Gift Ideas: Steam it Up

Throughout this week and next I'm going to be giving some gift ideas for your favorite foodie or aspiring health nut. I promise, they will also please the taste buds of those that think of healthy cooking as a four letter word!

Hands down my favorite cooking tool is the bamboo steamer. My roommate introduced this to our household a few years ago and since then it has become a staple.

A bamboo steamer is essentially a circular tower with 2-3 different tiers. You place the steamer into a pot of water and bring to a boil. You then fill each layer with you favorite food. I typically put lean protein on the bottom layer and vegetables on the top layer. Finally, cover the steamer and walk away for about 10 minutes. Voila - you're done! The steam cooks your protein while keeping it moist. It also enhances the flavors of your vegetables without having to add a lot of oils and sauces.

You can find bamboo steamers for ~$15 at Bed, Bath & Beyond.