Can I show you something in a Himalayan salt block?

Food cooked on a Himalayan salt block ($50) is infused with the salt and minerals from the block.
Food cooked on a Himalayan salt block ($50) is infused with the salt and minerals from the block.

Shopping for a cook who seems to have everything? Consider these clever tools.

• Himalayan salt block -- These rectangular slabs of ancient sea salt showed up in specialty stores a few years ago. Heat the block in the oven or on the grill and place food directly on the surface to cook it while infusing it with the salt and minerals from the block. Chill it, and use it to serve sushi, appetizers, and other foods that need to remain cool.

• Coconut scraper -- For everything from a curry to a coconut cake, cooks rave over the flavor of fresh coconut. This gadget makes short work of removing the flesh from a newly cracked coconut.

• Peanut butter mixer -- Fans of organic nut butter know that the oil separates as the butter sits undisturbed. Sharon Landon says, "I would reconsider opening a new jar of peanut or almond butter if I didn't feel like taking the time to clean up the oil that always went all over the jar and counter. No spoon exists that can prevent that from happening." Screw the peanut butter stirrer onto the jar, give the handle a few twirls, and voila! Nut butter that's ready for spreading.

HomeStyle on 12/13/2014

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