10 kitchen-tool gifts any cook would appreciate (SUZANNE BOYLE, 12/14/10, News-Democrat )

Dough whisk - It's a wacky-looking tool, kind of a metal question mark that's turned onto itself, but ever since I bought it from King Arthur Flour, it's been indispensible when mixing any heavy dough, especially bread.

It's the biggest, sturdiest hand utensil I own; it stand 15 inches high! I'm pretty sure it'll never break.

I don't know how or why it works so well, but yeast and cookie dough doesn't glom onto it when you stir. It looks like it shouldn't mix well, but it does.

KingArthurFlour.com's dough whisk is made of beechwood and stainless steel and cost $14.95, plus shipping.