Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef  competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

 

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It’s that time of year again: our bellies are full, but our banks may be less so…

But Christmas presents don’t have to break the bank – even the ones we’d really like.

This week, I’m taking you through my Christmas wish list which will take your kitchen to a whole new level.

Latana 2-in-1 safety can and bottle opener

Christmas is the perfect excuse to stock up on all the kitchen gadgets you need. It’s something of a practical indulgence.

This year, the Latana 2-in-1 Safety Can and Bottle Opener is at the top of my wish list.

It’s safe – which is always handy with children running around – and, better yet, very easy to use.

It doesn’t require any force and the lid can be placed back on the can to keep leftovers fresh. To top it all off, it doesn’t have any sharp edges to worry about.

I first discovered this brand after I got fed up with can openers that weren’t user friendly. I was so pleased with it, I immediately got a spare one and even bought it for others!

It will make a great, affordable gift that every kitchen needs.

You can buy yours here.

A quality kitchen knife

 The right knife will make prepping so much easier - you will wonder why you waited so long to get one.

There’s plenty of great knives out there and, again, they don’t have to dent your bank account.

I’d recommend the Robert Welch Santoku and Chef knives. They’re great quality and make the whole cooking experience so much more enjoyable.

But be careful – with good knives come sharp edges!

Peelers

 I reach for a peeler nearly every day, so I will always happily receive a new one at Christmas.

However, there are different kinds of peelers for different uses. I have one with a serrated blade that is perfect for shredding vegetables, while the straight blades ones are better for peeling root vegetables.

With the fear of sounding like a real adult, they will serve as a great Christmas present and are a necessity in every kitchen.

Just think of all the beautifully carrots and parsnips you could dish up on Christmas Day thanks to a good quality peeler!

Of course, many of us would like a piece of jewellery, a new bag or a trip to Paris this Christmas – me included. But stocking up on kitchen staples goes a long way, and your tastebuds will thank you later for it.



This story contains sponsored content and links. 

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Read more:

• Yemi's Food Stories: My festive favourites from local suppliers


• Yemi's Food Stories: Christmas drinks to impress your guests

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