Nifty knife
Kuhn Rikon’s non-stick paring knife infuses pizazz and practicality into a kitchen staple. A non-stick surface on the blade keeps it easy to clean. The carbon steel blade is supersharp; a handy cover adds a welcome safety feature. It comes in several zippy colors and costs $8 at The Chopping Block and by mail-order: kitchenkapers.com or 800-455-5567.
Post-holiday munching
For many of us, it’s time to exchange the cheese straws and chocolate truffles for less caloric fare. We love the crunch and flavor of Fit & Active rice snacks. The Cheddar has an addictive cheesiness, the caramel is sweetly satisfying. A serving of about eight chips contains 60 to 70 calories. Each 6- to 7-ounce bag costs $1.90 at Aldi.
Kid-friendly cookies
“Mom’s Big Book of Cookies” (Harvard Common Press, $21.95), by Lauren Chattman, aims its focus on families. This is a big, comfy cookbook with 200 recipes. The familiar favorites are here (who ever gets tired of chocolate chip cookies?) but so are novel options such as Chinese New Year fortune cookies and Abraham Lincoln stovepipe hats (a riff on s’mores). The spiralbound format is practical too. It’s at some Borders and Barnes & Noble bookstores and online at amazon.com.
