Top Ten Gifts for the "Entertaining" Family Member

In most extended families, there is one house where most of the large holiday gatherings take place. Maybe it's Grandma's house. Maybe it's a cousin's house. Maybe it's your house.

No matter where the gathering takes place, the hostess Is going to need a few items to help pull off the big event. Here's how you can help.

COOKBOOKS
Rachael Ray is all over the media in support of her daily talk show, but the strength of her mini-Martha empire has been the prolific production of cookbooks. One good option for the family is Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8 - Great Meals for Couples or Crowds. You can pick up the paperback version for $11.52.

Ray also has cookbooks that can help the entertainer throughout the year. Some of these include Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Get Real Meals - Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes; and Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats - A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners.

As you can see, Ray specializes in practical dishes that don't ask you to become Chef Gordon Ramsay in order to get dinner on the table. She also has a series of Top 30 cookbooks for different categories (Kid Food, Guy Food, Comfort Food, etc.)

COOKBOOK HOLDER
If you're not a big entertainer yourself, you may not have thought of this one. A good cookbook holder will allow your entertainer to save counter space and avoid getting food on her books.

You can get her an Iron Works Cookbook holder for 6.99. It is made of steel and weighs two pounds. If you want to get a little fancier, you can pick up the Renaissance Cookbook Holder for $14.99. It has antique-style plating on it for a classier look.

If you really want an outstanding cookbook holder, go for the Prodyne Stainless Steel Cookbook Holder for $24.95. It has adjustable legs that fold down, and it has two spring-loaded arms to hold the pages in place.

SLOW COOKER
Of course, the obvious answer for someone who likes to cook for a lot of people is a big crock pot. Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex makes the Oval Stay or Go Slow Cooker. It holds six quarts of food.

Someone came up with the great idea of putting a clip-tight lid on the top to prevent spills. Just tonight we went to my wife's sister's house and we brought a crock pot full of my wife's soon-to-be-legendary mashed potatoes. Fortunately, they didn't spill, but crock pots often have to make the perilous journey from house to house.

In the same vein, the crock pot also comes with big full-grip handles for easy carrying. Even better, you can put the stoneware insert into the dishwasher. That's another good idea, because I hate cleaning the crock pot (and the George Foreman grill, but that's another invention for another day).

The crock pot costs $39.95 and even comes with a booklet of party recipes.

THE BULLET BLENDER
If your entertainer is busy person with little time to prepare food, you might want to get the the Bullet Blender. The makers of the Bullet say you can use it to make meals in 10 seconds or less.

Some examples of these lightning-quick machines include 3-second chopped onions; 7-second smoothies; 6-second chicken salad; 7-second cappuccinos; and 10-second spaghetti sauce.

The Bullet has a cool-looking gray-and-black design and comes in a 21-piece package. It costs 99.99, but you can break that up into three payments. Also, you can get two for the price of one, so you can keep one and give one as a gift. Then you and your pal can swap "Bullet" stories. "Hey, I made a frozen strawberry margarita in 2½ seconds!"

STONEWARE
Pampered Chef makes an extensive line of stoneware for all of your entertainer's baking needs. Depending on what size of groups she entertains, she could use a bar pan or a round stone in small, medium or large sizes.

The stoneware comes in the New Traditions style (with a French vanilla or cranberry color) or the Classics collection in a gray, unglazed style.

You can fit four small pans in the oven at the same time, so everyone will be happy with his pizza topping.

Ask the entertainer what kind of supplies she doesn't have. If you talk to her about her last party, the best gift idea will become obvious.