Welcome to the Kitchenisms Holiday Gift Guide 2009, a week-long extravaganza of cool present ideas for the holiday season. Each day has a different theme, and I try to include both stocking stuffers and big-ticket items. You’ll find a mix of new finds and favourites from the archives here, all stuff I’d love to find under the tree on the 25th!

Wait! Don’t be put off by the boring title of today’s Guide. After all, kitchens are places to cook in, not to just look at. If you’ve got someone on your shopping list who really does love to cook, this post is for you. Inspired by this series at The Kitchn, I decided to choose ten practical-yet-stylish cooking necessities, based on the most-used and most-loved items in my own kitchen.

A Dutch Oven. When my Mum bought be my Chasseur Dutch oven, I didn’t think I’d use it that much. Boy, was I wrong! There are many brands and colours to choose from, but I particularly like the chic look of this granite Le Creuset version:

A Bread Box. It’s a bit of an indulgence, yes, but I love my retro Wesco bin. Stylish, roomy and hard-working, the red version is especially festive:

Chopping Boards. Mine are a bit of an unstylish mishmash, but I’ve always loved the space-saving style of Joseph Joseph‘s Index Chopping Boards:

Good Knives. To use on those chopping boards, you’re gonna need some knives. I don’t have many, but I know I like the German brand Henckels for a good price-to-quality ratio. This set of three is a good deal:

Mixing Bowls. Colourful plastic or lovely ceramic ones might be stylish, but metal mixing bowls have their place- they’re perfect for beating egg whites or melting chocolate. This set by Brabantia has useful measurements, too:

A Dough Whisk. I know what you’re thinking- what?! But I was lucky enough to receive this dough whisk from King Arthur Flour last year, and it quickly became my most used utensil. A must for bakers:

Bakeware. I’ve heard that my favourite Tefal by Jamie Oliver silicone bakeware has been discontinued, but luckily it can still be found online. I’ve got some pieces in my shop, like this 12-cup muffin pan:

Cleaning Supplies. Cleaning isn’t fun, but it can be stylish. Found through this post on The Kitchn, I’ve fallen for these bamboo cleaning supplies from Full Circle Home:

Tea Towels. Well, every kitchen needs some, and they might as well do their job. I like the traditional style of this red and white pair from Linen Me on Etsy:

Digital Scales. Once you start baking by weight, you won’t go back to silly cups and tablespoons. My Salter scale has served me well, but I wouldn’t mind an upgrade to this chic black one: