Inspiration: Baking for the Soul

Local writer and soulful sister Isabel Allende said:

"The poet and the baker are brothers in the essential task of nourishing the world."

You said it!

So, before the year ends, nourish your family with a wild and warm day of mixing, kneading, and baking bread. Then you can bring in the new year with souls soothed and bellies full! (Don't forget the honey butter!!)

Best Cookie Cutters: A Gingerbread Family

You get three cookie cutters in this set. That means, you can make sisters, brothers, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas -- a whole village of gingerbread people. So funny!

Kids in the Kitchen: More Cookies

Make a change from ordinary, flat cut-out cookies. (Remember the book Flat Stanley?) These cookies really come to life. Your kids will play with this food! From Hearthsong.

Fun with the Family: Pressed Cookies

Remember the delight when, as a kid, you squeezed Play-Do through a press? This is better! Your kids will love helping you squoosh dough through this stainless steel Wilton cookie press -- and you will, too. (Plus, the cookies look great enough to give away as last minute gifts.)

Note from Reader

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I'm looking for a last minute gift for my principessa who adores pink.

But not another tutu, puhlease!

Vivi F., Potrero Hill

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Does this count? (Look at that tulle ruffle!) This princess apron and poofy chef's hat will keep her happily helping in the kitchen. Just so cute. From Batter Up Kids Chef Wear at NM.

Best Basket: Full of Fresh (Wooden) Food

What's not to love about this charming basket? First, you'll secretly be teaching your children to value local, organic foods (pretend you're shopping at the farmers' market!). Second, the food is just too darn cute. And third, it's wooden. So it won't end up in the dump, never decomposing, for eons and eons. Ahh. Makes a mom feel good. From Haba.

Best Garnish: Candy Twists

Such clever little candies!

I love these for cocktails and mocktails -- but the kids love to hang them on their mugs of hot chocolate. Festive!

Entertaining 101: Kids Love to Help

How blissful is this? Your kids will help you decorate with this darling chalkboard candle. Write holiday greetings or just scribble on them! Wipe clean and do it again. So fun! From local Lola of North Beach.

Kids in the Kitchen: Make a Gift

Go tropical for the holidays and spend an afternoon together making coconut macaroons. The kids can package the cookies in these breezy-yet-modern boxes from treeo design. Don't they look like handbags? So fab, girls, so fab.

Holiday Tip: Keepin' Kids Busy

Bring this recyclable basket of twig crayons to Thanksgiving at Grandma's and be amazed. Kids will stay busy (and creative) while you can drink a glass of wine (or three!). From Vivre.

Cute Threads: Kids in the Kitchen

Ummm, is this t-shirt hilarious or what? Designed by Philip Tsung for Threadless Kids, this is cheerful irreverence at it's best.

For Fun! Thanksgiving Staples

For the kids (and adults, too!), these Pumpkin Whoopie Pies are SUCH a sweet play on traditional pumpkin pie. (And a lot less work!)

Cooking with Kids: Itty Bitty Bowls

Perfect for your little helpers in the kitchen. I just love the contrast of the chunkiness and petiteness of these itty bitty bowls by Circa Ceramics.

Aren't they just too cute?