I am totally that person who never knows what they want for Christmas. Now that my relatives know I like to cook, however, it means that I get fewer gross-smelling candles and more things like kitchenware and cookbooks.

This year, my mom made my sister and I cookbooks with the recipes for all her “basics.” I think that might have been my favorite gift. She also got me Alice Water’s book, The Art of Simple Food. Nice!

Chris got Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything Vegetarian from his sister and Tassajara Dinners & Desserts by Dale and Melissa Kent from my parents, which looks great too.

Chris’ mom also got me a cute little cutting board and basting brush that’s shaped like a…small blue person. It even has a belly-button. She also gave us some olives and olive-wood utensils with which to spear said olives. She also got Chris this weird apron. I can’t remember what the translation is, but with the “no” sign over the crotch, it seems to be saying, “Not now, honey, I’m cooking!”

Or something. I could get creative and let my mind wander, but I don’t think this is the place for blue-streak kind of blogging.