Top 5 Gifts for Connecticut Cooks

1. Sally's BBQ & Blues Bucket

Black-Eyed Sally's BBQ & Blues restaurant in Hartford offers this pail packed with two of its own BBQ Sauces, Sally's Rib Rub, a barbeque basting brush and the Blues CD & Cookbook Volume 2 featuring national blues acts and recipes from the restaurant's kitchen--all wrapped up in chili pepper paper. This gift will spice up any cook's repertoire.

2. "How to Cook Everything"

Connecticut resident and "New York Times" columnist Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything: Simple Recipes For Great Food" is a cooking compendium for Connecticut cooks like me who have little time to spend in the kitchen but still want to prepare and serve delectable dishes. A perfect gift for college students, newlyweds and even experienced chefs seeking to simplify meal preparation.

3. Connecticut Cookie Cutter

Celebrate the Constitution State by baking cookies in the shape of Connecticut. This solid copper cookie cutter is part of kitchengifts.com's collection of all 50 states.

4. "Jacques Pepin Celebrates"

Jacques Pepin, who lives in Madison, is arguably Connecticut's best-known celebrity chef. In this cookbook, the French culinary master shares 200 recipes for holiday fare that will make you want to find a reason to celebrate every day.

5. Caprilands Mixed Herbs

Caprilands Herb Farm in Coventry, Connecticut, sells this blend of its own Connecticut-grown herbs that can be used to make a savory herb butter or added to salads, soups and sauces for mild but delicious flavor.