Our Senior Food EditorAnna Stockwelldoesn't share her shopping tips often—but when she does, we listen up. Because she simply has great taste. Aspray on wine stain removerwith a punny name? Bought it. Brightly coloredflour sack towelsfor air drying lettuce and wrapping herbs? Done.
Naturally, when she clued us in to a few things on her Christmas wish list, we took notes. Now excuse us while we slather ourselves in body oil and tend to our herb garden.
Beeswax Candles
Obviously, it wouldn't be an Anna list of gifts without a nod to entertaining. "I can never have enough tapercandles—I go through them so quickly since I throw so many dinner parties. These naturally sweet smelling beeswax ones mimic the shape of a honeycomb with their cool hexagonal shape."
A Hydroponic Garden
"I have an herb pot on my stoop each summer, but I really want to be able to grow fresh lettuce and herbs year-round. That way, I can harvest them in little bits, rather than buying full bunches that inevitably have to be composted before I get through them."
The Coziest Slippers
Slippers may not seem like a kitchen tool. But they are if you're Anna. "If you've watched "At Home With Anna" on Instagram, you know I love to cook in slippers. These shearling-lined suede ones have been my favorite for years, but I want a new pair with extra cushioning in the sole."
A Carbon Steel Skillet
"Ever since my colleague Joe made a case forcarbon steel skillets,I've wanted one. Santa, please bring me this sleek Australian skillet. Or better yet, help fund a made-in-the-USA version by pre-ordering me a pan fromthis KickStarter.
A Multi-Tasking Body Oil
"I need a bottle of Everyday Oil on hand at all times. It's a unisex skincare oil that's made of cold-pressed oils like coconut, argan, castor, and olive, then scented with a little palo santo, geranium, and clary sage. I use it everyday all over my body as soon as I get out of the shower—it saves me from dry winter skin, and just smells so good."
A Lightweight Wine Cooler
"I always need more of these because I tend to lose them. I pop one on a bottle of wine to bring it to a picnic or to a friends house—and they tend to wind up as unintentional host gifts. I love them because they're lightweight, so you can keep them on a bottle of wine to chill it at the table, and there's no need to take it off while you pour. I bought them as stocking stuffers for my family this year, along withmy favorite Champagne stoppers."
