Counter Intelligence: 5 Smart Holiday Kitchen Must-Haves

Sleigh bells are ringing...and so are doorbells! That's right, company is coming and now's the time to amp up your kitchen. Ready to get cooking?  I found some brilliant ways to work smarter, not harder when it comes to holiday entertaining.

BREW

Need a cup of coffee in a flash but don’t want to run to Starbucks? Say hello to Espressotoria, a sleek and modern countertop espresso machine that allows folks to make specialty coffee at home with the push of a button. Coffee from Espressotoria has an incredible, fresh ground and packed taste. And, with a price tag under a hundred dollars, this coffee system is high-quality at an affordable price and makes a great gift idea. It really is one of the simplest coffee machines I have tried and now I don’t think I can survive the holiday season (or the New Year) without it! $99

SMOKE

The BBQ lover in your life will get all hot and bothered over this gift: AStovetop Smoker from Camerons. It’s a stainless steel contraption that uses the cook’s choice of wood (chips are included) to create outdoor flavors inside their kitchen. Fish, meat, veggies…it’s cook’s choice! (Bonus: It doubles as a steamer!) $50

MIX

Are you ready for this? The All-Clad Prep&Cookis an all-in-one cooking food processor that revolutionizes cooking and replaces most kitchen gadgets, such as a food processor, steamer, stand mixer, blender, etc. Its six automatic programs (sauce, soup, simmer, steam, pastry and dessert) help to prepare any type of meal at the touch-of-a-button. Attachments included - Ultrablade knife, serrated knife kneader, whisk and stirrer, steam basket, spatula, cleaning brush. The removable bowl, lid and accessories are dishwasher safe. $999

JUICE

With a universal stainless steel strainer and stainless steel Reamer, the SMEG Citrus Juicer is a tiny, but mighty appliance. The Tritan Lid, Anti-drip stainless steel spout, TritanTM Juicing Bowl and chrome-plated ring and inner bowl are ideal for squeezing the freshest juices! The built-in cord wrap and anti-slip feet allow for the juicer to become a permanent addition to your countertop. $160

ROLL

Finally - the rolling pin that won’t roll away! The T-fal Ingenio NonStick Rolling Pinis a must-have tool for everything from Thanksgiving pies to holiday cookies. The non-stick surface keeps dough from sticking to the pin and the unique “kickstand” not only elevates the pin from counter for sanitation, but also prevents the pin from rolling around. Christmas cookie baking made easy!  The nonstick steel also has a great weight to it, ensuring that even the hardest dough can be rolled out with ease. $25