it's more than that. It is a how-to book for every possible question and instruction for owning, maintaining and cooking in cast iron. It is an art, and a lovely activity, too. My cast iron skillet is 40 years old. It was part of a set and a cheap set at that. It is the only piece that survived my brutality and abuse. Thanks to Ellen, my skillet has been totally restored. I've followed her precise instructions and could not be happier. I am pretty sure I've now built up 1,000 layers of seasoning. It glistens, it is so beautiful. And oh, the recipes in this book!

Making a gift of this book, plus four strategic items is to give a gift that will be so enjoyed. Items to care for cast iron include a natural bristle brush, flax seed oil (it may be challenging to find, but so worth the effort, as this is the best oil for cast iron), a scrubbing tool called a "Ringer," (looks like a piece of chainmail and just the coolest thing ever) plus what else? A lovely cast iron skillet. I suggest you look for a Utopia 12.5-inch skillet. At around $25, it's a great deal and fabulous piece of kitchen wizardry.

As for Jones' other mention in that quote, I am so happy that you are one of the people I've met in the past 15 years. Thank you for being in my life and for being such a loyal reader.

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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."