Notes from a Nester: The Nestiest Christmas List of All

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A blogumn by Debra Barlow

I love buying gifts and I like to think I’m pretty good at it.  Anytime someone casually mentions something that interests them, a hobby they’d like to take up, a favorite director or band, I file it away for future use.  And, despite the crowds, I really enjoy Christmas shopping.  However, when someone asks me what I want…I never have a great answer.

As a young girl, I always had a long list, ready to hand out to interested parties the day after Thanksgiving.  After getting married, registering for all those gifts and receiving at least some of them…well, I’m out of ideas.  Now, I spend so much time pondering the things I need, it’s hard to indulge in something I want, even if it’s coming from someone else.  However, this year, I’m at least allowing myself to dream of some household items that I would love to have.  So in no particular order, here is a nester’s wish list:

KITCHENAID MIXER ATTACHMENTS:

As I believe I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion – I am obsessed with my Kitchenaid standing mixer.  And most of the toys I’m dreaming of this Christmas are attachments for said mixer.  They transform a simple mixer into a kitchen workhorse.  Number one on the wish list:  the pasta roller attachment.  Oh, I know what you’re thinking.  You can walk into any store and buy a pound of pasta. And, at least in Los Angeles, there are several really good Italian delis where you can buy high quality pasta.   But I want it!  I want to invite you over to dinner, serve you lasagna and wait for you to rave about it.  Then play the hostess trump card of, “Oh, thank you.  I made the noodles myself.”  Take that Rocco di Spirito!

I’d also love the slicer/shredder, the food grinder, the ravioli maker…you get the idea.  There must be a twelve-step program for mixer addiction.

More of the Christmas Fantasy List after the jump:

(REALLY NICE) ROASTING PAN:

Another useful kitchen accessory I long to call my own is the Calphalon 16” Stainless Steel Roaster.   Every Thanksgiving, I buy one of those disposable roasting pans and every year, as I try to lug the bird out of the oven without crumpling the flimsy pan, I long for this roaster.  I’m convinced my turkey will be juicier and more flavorful just because it’s cooked in this pan.

WINE CELLAR:

And finally, the product that makes me drool with anticipation…a state of the art wine cellar.  We have a small wine fridge that holds six bottles and works…okay.  But you can only set one temp and…it only holds six bottles.  After our last trip to Napa and trips to Paso Robles and Solvang earlier this year…let’s just say we have more than six nice bottles that we’d like to store.  This is the dream…or one like it.  Doesn’t have to be this exact one. Santa, are you out there?  And while you’re at it, could you bring us a house to put it in?  That would be the best present ever.

What are you lusting after this holiday season?