My great Christmas food related gift bounty:

1.)Lever action corkscrew. This was unexpected. Wonderful item.
Worked great getting the cork out. The single time I used it, I had
trouble getting the cork off the screw. I'll need to research this
more.

2.)Mr. Coffee brand Burr grinder. Well, Eskwired is right in saying
cheaper burr mills aren't very good at making a consistent grind. My
grinder, on the course settings, produces a certain amount of fines.
Fortunately, the fines collect mainly along the top of the grounds
chamber and are easily removed. So I don't get a great grind, but I
get a much better grind than a blade grinder. On my budget, I can
live with having to whisk out a tablespoon of fine matter.
(In a related story, I heard on the radio this morning that, in men,
consuming 6 or more cups of full caffene coffee per day reduces the
risk of type II diabetes by 50%.)

3.)Minitorch - the surprise hit of the year. Mom-in-law bought me a
creme brule set. I love the torch. It was great for carmelizing the
sugar on the brule, for melting the red licorice "eruption" on
5-year-old's volcano cake (just enough melting to make the sliced
licorice droop a bit) and for lighting the birthday cake candles
(well, it's a bit too efficient at that.) Another digression - I
opened the second part of the gift first - two cans of butane and a
miniature measuring cup. "Look! Mom got me lighter fluid and a shot
glass.")

4.)Microplane grater. Entirely the idea of the five-year-old son. He
has amazing taste in gifts. Light shines down from heaven, and
angelic voices sing, when it is brought out for use. What an amazing
tool.

Merry and happy and all that to all.

Greg Zywicki