I was shopping in my favorite kitchenware store last night and came across this set of adorable mini cocottes from Le Creuset. They're in the company's signature "Flame" color, and at 8 ounces, are just right for individual servings of pot pie, French onion soup or mac & cheese. But what caught my eye in particular is that the company has created a cookbook containing 25 recipes that you can use for making dishes in the mini cocottes. What a great idea!

Buy Le Creuset Mini Cocottes. (Note: This set currently has a special reduced price, but don't expect to buy it in time for the holidays; it is on back order and will not ship until Dec. 31.)

Image courtesy Cooking.com

You can't go wrong with a kitchen gadget for a gift: small, usually inexpensive, and cleverly designed. Some of my favorites for gift-giving this year range from an innovative little spice shaker designed by Jamie Oliver to an interlocking breading tray set from Paula Deen. Take a look at my list of Kitchen Gadget Gifts to find the perfect stocking stuffer or hostess gift.

If you're looking for an unforgettable gift for a cook who fantasizes about working one of the stations at Babbo, or being a finalist on Iron Chef, take a look at my roundup of Gifts for Aspiring Professional Chefs. These sleek, professional-quality tools are sure to impress any home cook who knows his or her way around the kitchen!

My inbox this morning had a handful of very generous deals from online retailers on cooking equipment purchases. Here's a few:

• Amazon.com has an offer of up to $50 off KitchenAid stand mixers via a mail-in rebate. The $50 is good for some of the higher-end versions, such as the Professional 600 models, while certain less expensive models like Artisan, Professional 5 Plus and Pro 500 qualify for a $30 rebate. (If you're buying someone - including yourself!- a KitchenAid stand mixer, don't forget to also buy a BeaterBlade mixing paddle, which will eliminate the need to constantly scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Williams-Sonoma has a 5-day offer starting today (and good through midnight on Sunday, December 13) for 20 percent off all Le Creuset and Calphalon cookware. It might be a good opportunity to get that Dutch Oven you've been coveting, or to buy someone a Calphalon Panini Grill.
• And, only through tomorrow (December 10), King Arthur Flour is offering free shipping with a minimum $40 purchase.

Happy shopping!