Updated looks for classic cooks' gifts

Most people's holiday gift list includes at least one cooking aficionado. Whether the recipient is a casual cook or the next Jacques Pepin, you can almost always find unique or unusual cooking gifts. But that may not be the best plan -- after all, we all have fad household items that are gathering dust since their novelty has worn off.

Fun and functional cooking accessories make perfect gifts for the cooks on your holiday list. Clockwise, santoku chef knife, Circulon premier's double duty casserole, Farberware mini bakeware and Circulon nonstick colander.

What's better is to find functional, versatile and useful cooking gifts that are still fun and delightful. If that challenge sounds intimidating, don't worry; there are several new products that housewares companies have recently introduced that fit the bill.

Take Anolon, a leading cookware manufacturer. The company now offers a new line of cutlery called Anolon Advanced with silicone handles for a comfortable and secure grip. The knives are constructed of German steel with an ice-hardened edge and have a one-piece design for durability. Sold in sets or individually, there's sure to be a piece for every style and budget.

One piece to start with might be the $20 santoku chef knife. At five inches, it's smaller than a standard chef's knife and has an angled tip, making it easier to use, even by novices. It also features a hollow-ground finish to prevent foods from sticking to the blade.

A colander might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering cookware gifts. But think again. The Circulon nonstick colander, retailing for $30, features a nonstick coating so foods, especially starchy ones like pasta and potatoes, don't stick when draining. Add pasta, gourmet olive oil and pesto, and wrap it up as a gift basket.

Another example of a fun and functional gift is Circulon Premier's double duty casserole. The pot has a 5-quart casserole base and a lid that doubles as a 2-quart casserole. Both pieces are constructed of hard-anodized aluminum for quick and even heating, and feature Circulon's groove design that protects the nonstick surface from the wear and tear of cooking utensils.

The double duty casserole, which retails for $50, is ideal for multiple dish dinners or for items that require both oven and stove cooking. And because it's two pots in one, it's also a thoughtful gift for the city dwellers or college students on your list who have limited space.

Farberware mini bakeware brings both whimsy and usefulness to the bakers on your list. The bakeware, both nonstick and dishwasher safe, comes in familiar shapes -- angel food pans, muffin tins, loaf pans and spring-form pans -- but the diminutive sizes allow users to create fun versions of their favorite dishes, from mini carrot cakes to tea-party size cupcakes. These pans are ideal for serious bakers who are looking to add a different twist to their repertoire of casual holiday baking. The pans are sold in sets of two or four, depending on the shape, for $10 so that one or several pieces can be given as a gift.

For more information, visit www.circulon.com, www.anolon.com and www.farberwarecookware.com.