I'm trying to make a birthday/christmas list for my DH....I'm stuck.
What are your must haves in the kitchen and around the house? I know....not very romantic, but as a SAHM kitchen appliances turn me on more than jewelry
I already have a stand mixer and a big food processor. I'm talking little gadgets that make your life so much more simple.
Good knives (and decent cutting boards, like a chop n' scoop)
Tongs (I just got my first pair. Really, I had no idea.)
A stainless steel tea kettle and a smaller glass one that brews loose leaf tea
Stainless steel pots and pans
A cast iron skillet
A wine carafe (I don't really *need* these, but they dress up the table whether you're using wine or OJ)
A hand blender/ immersion blender
An ice tea maker (!)
A cast-iron griddle
Muffin tins- random, I know, and everyone has them but I just got a couple of them as a wedding present and I've used them more than I ever imagined. Weird.
George Foreman Grill
Magic Bullet (no not THAT bullet , this one: http://www.buythebullet.com/)
Cuisinart Mini Prep (I use it for just about everything that I don't use the Bullet for)
Toaster oven (if you don't have one - get one big enough to roast a small chicken in)
Dyson vacuum (depending on your budget - I adore mine)
A set of bamboo cutting boards
If you ever do smoothies, it is SO much easier because you don't have to dirty two dishes - just put your ingredients in the cup, blend, and serve in the same cup. We use ours to make iced coffee drinks, too. Mmm. Iced Coffee.
Do you have a stick/immersion blender? This is great for making pureed soups, which are so healthy and delicious and creamy-without-the-cream.
I personally could not function without my WhirlyPop popcorn maker, but that might not be SBD friendly.
Are you all set up for pans? A nice roasting pan makes all the difference.
If I could pick ONE thing that I think all kitchens need, it is a GOOD chef's knife. My favorite knives are Japanese-made, by a company called Global. I cannot express just how much I love my Global knives. A new one tends to appear in my stocking every year, so I have the paring knife, a cheese knife...well, many knifes. They are so great. And SHARP. You'll wonder how you ever cut a carrot before.
Photochick - I've wanted a magic bullet (I already have the other kind) forever. That is definitely going on my list.
and the Dyson? I am waiting until my vacuum cleaner bit the dust...it won't be long....it will conveniently die shortly before x-mas. I'm completely in love with them.
Mandalinn - I used to have an immersion blender and it was SO convenient...so much better than putting everything into a regular blender. On the list!
Good knives. Check. I saved for over a year for a set of Wusthoffs....I've never been happier.
Pans...also, check. I was actually just given a set of stainless steel pans that were too heavy for a friend...I'm a bit overloaded on good pans actually. I could use a roasting pan though.
oooh, popcorn maker! Great idea.
DH thinks I'm insane for not just wanting diamonds or something...diamonds are great, but I have so much fun with kitchen stuff - is that weird?
RE: Global knives...I'll have to check them out. I need a new set of steak knives.
I used my iced tea maker almost every day this summer, so I second that. Other near-daily devices include the aerolatte for foaming milk for lattes and/or a teaboy tea strainer for loose, hot tea. I tend to use low tech/small space devices like hand-crank food mill and the stick immersion blender ever since I wore out my mini-cuisinart. I like having a fondue pot for an occasional easy meal in the winter.
Could easily part with my crockpot and waffle iron at this point. Rarely use my large stand mixer or large cuisinart, but occasionally they come in handy.
For small gadgets, I like a good garlic press and hand citrus press/juicer - they get used nearly every day.
Oh, and I love lodge brand cast iron dutch ovens - I have two sizes and use them regularly for chili, stews, soups - really great to have (and relatively inexpensive).
I love my 4qt. Nesco Roaster. It's come in handy on so many occasions when my oven is full. I have the 12qt. one too, but I use the smaller one the most. I also love my G.Foreman Grill with the removable grids, and my crockpot is a real lifesaver on busy days.
Every good Louisiana Girl needs a rice cooker. I'm transplanted from Lake Charles. I use my rice cooker several times a week -- for rice, steaming veggies, even making jambalaya. Make sure to ask for a non-stick cooker.
My hubby love loves the fancy waffle maker, I'm not so much into waffles, eh.
I personally love new dishes, dishes for every season. I know they're not a kitchen gadget - but different sets change the kitchen up so much.
I too love my popcorn maker, love my espresso maker and good coffee grinder (it's nice to have a spare grinder for grinding spices), the only house-y thing, for cleaning and such that I love up, because I generally hate cleaning, are those Magic Erasers (but your hub better not get you one of those or I'd imagine he'd be in trouble as I think they're just a dollar)!
For non-cleaning, non-cooking - I love nice lighting. I am anal about lighting. I'm trading services with an electrician just to get sconces and track lights exactly where I them. So worth it. A nicely lit house is a home My favorite recent lighting addition is the up-lighting on the exterior of our home. My husband gets to buy various lighting for presents and then install it, lucky guy.
Gawd - I'm laughing at my post after writing it because you can so tell I'm not very much into housekeeping. That's an area I obviously need improvement upon! I love decor though!
Must haves?
, this one: 
